The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-06
REPORTS OF
 COMMITTEES Constitutional Convention
 Hard at Work. 31 NEW ORDINANCES Body Refused to ReScind Stenographic Contract. MT. Long of Walker Made a Humor- ous speech-Four Propositions for Suffrage Reform Sub
 mitted Yesterday.

The standing committees of the Con- etitution Convention began to report yesterday and this is taken to mean that the steady stream of ordinances which have been deluging the desk of the secretary since the convention be- gan work Is about at an end. The roll call for the introduction of ordi- nances was called from A. to z. yes terday and but thirty-one new pro- posals for changes to the instrument framed in 1875 were made by the dele gates.
 The convention was in session three hours and considerable time was con- stunned in discussion of the report Of the Rules Committee which report was submitted by the Acting Chairman, MT, Smith of Mobile, soon after the convention was called to order. One of the first sections of the report was a recommendation that the resolution of MT. Long of Walker, authorizing the President to cancel the contract with MT. Pat McGauley of Montgomery for a stenographic report of the pro- ceedings be not adopted.
 MT. Long Makes a Speech.
 There was a crowd in the gallery when MT. Long began his fight for the adoption of his resolution. He moved that the resolution be passed notwith- standing the report of the Committee. and began a speech on the merits of his proposition. Points of order were fired at him by Governor Oates of Montgomery and other delegates, but Mir. Long would not be downed. lie is opposed to stenographic reports and he told the convention so in plain words. .-,-
 MT. Long said it was a scheme for the members to get speeches. ssthat would not sell for a dime, before the people at cost of $70 day. He said he had been informed that all ordi- nances introduced could be prepared by the secretary for printer and that they could be printed in pamphlet fortn for $15 a day. Admitting that he was somewhat vain about reading his own remarks, MT. Long said that he had seen members get the printed reports in the morning and after reading them swell up like toad frogs. He charged that many errors had been committed by the stenographers and the printers and said the best speech he had made in the convention had been credited to another delegate. He said he was not a lawyer, but he knew when the con- vention was misappropriating the money of the people.
 Refused to Cancel Contract.
 The speech of MT. Long was received with applause and laughter and at It's conclusion General Harrison of Lee moved that his motion to adopt the resolution, the report of the commit tee notwithstanding, be laid on the table.
 The motion to table was adopted by A vote of 91 to 40 and the convention refused to cancel the contract with the stenographer. The aye and nay vote is published this morning in the official proceedings.
 Later in the day MT. Burns of Dal- las. introduced a resolution providing that the secretary be instructed to as- certain the cost of printing the pro ceedings in pamphlet form each day. This resolution was referred to the Committee on Rules.
 A resolution reported by the Rules Committee caused considerable discus sion. It provides that ordinances when introduced be read only by their titles as is done with bills introduced
 
 MT. Malone of Henry. characterizing the resolution as a dangerous measure, moved that it be tabled and this mo- tion prevailed.
 The resolution of MT. Henderson of Pike providing that no member shall give his call to another member was also reported by the Rules Committee and was also tabled by the convention. This has become common practice in the convention.
 If was II 1:30 o'clock before the Secre- tary began the call of the roll for the introduction of resolutions, ordinances and memorials. Thirty-one ordinances were presented upon a complete call of the roll.
 MT. Williams's Suggestion. MT. Williams of Marengo frightened the Reading Clerk when he sent for ward a resolution to which was at- tached a lengthy printed pamphlet which proved to be the Virginia laws governing the University of Virginia. The resolution commended the laws governing the Virginia University to the Committee on Education for their guidance in framing a section of the new Constitution relating to the Uni Versity of Alabama. It provided that the Virginia laws be not printed nor read and the Reading Clerk, Colonel Brandon, heaVed sigh of relief. Four suffrage ordinances were pre- sented by Messrs. Banks of Russell, PiIlans of Mobile, Bulger of Tallapoosa and Miller of Wilcox. MT. Ferguson of Jefferson also presented a resolution requesting the Judiciary Committee to enquire into the legality of disfran- chising persons or descendants of per- sons who were in bondage prior to January 1st, 1867.
 White and Colored Ballot.
 One of the clauses of the Banks or dinance possesses the merit of origi- nality. It provides for the use of a white ballot and a colored ballot at the polls where elections shall be conduct sd under the Australian system. Per sons who can prepare their ballots without assistance are to use a white ballot. Those who need assistance are