The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-14

people of district should elect him a
 representative, whit can you do about
 it? Nothing. It it never wise to do an unnecessary act else It may be nec-
 essary to do thoss things which you
 cannot accomplish. Therefore l say
 that I hope 1t will remain as it is. 1t
 does not disturb the people to have officers over the State elected every two years.
 Again. MT. President, the oftener the
 people recur to the principles of the Government under which they live.
 more certainly will those principles be
 honored and preserved. That is the
 maxim of the wisest political phiios- pphy: that govtrnments are preserved
 by recurring often to the principles of their foundatiof. and this Is matter
 of profound importance; there Is no
 business of more importance than se-
 lecting their rulers and legislators. and
 the people will not feel 1t 0 burden to
 vote every two years, as they have
 done since 1919. So, 1t seems to me. it is unnecessary to make this change. and I hope therefore that this amend
 ment will be adopted.
 The Chair stated the question 10 be upon the adoption of the amendment proposed by MT. Sanford of Montgom- cry.
 MT. Reese-I move to table 1t. The motion to table was seconded and carried. The Chair stated the question re- cured upon the adoption of section three as amended. A reading was called for. and the section was read.
 MT. O'Reer-I have an amendment. The amendment was read as follows: Amend section three by striking out the figures 1902, and inserting in lieu thereof the figures 1904 MT. Jones (Montgomery)-I move to lay that on the table. Seconded and carried. Mir. Davis (DeKalb)-I have an amendment.
 The President-The amendment pro-
 posed by the gentleman relates to sec tion five, which has not, been reached. MT. Davis (DeKalb}-I thought we were on section five. The President-We are on section three. The Secretary will read section three as amended.
 The section was read as follows: The Governor. Lieutenant Governor, Secre- tary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Att torney General, Superintendent of Ed ucation and Commissioner of Agrfcul-
 ture and Industries shall be elected at the same time and place appointed for the election of members of the Gen. eral Assembly in 1902, and every four years thereafter, by the qualified elec- tors of the State.
 MT. Jones (Bibb)-Mr. President
 wish to add to that section. "and the Attorney General shall be man learned in the law" The President-Will the gentleman
 send ur the amendment? MT. Jones (Bibb)-I wish to ask the
 Secretary to add that to the section. The President-The Chair cannot en- certain amendments that are not in
 writing.
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-I had an amendment written out, but 1t has been
 removed from my desk. I would like to state it.
 The President-The chair cannot en- certain an amendment unless the gen
 tleman reduces it to writing. (Cries of "leave."O MT. O'Neal Gauderdale)-I ask
 unanimous consent. MT. Coleman (Greene)-They have been removed from my desk. had them all written out. The President-Cannot the gentleman reduce the amendment to writing? r MT. Coleman (Greene)-It will take a | few minutes, and it is a matter of cal | culation.
 The Presidential the chair enter tains amendments proposed by ono delegate, it will be impossible to refuse the same privilege to all delegates, and | the chair declines to entertain tho amendment unless 1t is reduced to writ | ing.
 Mir. Rogers (Sumter)-I ask unani- nous consent to hear the statement oi
 the gentleman, not as an amendment ] but as a statement. MT. Proctor-I move that Section be temporarily passed, and that we take mp Section until the gentleman
 has time to reduce the amendment tc writing.
 Dissent was audibly expressed to the proposition.
 Mir Watts-I ask unanimous consent to introduce a resolution, not to be act ed upon, but to be referred. Leave was given. Resolution No. IA, by MT. Watts: Be it resolved, That the Committee | on Executive Department report to this convention whether any separate ordi-
 nance or provision in the Constitution | to be framed is necessary to provide
 for succession in the office of Governor
 until the Governor elected in 1902 goes
 into office. 4
 Referred to Committee on Executive | Department.
 Mir. Coleman (Greene)-I would like
 to make a statement before any mo-
 tion Is made to lay this amendment on | the table.
 The President-The Chair will hear | the gentleman's statement before any
 motion is entertained. Amendment by MT. Coleman of Greene-"Strike out the words 1902 and 1 insert the words 1904" l MT. Coleman (Greene)-As I under stand the purpose of the Convention Is
 to have elections every four years. and
 I presume that the understanding is
 that will apply to all elections. There 1 are some officers in the State who hold | for four years, and some who hold for
 six years The terms of those who hold for six years will not expire until | 1904. So if you have these elections for terms beginning in December, 1902, ard | every four years thereafter. as to those
 officers who hold for six years, with
 terms terminating in 1904. what is to 1 become of them? But. by having the
 election postponed until 1904, you equal | ize all these elections, and have a short
 term of two years to start with, reach 1 ing up 10 1904, and after that time all l elections State and County. can be | held every four years, and one cleo | tion serves the whole purpose intended.
 Thereby we will attain the object in- | tended of having elections every four
 years. and l see no other way to avoid