The age-herald., 1901-05-29
SUFFRAGE AND EDUCATION HAD
 INNINGS IN THE CONVENTION

troduced an ordinance to abolish Article of the Constitution on suffrage, and to substitute in lieu thereof a plan of which the following is synopsis:
 The voter must be over 21 years of age and duly registered He must have paid to the Probate Judge on or before Jan uary 15 1902 and not later than January 15, 1902, and not later than January 15 in each succeeding year the sum or A as contribution to the school fund; or shall have paid in the preceding year taxes amounting to $5 or upwards and shall not be in arrears for taxes for any prior year; or shall have honorably served in the land or naval forces of the United States or of the Confederate States or of the State of Alabama; or shall have been admitted to the electo- rate by the vote of the qualified electors of the county in which he resides on the recommendation of the grand jury of the county.
 It provides for the Governor to order these elections for admitting such citi- zens as the grand jury may recommend for good character.
 It provides that persons convicted of various crimes, or shall buy or sell votes or who are idiots or insane, shall not vote.
 After the year 1903 the General Assem- bly, may provide an educational qualifica- tion, except as to soldiers and those elected by the voters.
 If an educational qualification is re- quired, it provides for appeals frQm the decision of the officers to the circuit or city courts.
 It makes 1t the duty of the General Assembly to pass laws regulating elec- tions not inconsistent with the Consti- tuition, and to provide for registration.
 It provides that at elections each po- litical party may have member as manager. It provides a penalty for any person betting at elections or for voting at the wrong precinct, or for buying or selling votes.
 It provides that at any general cleo tion which may elect members of the General Assembly who will be called upon to elect an United States Senator there shall be opened a poll in each pre- cinct for the expression of the choice of the qualified electors for Senator. which votes shall be counted and returned as are votes for Governor.
 He also introduced an ordinance to amend section 1, article ', of the consti- tuition so as to make additional grounds of impeachments for the Governor.
 Other Resolutions.
 Mir. Kirk of Colbert introduced an ord- nance to amend section of article of the constitution so as to make the Cover nor and other Statehouse officials hold their offices for four years.
 He also introduced an ordinance to amend sections. 5, G. IS and 23 of the con stitution so as to require circuit courts held in each county at least twice year; to Wive them original Jurisdiction in all caseM. civil and criminal; to provide that if any judge be incompetent to try case for any reason the parties or their coun- sel might select a third disinterested law yer as fudge; that clerks of circuit courts shall be elected for six years and that all causes filed in the circuit courts wherein the chancery court has exclusive Jurisdiction to be transferred to that court and vice versa
 MT. Kirkland of Dale offered an ordi- nance requiring that all State and county officers shall hereafter be elected at the same time for four years
 Also that the present exemption laws or Alabama shall remain the same except that the area of homestead snail em- brace 16O acres and no more
 MT. Lomax of Montgomery introduced an ordinance to limit the power of politi- cal or municipal corporations to incur debts for any purpose exceeding an amount equal to 10 per cent of the as- sessed taxable value, except in time or war. when 1t may be exceeded for pur- poses of defense.
 He also introduced an ordinance limit ing the powers of, the General Assembly in laws regulating duties of justices or the peace, changing venues, divorces, opening roads, levy of taxes, or to give any indulgence to tax collectors, laws effecting estates, giving effect to invalid deeds. etc A number of other subjects were mentioned which the Legislature was prohibited from changing.
 He also offered a resolution to amend section ' of article Il by readopting the present Constitution with the Birming- ham amendment added, as oeclareo III the Democratic platform.
 MT. I,omax also introduced an ordln- ance to fix the amount of exemption at S1 .O00 which was not to be good against a mechanics lien for work done on the property. Right of exemption must pc waived in writing.
 Also a resolution to preserve the present article in the Constitution as to powers of corporations.
 MT Lomax also introduced an ordinance on suffrage, the main features of which were that the voter must be able to read any section of the Constitution or under stand it when read except that any sol dier who is now entitled to vote shall have the right to vote in any election hereafter It provided for a board of three registers in each county, to be elected by the qualified voters.
 MT. McDonaId's Ideas.
 MT. Macdonald of Montgomery offered an ordinance to amend section 22 of arti- cle of the Constitution, requiring that no amendment to any section of the Con- stitution should be adopted except by an aye and nave vote recorded in the Journals of each house.
 He also introduced an ordinance requir- ing every bill to be copied in the journal of it's house before being introduced. of the Constitution as to suffrage and election, the principle features of which were that the voter must pay his taxes and understand the Constitution.
 MT. Malone of Henry introduced an or dinance to amend section 2 of article of the Constitution 80 as to ratify ana con- firm the present county boundaries and to prevent any new county from being formed less than 45O square miles.
 Also a resolution to allow each town ship to collect tax of 25 cents on each S10O for school purposes and requiring the tax derived from persons of African de- cent to be used for their schools.
 Also resolution to provide for a State Bank Commission.
 Mr. Miller of Marengo offered an ordin- ance to establish and fix the State boun- daries and to prevent any county from being formed of less than 600 square miles,
 MT Miller of Wilcox offered resolu- tion that the formation of school districts be encouraged and established under well guarded regulations as to taxation.
 MT. Mulkey of Geneva offered an or dinance to amend section 28 article 5 of the constitution so as to require the sheriffs to hold office for four years and be in- eligible for reelection, but that any