The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-13
but we want to vote on Section 2 as it

but we want to vote on Section as it stands.
 Mir. Barefield-I think the Commit tee on "Harmonics" can harmonize that whether it Is germane or not.
 The President-The Chair is not dis posed to rule it out on the ground of Its being not germane. It may be somewhat inconsistent.
 Mir. Long-Can 1t be offered as sub stitute for this whole Article, when it only applies to the sheriffs' successor I have no objection to the gentleman's s amendment I think the sheriff should succeed himself, and I would vote for it in the proper shape.
 The President-The proposition Is to strike out Section of the minority re- port and insert in lieu thereof the prop osition he offers.
 Mir Long--Would it not be better to let them vote on this and then offer his amendment to Section ? of the majority report when that amendment Is voted down?
 MT. Barefield-I prefer it as it is. l have not been in favor of the sheriffs being impeached by jury of twelve men of their county. I have always been opposed to the Article in the re- port on the Executive Department that provided for the mode of impeachment, but have seen quite a number of sher- ifs, and they say that if they are al- lowed to succeed themselves. they do not care one iota about the impeach- ment question. They say if they are allowed to succeed themselves, to vim dicate themselves if they are impeach- ed. or an effort is made to impeach them. tn " do not care about the pres ent impeachment law. I have talked to whole lot of delegates in this Con- vention who favor the impeachment by twelve men of the county in the Cir cult Court or court of like jurisdiction, but who prefer the amendment I have offered. They say we would rather have the sheriff to succeed himself in office than to defeat the impeachment proposition. Now, as I have stated, have been bitterly opposed to the pres ent impea chment law as adopted by this Convention, but if the sheriffs in this State want to succeed themselves, and I say they have a perfect right to 60 so, why, let us adopt that and allow the pres ant impeachment law to re- main as it is. Now, the question is
 Mir. Walker (Madison)-Do you pro- pose to strike out entirely any pro- vision in the Constitution in reference to the impeachment of Judges of Cir cult Courts and Probate Judges and So- 1icitors and Judges of inferior courts?
 Mr. Barefield-No. sir; my amend ment is to the latter part of Section ?. which provides the manner in which sheriffs shall be impeached.
 MT. Walker-But you offer it as a substitute for that entire section.
 MT. Barefield-I offer 1t as a substi- ute to the minority report. The ma jority report provides how a sheriff--
 MT Walker-Hadn' you better offer to amend the majority report by adding that?
 Mr Barefeld-I cannot see to save my life why a Sheriff should not have the right to succeed himself. I have never seen and have never heard any man on the floor of this Convention give any valid reason why the Sheriff should not succeed himself. You take all the county officials. Your Tax Col lector can default. and as a general rule, whenever they do default it is in their second term. 1t is the same way with your County Treasurer who handles thousands and thousands of dollars of money whenever he de- faults. He acts the gentleman in his first term in order to be able to act a rascal in his second term. The other proposition as to the Tax Assessor and of county officials should be prohibited from succeeding themselves because he can undervalue property in order to electioneer for the office of Probate Judge or his successor in office. We allow the Probate Judge to succeed himself. He handles the States money He can default, and yet we say to him as sensible men, that he can succeed himself, and all other county officials can succeed themselves. Then ask
 you gentlemen of the Convention why not allow the Sheriff to succeed him. self, and I say to you gentlemen who are favorable to the Sheriff succeeding himself if we can get a proposition l through that will allow him to suc- ceed himself then let this impeach- ment law remain as it is. no matter how objectionable 1t is to us.
 MT. Burns-I thought I understood you to say a while ago that the Sher- ifs would be satisfied to compromise | upon this amendment.
 MT. Bareield-That is what several told me, that they did not care any thing about impeachment if they were allowed to vindicate themselves before the people.
 MT. Burns-Do you say that any l Sheriff in Montgomery, Wilcox or in ! the black belt agrees to that?
 MT. Barefield-I will say this much: They are not the only Sheriffs in Ala 1 bama.
 Mir. Burns-Did IS many as three say so?
 Mr. Barefield-Yes. sir
 MT. Burns-I just talked to the Presi- dent of the Sheriffs and Clerks Associa- ton and they had not heard of 1t.
 MT. Long (Walker)-fS it not fact that the President of the Sheriff's As sociation told you that between the two ] he preferred for the impeachment tC be knocked out rather than the other?
 MT. Barefield-Yes, sir, he did and will say the President of the Sheriff Association is not the only Sheriff ir Alabama who would like to succeed | himself in preference to the impeach- ment proceedings
 The presdent-rs the gentleman through with his remarks. ..: s Mir. Barefeld-Yes. .>: # .. The President-The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Barbour.
 The Chair is of the opinion that the amendment offered by the gentleman from Monroe would more properly be applica ble to the section as reported b! the majority of the committee. and i seems that it would not be in order a! a substitute for the minority report so the gentleman had better withdraw his amendment and offer 1t after tn, minority report is disposed of.
 MT Barefeld-Yes, sir, 1 will asl unanimous consent to withdraw it.
 The consent was given.
 Mir. Merrill-~The main reason wh! this committee included Sheriffs in thi