The age-herald., 1901-08-11
TWO ARTICLES
 ADOPTED IN
 ONE MORNING The Convention Makes Record Breaking TimsoR RepTesen-
 tatiOn and Homestead WITHOUT AN AMENDMENT Jefferson County Gets One More Rep- resentatlve Under the Change.
 Shelby and St. County Af-
 fairs Are Taken Up.
WITHOUT AN AMENDMENT
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

61 fHANN HARVEY MlLLEH.
 Montgomery, August 10-(Special) )-To- day being Saturday, the convention de- cided not to hold an afternoon session so as to allow delegates to spend Sunday at home.
 Work during the morning session was rushed through and the convention made the remarkable record of adopting two articles without an amendment and with comparatively no debate.
 These were the articles on representa- ton and homestead. The former increased the number of representatives from 100 to 16 and the number of senators are in- creased from Ss to 35. The counties which get each an increase of one representative are Jefferson, Walker, Butler, Fillmore and Etowah. The counties of Talladega, Calhoun and Henry are made separate senatorial districts.
 The article on exemptions was reported just as 1t now is and so adopted. Tom Long said a vote of thanks and blue ribbon was due the committee.
 Much of the morning session was spent in discussing the counties of Shelby and St. Clair. The committee on miscellane- ous provisions had reported favorably an ordinance authorizing another court house for St. Clair County on the south side of Backbone mountain. This was adopted as amended by MT. Beavers of Shelby so as to authorize an additional courthouse in Shelby County. to be lo- cated by vote of the people somewhere on the line of the Central Railroad.
 Convention Opens.
 The sixty-eighth days session of the constitutional convention was called to order at o'clock by President Knox For the first time during the convention the roll call failed to show a quorum, there being but sixty-nine delegates pres ent, seventy-eight being a quorum. On motion of MT Bulger the sergeant at arms was instructed to bring in the ab- sent members and MT. O'Neal suggested that they be brought before the bar of the house and required to give their ex- cuses for being absent
 President Knox stated 1t would be the duty of the sergeant at arms to bring absent members before the bar. In a few minutes absent delegates arrived and a quorum was obtained.
 Mir Pitts of Dallas arose to question of personal privilege to explain some re- marks of his yesterday Mir Carnathon arose to correct an error In the steho- ghaphic report.
 MT. Williams of Marengo introduced resolution to provide that when the con- yention adjourns at 1 o'clock 1t adjourn to meet at 12 o'clock Monday. The con- yention adopted this resolution after de- feating several amendments to change the hours.
 MT. Graham of Talladega introduced one of the usual petitions against the railroad pass evil from citizens of his county.
 MT. Rogers of Sumter then moved that if thera were any more of these petitions they be sent forward at once, read and inserted in the stenographic report. This motion was adopted and several petitions were sent up.
 resolution was then reported favora- bly by the committee on amending the constitution. It provided that acts of the legislature of February IS, 1895. and Feb ruary 16. 1899, to consolidate the bonded indebtedness of the state be validated and continued of force MT. Merrill or Borbour offered an amendment that the new bonds issued could be made payable any time within fifty years. He spoke in favor of his amendment. saying there was some doubt as to the power or the state to reissue bonds under the present constitution and if this ordinance was adopted 1t would give the state the pow CT. even if the new constitution was not adopted by the people.
 This amendment was accepted by the committee and the ordinance adopted by an aye and nay vote of S4 to $.
 MT. Long of Walker introduced an or- dinance to require the secretary to obtain bound copies of the stenographic report to be sent to the verious delegates.
 MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale arose to ex- plain some remarks of his made in debate yesterday
 MT. Browne or Talladega arose to cor rect the stenographic report. He said that the report was so full of errors he was impossible to correct it, and that he merely wanted this statement to be pub lished.
 St, Clair Court House.
 The convention then took up an ordin- ance reported by the committee on amending the constitution and miscel- laneous provisions providing for an ad- ditional court house in St. Clair county, which the committee thought was neces- sary on account of the geographical con- dition of the county.
 The ordinance was read as follows:
 1. That it shall be the duty of the pro- bate judge of St. Clair county to order an election to be held in precincts num- bered g, 10. Il, 12, IS. fl, 15, 16. 17. 1s, 20 and 21. in St. Clair county, not later than sixty days after the ratification of the constitution to be submitted by this con vention for a vote of the qualified cleo tors in said precincts, at which a court house and jail shall be erected and maintained. Officers for such election shall be appointed, and the election. in all things in accordance with the law govern ing general elections. Upon the ballot to be used at such election the names of all places to be voted on shall be printed. and the choice of the elector shall be in- dicated by cross mark before the place of his choice The votes cast at such election shall be canvassed. tabulated. returns thereof made and counted in the same manner as is done In elections for