The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-18

J r <V ',cf \ nnisdemeanor, and bring upon 5 &1rn the forfeiture of his office and the Ss6ueeuuent disgrace, will be a substan- fin1 benefit to the people of Alabama. We are told now that the legislature nn1v meets once in four years. Then {he people can only once in four years nsk their representatives for relief from any grinding monopoly, or any extor- ton that may be perpetrated upon them by the great lines of transporta, f3on. and certainly if they can be heard only once In four years to speak through their representatives, these representatives ought to be free to act. for the benefit and in the interest or the people and not in the interest Of the corporations which are destowing fRvors upon them. believe 1t is right fo the corporations and I think the suggestion of the gentleman from Mo bile has a great deal of force in it. l have no doubt that lines Of transpor- fation are solicited by the members of fhe legislature for these accommoda- lions. and for these passes. and they cannot afford, MT. President to csny them. and I think the suggestion of the gentleman from Mobile carries with 1t a great deal of force. have no doubt that the railroads themselves , the lines of transportation. would be
  Iature could not solicit them. and am sure the gentleman from Mobile feels exactly that way.
 Mr. Coleman (Greene)-Mr. President and delegates of the Convention, upon the vote to lay the amendment offered by the delegate from Pike upon the table. I with others voted aye.
 Many others voted no. Now that amendment by implication authorizes AA~ lAcx <rR fx-oo a0a rn- sentatives. That was the reason why we voted to lay 1t upon the table. and not because we were in favor of free passes at all. Now the substitute offer- ed by the gentlemen from Jefferson 1t seeli1s to me is inopportnne at this time. Adopt the section as reported by the Committee and when we reach the ar 4icle on railroads or common carriers, then you may amend by making 1t misdemeanor. or other effense. not on- ly for representatives, but for every person who occupies an official posi- tfon in the State of Alabama to accept . pass. Is there any more reason that a representative should be guilty of rnisdemeanor. or should forfeit his of flee, then judge or any other official? The proper way is. at the proper time, to provide such an amendment to the Constitution as will forever prevent the transportation of officials upon free passes. If you accept this amendment you are bound to provide by another amendment hereafter for the other of ficers of the State. Let 1t all come up in the proper place.
 Mir. Rogers (Sumter)-For informa- tion could not these officers be added in right now, in this substitute
 Mr. Coleman (Greenes-It does not come up properly now. will be found supporting the proposition of the gen. tleman at the proper time. but 1t seems to me that by his amendment he neces- sitates further Legislation to make 1t applicable to other officers.
 The President here resumed the chair.
 MT. white-will the gentleman allow . word. This is certainly 8 great evil in your judgment?
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-Well, I said that would support your amendment.
 Mir. White-Why not then correct this evil? We may not be able to cor rect the other, and then if we do cor rect the other. why not then let the Committee on Harmony and Consisten- cy arrange the whole thing.
 Mir. Coleman lGreene)-I do not think the Committee on Harmony and Ar engagement have any such powers as have been arrogated by the members of the Committee. or are supposed to belong to them. The Committee can- not change any ordinance, or edict of this Convention. It can only correct those things which are not in harmony, or which may not be properly ex- pressed. as to dates, etc.
 MT. Chapman-I would like to ask the gentleman a question. If the passing of this amendment as 1t is now would not impliedly be legalizing the issuance of free passes to members of the legis- lature. by recognizing that they could secure free passes.
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-That is the effect of the amendment of the gen. tleman from Pike.
 MT. Chapman-That is what I speak of.
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-And that is the reason why we voted to lay it upon the table. because we did not want to be put in the attitude of justifying the system of riding on free passes. The substitute offered by the gentleman from Jefferson if adopted of course would relieve it of that objection, but 1t seems to me that the proper time is when we reach as 1t was in the old Constitution. the duties of carriers, and then make the Constitution self executing, and applicable to all of the officers of the State. not only to the members of the legislature, but to the Judges on the bench as well.
 MT. Smith (Mobile)-I do not rise in defense of the pass system, but I rise upon the question of the practicability of the gentleman's idea. This is not the first effort that has been made in any State of the Union to limit the use of passes, and I expect that the result of it will be found to be what the re- suit has been in some of our sister States. The amendment which the gentleman offers would of course af- feet the eligibility of persons holding and using railroad passes. There are number of people in the State con- nected with newspapers who have passes from railroads upon grounds wholly disossociated from any lAgisla- tive matter. There are a large num- Der of attorneys throughout the State who represent railroads in various por- fions of Alabama as local attorneys, who receive passes as a part of their compensation. This substitute would exclude those classes.
 MT. White-If the gentleman will al- low a question. is not that pass of the attorney pass for which he has to work. or perform service, and it is not free at all, is it?
 Mir. Smith-Well, I do not know Kou may not consider it free, but do not know whether the Supreme Court of the State would follow your judgment in the matter. I am inclined