The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-31

 FOR CHANGES Streams of OrdinancesAo
 Constitution. EIGHTH DAY OF TIE WORK No More ReS0lutiCs About
 Party Pledg 3 --s MT. Pettus Does Not V 2 |, to Mince Words About Disfranchising
 the Negro-Many Plans
 for New Law.
EIGHTH DAY OF TIE WORK


 The fipst debate ot the session of the Constitutional Convention was provok- ed yesterday by resolution of Mir. Rogers of Sumter, which was to the enect that 1t was bad taste to con- stantly be seeking to pledge the party and the convention to pledges hereto lore made, raising doubt In the minds of the people by that action. It was Mr. kogers's Idea that the pledges were going to be kept and the people 50 un- oerstood it. 'fneresore he thought tt WAS in bad form and unnecessary to be so often referring to them.
 There were objections raised to the resolution and amendments offered, but the convention adopted it as presented.
 Mr. Pettus of Limestone, introduced an ordinance to disfranchise negroes and persons of African descSnt in the State of Alabama. The ordinance provides that no negro, back man or person of Africans descent shall be allowed to vote in any Federal. State or county or municipal election in the state.
 in regard to the plan MT. Pettus says:"It is the honest and courageous way in wnicn >t0 solve the difficulty, as It cuts the Gordian knot. We should poldIy disfranchlse the negro as a negro, with our eyes open to whatever hnH ha tft sSf representation ana loss of Congress men. We are far more yitaliy concern ed in our own local Stare Government than we are m national politics. and we should stand ready to sacrifice, if need be. fraction or our power in national UzRaifs xur the esslxe of purAty and honesty in our Stale Government.
 Ordinances by Gov. Jones.
 Governor Jones introduced several very important ordinances, the first of which provides that the trustees of the State University and the Poly technic Institute shall be taken out of politics as far as possible by having them selected equally by tie people. by the Governor and the Alumni ot those institutions, and others by the trustees themselves. In this way he hopes to prevent any favoritism or politics in their selection, and dividing them into different ciaSseS making their terms expire at different times and an equal number going out every two years. It also provides that the General Assembly shall have no power to change the location of these institu- tions. Vacancies shall be filled by the same power that elected or chose the trustee whose places become vacant.
 Governor Jones also presented an or dinance to make Registers in Chancery elected by the people instead or belng by the Chancellors, as at present: also to give the Legislature power to pass on any amendmsnt which the Governor suggests to a bill vetoed by the Governor; also author izipg the Governor, Auditor and Treas urer to lend any surplus in the Treas ury at interest on Government or State bonds as security, to be made only af- ter publication and then to the best and highest biddeE to raise commit tee to determine what officers shall be allowed to ride on free passes and what amendments are needed on the question of free passes; for Board or Arbitration in labor disputes; also resolution declaring that the funda- mental principles of justice are vio- lated in discriminating between class. es or races in dividing money raised by taxation and that to divide 1t un- equally among races is unconstitu- tional.
 MT. Macdonald of Montgomery, pre- scented ordinances to limit city taxes to 50 cents on the $100. except to pay debts; to prohibit creation of a debt except when voted by the people; and the amount to be assessed on propery for improvements to l per centum psr annum on its value; also regulating the forfeiture of corporation charters.
 MT. Malone of Henry, seeks to make the State and Federal elections come on the same date, and fixes the time In November; but he leaves it in the power of the General Assembly to change the date at any time 1t chooses to do so.
 Proposals by Gen. Oates.
 General Oates presented several very important ordinances, among which was one to require a two- thirds vote of the people of a county to move court house: also to regulate the form in which acts shall be framed for passage; to punish the buying or sell ing of votes and other election frauds; to abolish Chancery Courts and give equity jurisdiction to Circuit Courts; to allow the Governor to appoint the General of the State. instead of electing him by the people. as at present, and to give the Governor power of removal at will; to limit the power of the General Assembly to pass local laws.
 General Jones of Wilcox presented an ordinance requiring the apportion- ment of Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly Utter each census.
 MT. Kirk of Colbert would have only sessions of the General Assembly once in four years and limit the sessions to fifty days.
 MT. Kirkland of Dale proposed to al- low the area of counties to be 800 square miles: to elect Railroad Commits sioners by the people. pay them out of the State Treasury like other public officers are paid and making them in- eligible to reelection; fixing the term