The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-15

| un te, and that in the consider ation of this ordinance We may experience that feeling O. uni.y which has been beau tifuay expressed in Holy Wr3,: Be ho.d. how good and how pleasant 1t is for brethren to dwell together Ia un ty." I believe that tho delegates of tnis Conven: ion are unified ufon the one subject of public education for all the children of this state. and that thsy believe 1t should fall, as the dews and
 the gen ie rain, upon all alike, without references to the condition. IL is with this view that the Comm,ttee comes
 besore you practically harmo 1ious. We present thirteen sections. The fr.t C. ton presents a change as to the man ner oi distribution or the school fund. Under the presen, Constitution 1t is provided that the school fund shall be apportioned for the equal benefit of all the children. We have statute on page 1904 of the Code of 1896, which says that the Trustees may apportion the funds as they may deem just and equitable and for the equal benefit of the children that are of a school age. Many propositions were introduced pro-, viding that the school fund should be divided according to the tax paid by the several races. The Committee unanimously concluded that that would conflict with the Constitution of the United States. and they have provided In lieu that equal benefits of the school fund of the races shall be equal as nearly as practicable. and thereby meet all the requirements of the Con- stitution of the United states and of justice between the races in Alabama.
 Now, as to the second and third sec lions, they remain unchanged. Section 10 simply change in detail. The poll taxes are to be applied to the pub mittee on Suffrage and Elections to how much shall be paid. So in effect there Is no change.
 Section presents comparatively the greatest change. This is a summary of all the school revenues of the State. Under the present plan We have $550,- 900, as State appropriation, and the one mill tax. which, added to that, will make SS06, 900 or $So7, ,00o, which the State of Alabama is giving for public schools from general and special taxes, leaving out of consideration the Six teenth Section fund and the poll tax. We provide that In lieu of special one mill tax. and the appropriation of $550,- 900. tax of three mills, out of the six and a half mills. shall be exclusively applied to public schools. That tax of three mills, based upon the present State values, would yield about $56000 less than we are now getting, but 1t provides sliding scale whereby, if tax values increase the school fund will be increased, and If tax values decrease, the schools will share in the adverse conditions that come upon the State. In the opinion of the Committee, we will lose at least $50 900 on poll taxes under the new election law. If we do, and lose $36.000 from the present estimate on the three mill tax, then we will have lost $S6,000 for the schools on present conditions, but as friends of the schools, we are willing to accept that as a pres- ent basis. hoping the future of the State may be prosperous. and that the schools will share In that prosperity when it comes. We ask the fayoratla consideration of this Convention in EiV- ing Us the three mill tax ih lieu of the $550,00 annual appropriation, and the one mill special tax. although 1t may not at present give us the exact amount that We are now receiving.
 The Committee on Taxation demon- strated to the satisfaction of this Con- vention that the State would be able to meet this obligation and give this much for public schools, so much so that the Chairman of that Committee introduced an ordinance which came before our Committee, that this Convention should maintain as the minimum constitu- tional fund the present school fund of the State of Alabama.
 As to Section 6, 1t remains unchanged.
 Section ' remains unchanged, except the term of office and the mode of cleo ton of the State Superintendent are lett to the Executive Article which has already been adopted. Sections 8 and unchanged except that the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind at Tal- ladega, and the Alabama Girls Indus trial School at Montevallo have been placed among the Constitutions. Insti- tutlons in Albama. SectionqtL/is a new section which provides for theotahinR or a school census. That has not been heretofore constitutional reouire- ment, and 1t was the unanimous opIn- ion Of the Committee that there should be a constitutional safeguard thrown around the school census of Alabama. and thereby stop the cry of false enu- merations, which has not been limited to any one Section of the State. Sec ton l2 Is new Section, and is a mod lncation of the amendment offered on the Article of Taxation, and provides that three-ffths of the qualified voters Tn any county in this State may vote 10 levy a tax not exceeding one mill for the use of the public schools of tbe county in which 1t Ns levied and col iected. do not propose to enter into the merits of that at this time. There IS a minority report on this Section of- fered by MT. Ashcraft.
 MT. Fitts-Wil you permit an in- quiry?
 MT. Grahan,-certainly.
 Mir. Fitts-It only provides that the male tax payers shall participate in this election?
 MT. Graham-The "qualifed electors" Of the county.
 Mir. Fitts-And a woman who pays taxes has no voice?
 MT Graham-No, sir, she is not A qualified voter
 MT Fitts-She can be taxed though to keep these schools up if 1t is adop- ted?
 MT. Graham-Yes. sir. If it is adop- ted.
 Section IS is Section il in the pres ent Constitution. and is incorporate without change. desire to state that there is a minority report in regard to Trustees of the University of Ala bama. Certain, other gentlemen have reserved the privilege of offering an who decided that they did not care to offer a minority report.
 Wph this statement I move that the Article on Education be taken up sec ton by section for adoption.
 TIpOn a vote heinz taken the r,otio,