The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-03
THE STATE CAM
 PAIGN COMMITTEE
Issues an Able Address to the PeO- ple of Alabama FavOring Rati- ficatiOn of the New
 Constitution.

upon the Legislature the increase of this fund, from time to time, as the States revenues may admit This fund will in crease as the tax values increase. It also allows the several counties to levy a special school tax of 10 cents on the $l0o upon the vote of three-ffths of the voters of the county. The old constitution ap- propriates about s10o0O0 to the public school fund, and the new constitution ap- propriates about $S00,000 without increase of taxation.
 Third-A reduction in the number, and frequency of elections. The executive of- ticers of the State are to be elected every four years, instead of every two years, as now, and State and federal cleo tions are to be held at the same time. As a precaution, however, against any evil that may come, or portend, from holding these elections at the same time, the Legislature IS authorized to change the time of the State elections, if found necessary, or expedient.
 Fourth-Under our present constitution, whenever a vacancy occurs in any judi cial office, it is filled by appointment of the Governor, whose appointee holds for the balance of the unexpired term. The new constitution provides, that where the vacancy occurs more than six months prior to a general. election, the people shall elect the successor at that election. Fifth-Provision is made for the cleo ton, by the people, of circuit solicitors, who under the present constitution, are elected by the legislature.
 Sixth-The hitherto unlimited power of the Legislature to create courts and elect new judges is curbed and restricted, If the new constitution be ratified, city courts or courts of law and equity cans not be established in any county which has not at least 10000 inhabitants and s. 800, 900 of taxable values.
 Seventh-Not only Is there provided a limitation on the creation of new courts, but the legislature is authorized to change or abolish any of the courts now estab- lished, except the Supreme Court and Probate Courts, and 1t may confer on the Circuit Courts. chancery Jurisdiction.
 Eighth-No salary of an official can be increased during the term for which he was elected. under the new constitution. Ninth-The Legislature is to meet every four years, instead of biennially, as at present. The doing away with one ses- sion each two years results in a net sav- ing of about $5o,000 to the State, which is the cost of each session. This change also gives the people time to become familiar with the laws and test their operation and efficiency. before the Leg islature can meet and try to make changes in them. Tenth-The Legislature cannot spend its time, and the peoples money, in local and special elgislation, under the new | constitution. No special privileges or | charters can be granted; no corporate
 powers extended, by special or private | acts; no person or corporation can be
 exempted from the operation of the gen. l eral laws: no city, town or county car | be authorized to issue bonds, except upor l to 0f fha Aad n1n nf
 city, town or county; no liens, by specia law, can be created; no property can, by
 special act, be exempted from taxation no county seat can be located or changed | by the Legislature; but 1t can be by the | vote of the people; no liability of all | individual or corporation toAthe State or | county or city, can be released, except | upon full payment; no divorce can be | granted, and no minor can be relieved oi the disabilities of homage by the Legisla. ture, nor can 1t grant special immunities | to administrators or guardians, or relieve them from making their settlements with the courts.
 | Many, and stringent, provisions are in- | corporated to cure and prevent the evils | that have flowed from special and local | legislation. Some idea of the magnitude i of this evil can be obtained by noting that the General Assembly of 1S9S-99 pass ed general laws, covering less than two | hundred pages, and local and special laws | covering about 1.S00 pages; whilst the | last General Assembly passed general | laws covering about POO pages and special | and local laws, covering about 2,6oO pages. | The cost of publishing these special acts | in book form, Is considerable, and is paid | for out of the State treasury-the benefit conferred by the special acts accrue to | the favored individual or corporation. | This provision for quadrennial, instead l of biennial sessions of the Legislature, | and the taking away of the power to en- | act special laws and grant special privi- | leges, may be dstasteful to the profes'
 sional lobbyist, whose occupation will bt
 gone, and whose presence on the flool
 of either House of the Legislature, except
 by consent of all of the members is for
 bidden by the new instrument; but thu
 people will not suffer because of his ab
 sence from the halls of legislation.
 Eleventh-'rhe Governor cannot succeed
 himself, nor can he be elected or appoint
 ed, to a State office or the United State
 Senate, for at least one year after hi
 term ends.
 Twelfth-The pardOning power is hedgeC
 about to prevent it's abuse and a board
 of pardons is provided for, which is com | posed of other State officials than the | Governor, and whose salaries are not in
 creased on account of having to dis | charge that duty.
 | Thirteenth-A Lieutenant Governor, to l be elected by the people is provided for, | and he is to preside over the Senat; but | his only salary is the perdiam allowed | Speaker of the House and he Is to be
 paid only during the session of the Legis- | lature, except when he acts as Governor.
 This provision, secures in case of a
 vacancy in the office of Governor. a sue cesor elected by the people.
 Fourteenth-Under the new constitution,
 there will be a limit beyond which
 neither cities nor counties can issue
 bonds and 1t will require an affirmative
 vote of the electors to obtain the issue
 Fifteenth-A limit to the grant of fran
 chises to water. gas electric lights and
 street railroads, through public places. by
 municipal authorities, is fixed.
 Sixteenth-The examination. by public
 officer, of the resources and liabilities of
 State and private banks, Is required. and
 the security of deposltors thereby in-
 creased.
 SeVenteenth-Coropor are requir-
 ed to pay a franchise tax. based upon
 the amount of capital employed
 Eighteenth-Railroads are forbidden tc
 issue passes to Legislators, or judicia
 officers.
 Nineteenth-The new constitution doe.
 not create a large number of new of
 fees, as has been falsely charged. Ther,
 are provisions allowing the Legislature | to change the system of circuit solicitor,
 to that of county solicitors, if it be here
 after found beneficial to do so. The only
 new officials actually created. are thos,
 of Lieutenant Governor and the thre, | each cOunty tO rapista