Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-05
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
The Alabama Law Which Practically
DISTINGUISHES Negroes.

The new constitution practically dis
franchising the negroes in Alabama,
adopted at the convention in Mont
gomery yesterday makes radical
changes from the old in nearly every
article, and two distinct suffrage
schemes are provided. Disqualified
ton for crime and voluntary prepay
ment of poll tax of $1.50 being COM
mon to both prior to Jan 1, 1903. All
register who have honorably served
in some war, who are descendants
from soldiers who have so served or
who have good character" and under
stand the duties and obligations of
| citizenship.
Duty of Registrars.
Three registrars are to be appoint
ed for each county. They WILL as
matter of fact. be three white demo-
Gratis, and. under the judicial power
| to pass on character and understand
ing of applicant and to determine the
proof required of service in war or
descent, are expected to register all
the white and turn down practically
all the negroes. All those who regis
| ter under this plan constitute life
electorate and can vote without fur
Their question as long as they pay
their poll taxes.
The poll tax, however, ceases after
As years of age. The rejected appil-
cant may appeal from the registrars
to the courts. After Jan. 1, 1903 these
determinations in favor of the whites
are abolished the judicial power of
the registrars withdrawn and both
races and all men put under the same
definite qualifications. All who fail
ed to get in under the temporary plan
can again apply. The qualifications
are only two. The applicant for reg
|istration must be able to read and
write any article of the constitution
of the United States in the English
Language and must show that he has
been engaged in some lawful occupa-
ton for the greater part of the pre-
ceding twelve months.
If he does not possess this qualifica-
ton he can nevertheless register if he
or his wife are the owners of either
real estate OF personality taxed at $500.
Negro Vote Will be Small.
!. At present there are about $4,000
negro voters in Alabama who can read
and write. The poll tax is purely vol
untary and must be paid by Feb. l
preceding the election in November.
It is estimated that the disqualification
for crime, failure to pay poll tax, and
neglect will reduce the whole body OF
negro voters to less than 10000.
, The new constitution guarantees a
, school fund of not less than S1,100,.
| 600 and under this the better class of
, negroes are disposed to favor the plan
: as giving them steadily increasing
} number of voters whose votes may be
) counted as cast. Only those are al
: lowed to participate in party prima
ries and conventions who have the
qualifications of voters.
| Changes In State Offices.
5 State officers are given four years
2 and made eligible to succeed them
selves. The governor is forbidden tc
accept any office during his term OF
: for year thereafter Members of the
Legislature are elected for four years
and the body is to meet once in foul
years and sit only fifty days. All mat
tiers of local legislation, except the
regulation of the liquor traffic, are with
$ drawn from the legislature, which il
+ required to pass general laws provid
ing for them.
A pardoning board with purely ad
n visory powers is created The cover
S nor is given ten days after adjourn
!. ment of the legislature in which tt
g approve bills and may suggest amend
ments to bills to cover his objections