The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-20

. feSterdey. On yezterday kney nUSceSo- ' d in passing through this House a ,roposition that gave to the Executive power exceeding that of any dozen or nore members that the people send Aere. Today, by their report, they recognize the fact that there should be limitations placed upon the power of the Executive. The reason for 1t, Mir. Presi ient, Is more readily under stood by those who have had experi- snce than 1t can ever possibly be stated or explained. We know the power or the Executive We know that 1t Is inS sinuating in it's nature. We know that 1t travels no beaten path. We know that 1t finds its mark in the way most open and most plain to 1t.
 When for the first time in all of the history of representative government, 50 far as I know, you give the Execu- tive the right practically to sit upon the floor, and amend legislation. ana then if you, go further and allow that Executive to select from among the members of that Legislature his ap- pointees to office, you know you put into one mans hands the power to run your State. It seems so plain to me- do not see why men should differ about 1t Why isn't it wise and well to pre- serve the separate departments or the government distinct and tndependent
 
 in the language of the committee. that the Governor shall not go upon the floor Of the House to select his ap- pointees? It may never happen that Alabama will ever need one Of them. or one of us, to fill any public of1ce In her gift There sare eighteen hundred thousand people in Alabama. They will never need one of the Legislative Department to fill any public of1ice, for there are as good men out of the General Assembly as will ever be sent to it. It will not only keep up the lines or demarkation between the depart ments, but make them stronger. The man who is willing to serve the State as a legislator-and it is always mat ter of lf-sacrifce-ought not to De called upon again to surrender his own interests and serve the State in some other capacity There will never be time in Alabama, or in any county Tn Alabama-and my friend from Biob need not be disturbed-that there Will not be found worthy men in every county and every precinct in Alabama fit to serve in any capacity 10 Wnich the people may call them. think the report of the committee should be adopted, and think the committee ought to recognize that provision IS inconsistent with their provision or yes terday, whereby they ought to tear down the lines of demarkation between the departments.
 Mr. Cunningham (Jefferson)-I will briefly and courteously criticise the DO sition taken by the delegate from binp. that the dead past should bury US dead. The advantage that one civiii- Eation has over previous civilization IS the lessons of the past: the things that are good as examples to be foHoWeo. and the things that are evil. as exam nles to be summed. We can do tnlS without mentioning names and in- stapces, and calling to mind certain particular things. That could be done on this occasion, but propriety and good taste forbid 1t. I will never SUD- nit nor subscribe to the proposition khat if in going a certain path l run up against a stone wall. that snoulo start out again should not take an- other path or have the stone wall re- moved. Therefore. l say that 1t Is the duty of this Convention to apply the lessons of the past, 1t matters not whence nor where they come, nor what the motive, to the future, and l sup scribe to every word that has been uttered here by the committee, and py by colleague from Jefferson, that there Is no reason why we should exempt a member of the Legislature from these lnhibitions and restraints and yet en- Join upon and require them or the Chief Executive of the State. l now renew my motion to lay the aHieno-i ment on the table.
 MT. Reese-The gentleman has spoken leveral times on this motion.
 MT. Cunningham-Twice, which ] have the right to do under the rules. will withdraw my motion.
 MT. Reese--Mr. President, movements for reform are frequently accompanied iG prevalence of views that leads up to an extreme at times. and we are apt to act incautiously. I think the adop- tion of this change, and l regard It as a radical change. MT. President, might be serious for it changes doctrine that has existed since the foundation of the government and we should con- template to some extent the results that may follow such radical move ment as the one now suggested.
 Conditions in the recent past unfor- !unately have been frequently referred 70 upon this floor. l deem it unfortu- late that a recent administration or he affairs of this State should have been the occasion of such frequent re- marks. I differed radically with the policy of the last administration but l nave always recognized and recognize aow the ability of the recent Governor If Alabama, although l opposed hlm Tn politics.
 MT. President, the prejudiees that lrose in recent campaigns are not to be called on upon this floor to ieao us into doing something we should not. This proposition here eliminates from service upon the floor of the Halls Of our legisiative bodies some of our ablest men. Conditions now in Ala hama are such that we are not able to secure the services of our best men in legislative capacities. In my own county there exists and has existed in getting our ablest men. Our ablest men have been urged and pleaded with, without success, to take these offices. We urged and pleaded with our ablest -nen from Dallas to come here and fiji ehe positions on this floor that l and my colleagues are now filling. without success. The only candidates before inc people of Dallas County were the men who occupy position on this floor today. Every man who was candl- date before the people of Dallas Coun- ty occupies a seat in this Convention hall.
 Now. Mir. President, this is not an attractive eposition. It is field that is without adequate compensation. Most of us who come here in some way or other spend our $4 day and neg Iect our important business at home cnd if you further the curtailment and ,t-I-.+iap of o1Ir men best caDaCita-