The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-31

a convention of the people of Alabama | and Democrats, Republicans and Popu- lists ought not to figure; but 1t Is the pledges that we should bear in mind, and I am not in a position to follow I the gentleman who would suggest methods by which they would furnish l facility to the convention to forget | those pledges they have made to the people I have no reference to the pledges that the Democratic party has made to the people. but it is the pledges of the delegates themselves. whether they are Democrats or not, those that have come in here under the auspices of that party have accepted the pledges. There Is no necessity for con- stant reference to the fact that the Democratic party controls the conven- ton. but in my opinion, 1t is very use | full lesson to let these gentlemen bear l constantly in mind that they are un- der pledges to the people of Alabama have seen instances in the ordinances that have been introduced in the body | that some of them are forgetful of the | promises they have made in regard to | taxation. Let us not forget those, There have been insidious methods in- | troduced into this body under which | the powers of taxation will be indirect ly enlarged, and I, for one, want to ga on record as not trying to put those pledges behind us where we can forge. them. MT. President, they ought to be stereotyped on this wall and this con- venticn cannot be too frequently re- min.ed of the fact that before they came here and when they were seeking this great trust-tl.Is great political power from the people of Alabama | that these pledges were constantly in | tho;x ry,fnI~ and np thofr lipe and lei us not put them behind us; let us not do a thing here today that will lead the people to believe that we are be- coming oblivious to those promises. | think it Is unwise to adopt this reso- lution. think the decency and the in- telligence of this tody and the general sentiment of these delegates will re- strain the members, and I, for one, be- lieve the passage of the resolution is unnecessary. It can never be wrong to refer to pledges that the great old party that sent us here has made to | the people, and I, for one, am not ashamed to hear delegates here refer to it.
 l Mr Rogers tSunter)-There is an old trite saying that the proof of the pud- ding is in chewing the bag. The peo- pie of Alabama have chewed the rag of the Democratic party for forty or fifty years and have found it good. The people of the State of Alabama rely ard expect, without question, that the Democratic party shall carry out its pledges and it seems to me a reflection | upon a body of men the like of which has not assembled upon this floor since 1875. to continue to remind them by resolutions of pledges made and there by raise a doubt in the minds of the people of the State of Alabama that we have come here to do something which we promised not to do. There fore. now move the previous question upon this resolution.
 Mir. Hefiin (Chambers)-I hope the gentleman will withdraw that motion for a moment.
 MT. Rogers (Sumter)-I decline to withdraw.
 A vote being taken, the previous vote being taken, the resolution was ! carried.
 MT. Oates-I desire to offer a resolu- ton and have it referred to the Com. mittee on Rules.
 Mir. Hefiin (Ckambers)-I rise to a question of order. The gentlSnan from Sumter has his hat on. He has taken 1t off now.
 MT. Rogers (Sumter)-I had no in- tentions to be disrespectful, but I was intending to leave the hall.
 | The resolution No. s2, offered by Mir Oates. was read as follows:
 Resolved. That the present Constitu- tion shall be the basis for action by this convention, and all of its provision; which are not abrogated by repeal noi amended shall be and remain parts O. the new Constitution.
 Referred to Committee on Rules.
 Mir. Oates-Just one word in explana- tion. A good many of the gentlemen
 here in offering propositions are re-
 beating parts of the constitution that | ale now in existence and are not pro- | posed to be changed: that work can be
 saved and that is the object of this l resolution.
 The President-The same resolution 1 was offered this morning and was re-
 ferred to the Committee on Order, Con-
 sistency and Harmony of the whole Constitution.
 MT. Oates-That escaped my atten, l tion. 1 ask a reference of this 70 the
 Committee on Rules so that we can
 have a rule by which to be governed
 and thereby have the work to which
 l have referred.
 The President-That would place the
 came resolution before two different | committees.
 MT. Oates-The committee to which
 the first was referred does not act un.
 til after a great part of the labor oi
 the convention is performed and offer
 this with view of facilitating the
 proceedings sO as not to propose to re.
 enact parts Of the constitution yitf
 which all are satisfied.
 The Prcsident-At the suggestion Ci
 the gentleman, the chair will refer this
 resolution to the CJmmittea on Rule,
 and will also refer the resolution in.
 troduced by the gentleman from
 LaLderdale to that same Committee.
 Ordinance No 162 by MT. Sanford:
 To provide for the distribution oi
 school funds.
 Be it ordained, That Section 5 Article XIII of the constitution bt
 amended so as to read as follows:
 "The income arising from the Six.
 teenth Section trust fund, the surplus
 revenue fund until it is called for by
 the United States Government, and tho funds enumerated in Sections and
 of this article, with such other money:
 to be not less than $500, ,000 per annuln
 as the General Assembly shall provide
 by taxation, or otherwise, shall be ar
 piled to the support and maintenance
 of the public schools and such fund!
 as herein enumerated shall be divided
 between the different school township:
 throughout the State in proportion [, the number of school children within
 the school age, which funds shall bt
 used by the township trustes for tht tiop in their township, so that tho | hnr of al fn