The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-08

acton III the bcSlSidture VIII Temdiu, I expect, fully as long as the lives of those men who participated In 1t. The facts of that transaction will never come to life, and hope never will, but 1t has been to us as an object lesson which we are not likely to forget. Now, what harm could result from the adop- tion of the substitute offered by my colleague? If 1t ever becomes expedi. ent or right that the occupants of ter. ritory contingous to Montgomery or to other cities that the occupants of su- burbs should become citizens of any municipality, they themselves will see to it that they come in. but why should we pursue a man as civilization pur. sued Daniel Boone into the wilderness So as to compel him to go into a city and be subjected to taxation, whether he wants to or not, If he lives within half mile or mile of a city?
 MT. Sanford (Pike)-I suggest to the gentleman from Montgomery that the amendment offered by his col league, MT. Sanford, is a little inden- mite in regard to who would be permit ted to vote upon that question, Some of us think that the way the amend ment reads now 1t would be by the vote of the city as well as the others.
 Mir. Mechanically recollection is that it was by the inhabitants of the territory sought to be annexed. If you are right in your inference, 1t makes it no better but worse. suggest that the amendment offered by my colleague be read.
 The Secretary read the amendment as follows: Amend said section by adding at the end of sa!d section tho words: Provided. that the people re. siding in the territory to be annexed shall have an opportunity to vote upon the question of annexation
 MT. Sanford (Pike)-It does not con. fine it to that if you notice.
 MT. Macdonald-That is true, and I ner suggested by the gentleman from Pike.
 MT deGraffenreid-Cannot the Gen. eral Assembly do that as well without this section as with the seetion7
 Mr. Macdonald-I think they can. and. therefore. I think the substitute of considerable importance. know they attempted it and came very near succeeding. and that is one of the req. sons that I was not willing that the section or substitute be laid upon the table. because I think the idea sug- gested that the consent of the inhabi- tants of the territory to be annexed should be first secured is of great im- portance, otherwise there is no limit whatever to legislative discretion in annexins any territory to a city, and We know, as has been well said on this floor. that the local members generally come from the cities, and will do what they can to relieve them of the burdens Of taxation. I hope the substitute, amended possibly as by the suggestion of the gentleman from Pike, will be adopted
 MT. Weathely-As stated in my opening remarks in introducing this Article. the members of this Commit tee have no pride of opinion as to the adoption or rejection of this section of this report or any part of it. We are simply offering to the Convention the results of our investigation. and our ideas of what should be put in the Con- stitution so far as 1t relates to munich pal corporations. It was suggested to the members of this Committee that great harm had been heretofore done by changing corporation lines in the Legislature without giving the people Of the city which was affected any mo- tice of 1t or any opportunity to be heard, and I understand that the gen. tleman from Dallas states upon this floor that that was done at a late meet ing of the Legislature affecting his town. The Committee though if wise.
 
 De made in the corporate boundaries of a municipality that notice of the in- tended change should be given by pub lication in the form set out in the re- port. AS the matter now stands, any member of the Legislature regardless of the wishes of the people. can either procure the enlargement of the limits of his town or have them contracted. We think that the people have a rIkft N hn hAA RA hs,k vention, 1t Is not thought by those who have carefully studied the question. that the question of taking in or leav- ing out certain territory should be left to the vote of the people affected by It. Now, the gentleman from PNSe, speaking upon this question be6cfe the noon recess. pictured the beauties of suburban residence. where a man who lived outside of a town could get all the advantages of city life. be able to carry on his business in the city and escape municipal taxa. tion. I say that a man who receives the benefits of a municipal government ought to be willing to bear his propor. tion of the burden. If you leave 1t to the vote of the man who lives immedi- ately on the outside where he can reach the center of the city and reach his place of business by street car in ten minutes. where he gets the benefits Of electric lights, police protection, paved streets aid sewers and does not have to bear his proportion Of the bur. den. of course he Is geing to vote not to come in. and I say gentlemen that there are times when certain portions of suburban territory should be brought into the city limits even if those peo- pie themselves are opposed to it. This section gives them an opportunity to be heard before the Legislature. It brings the subject to the attention of the public. where it may he actively discussed by the people. and if any changes are to be made. they can be made in the open. and not. as hereto fore. made in secret. These are the reasons that move the committee to recommend the adoption of this section to the Convention. I move to lay the amendment on the table.
 Mr. Sanford (Montgomery)-Upon that I call for the ayes and noes
 The call was not sustained .:+-.
 The PreSident-As many as ia Jr the motion to lay the amendment on the table will say aye and those opposed no.
 Upon the vote being taken a division was called for and the motion to table the amendment prevailed by SS ayes and 35 noes.
 The President-The question will re- cur upon the amendment of the gen. tleman from Dallas (Mr. Craig).
 MT. Hood-I move that the amend