New-York tribune., 1901-11-14
THE NEW ALABAMA CONSTITUTION.

The new Alabama constitution, cleverly
framed TO avoid the necessity" of fraudulent
elections. was adopted on Monday by plural
ity which will not be returned as less than
twenty-five thousand Apparently. however.
pure elections are only TO he attained through
fraud. for it is freely charged that the vote for
the constitution is being counted at whatever
figures its advocates choose. Some of its feat
ures quite apart from the suffrage provisions.
aroused strenuous opposition. A fairly heavy
white vote against the constitution was ex-
pected and was cast in the white counties i'm
mediately north and south of Montgomery. and
the great body of the blacks, who comprise
nearly half of the electorate, were against it
Under such circumstances ratification by an
honest plurality OF twenty-five thousand is out
of the question. In Montgomery the plurality
counted for the constitution is reported TO have
been twice the whole number of votes cast, and
no doubt the same methods prevailed elsewhere.
The tender conscences Of Alabama politicians
do not discountenance frauds till they have
things arranged so as to have their way with
out them Then. of course, they will become
virtuous
The new constitution. however tainted with
fraud will become the fundamental law Of Ala
hama Under IL State elections will he held
only once in four years. The terms of the Gov
ernor. the Lieutenant Covernor-an office newly
created-and members of the legislature are for
four years. The executive officers are made in
eligible 70 succeed themselves. and the Gov
ernor may not take any other office during his
term or for a year thereafter. The legislature
meets in regular session oncerin four years. IN
stead of bennially. now, and its session is
limited to fifty days. 1t Is deprived OF practi-
cally all local legislative powers. except over
the liquor traffic, and must pass general laws
providing for the exercise of local legislative
powers. Municipal indebtedness of cities under
six thousand population is limited to per cent
of tax values and in large cities to per cent.
Extra Indebtedness may. however. be incurred
for schoolhouses. waterworks and sewers Prop
erty IS henceforth to be assessed at 65 per cent
of its actual value instead of - per cent The
present minimum school appropriation is $780,
ooo The new constitution levies special tax
of three mills. which will yield about 100000,
which, with the poll tax and other income. will
furnish fully S11O00O0 a year for schools.
Counties may levy an additional school tax Of
one mill Such provisions will give great en-
couragement TO workers for Southern educa-
ton Members of the legislature and judges
are forbidden 10 accept free railroad passes the
legislature may consolidate the chancery and
common law courts and penalties are provided
for sheriffs who permit prisoners to be taken
from them and ,lynched. At the same time the
terms of present sheriffs are extended two years,
and as they had the appointment Of the man
ayers of the vote on the constitution this may
account for the majority recorded for it. The
makers of the instrument evidently knew how
to get counted vote in its favor.
The most important provisions OF the new
constitution. so far the rest Of the country
is concerned. are those relating TO the suffrage.
The negro is pretty effectually barred ont, even
though he may not be illiterate There are at
present about seventy-five thousand negro voters
in Alabama who read and write These
must pay a purely voluntary poll tax Of 81 30
by February TO vote the next November This
requirement. together with provision for early
registration and disqualification for crime, will
IL is estimated. reduce the negro vote to less
than thirty thousand. Ample provision. how
ever is made for the illiterate white vote A
temporary and a permanent plan of registra-
ton are arranged. Under the temporary plan
in force TO January 1, 1903, three registrars in
each county, who in all cases will be white
Democrats will enroll male citizens who served
nonorably I'm any war OF the United States or of
the Confederate States, or served with the
State force Of Alabama IN the Civil War; also
descendants Of those who so served. and, in
addition. "all persons who are of good character
..and who understand the duties and obiga-
"tions of citizenship under republican form
..of government" Under this third rule the
registrars will be able to enroll all the whites
and decide that none Of the negroes fit to
vote.
All who get on the temporary roll remain vot-