The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-18

the sphere of popular governnheng seems hardly creditable that m tnelr seeming despair of cure TOT lno chronic evils of legislation tney should be able to mitigate lnen ', only by making them intermittent. The Americans seem to reason thus:
 Since a Legislature is very far gone from righteousness, and of it's own na- ture inclined to do evil. the less tnance 1t has of doing evil the better: 1T it meets, 1t will pass bad laws. Let us therefore prevent 1t from meetihs; They are no doubt right as practicas men. They are consistent. as sons oI the Puritans. in their application or the doctrine of original sin. But this is a rather pitiful result for self governins Democracy to have arrived at. As il not pitiful result for us. claiming to lave the greatest and freest govern ment on which the sun ever snone, 10 rise up here and say that we propose to strike down one of the great CO., ordinate departments of government because 1t is evil and it will pass Dao laws if it assemblies? Why not do as this Commentator says. '1s there not simpler remedy? Why all these et- forts to deal with the various symp- toms of the malady. instead of striking at the root of the malady itself! why not reform the Legislatures, by induc- ing good men to enter them. and Keep ing a more constantly vigilant pubic opinion fixed upon them?" He says. un- der such a plan Constitutional organs of governm ,nt become constantly more discredited."
 That is the effect of this proposed legislation, 1t discredits and brings into contempt the great constitutional or gans Of government. it creates the iaea that the people of Alabama have de- spaircd of good government and or an honest Legislature. Because the last Legislature was reckless and extrava- gant should we in a spasm of virtue voice the sentiments of the distin- guished gentleman from Sumter, ana declare by our organic law that the Legislature shall not meet oftener than once in ten years. Why, gentlemen, when you adopted the article on local law. you remedied the evil and removed the dangers of inconsiderate and hasty legislation on general subjects. If you are afraid of nasty legislation. why not adopt the provision which is found in the Constitutions of twenty or thirty other States. which says no bill appro- priating public money shall pass ex- cept by a two-thirds vote, or by an- other law which says no bill Of any character shall pass except by ma jority of the members elect in the Leg islature. Then If you fear evil legisla- tion, if you fear bad laws, put that check upon the Legislature. don't ask us to strike down this great buiwark of the people, the only organ by which their vieys can be expressed. Evils grow up in our convict system. Why, the other day I read an account which showed that in Alabama We are as bal . barous as the Russians themselves in our treatment of these poor and help less prisoners,yet the legislature cannot assemble to correct these evils, the Governor is powerless, we musr wait four years. and the only argument tina t has been offered is that It is expensive. It is expensive to have Supreme Court. know an old country Justice of the Peace who said 1t was great mistake to have a Supreme Court. that the Legislature of Alabama CEght ta abolish the Supreme Court and Circuit Court and let the Justice Court in each beat administer the law without ap- peal and save all the money of the courts and juries to the people, and the argument which has been made here is on no higher plane.
 have no doubt, MT. President, that the distinguished gentleman from Sun ter who seems to be leading this move ment, is actuated by tae hiGhes: and most patriotic motives. I have the greatest confidence in his ability, in his conservatism and in his devotion to the interests of our people; out l think he has got a fad in his head. He is asking us to do what no other civilized coun- try. as the distinguished gentleman from Montgomery tells you. has done. The only argument which l have heard in favor of it was the simple one of dollars and cents. A percentum argu- ment. Are we never going to rise above it, bonds, dollars and cents? As l heard the distinguished gentleman from Montgomery say the other day 1t seems to be all you could hear here in this convention. believe in econ- omy and I believe in saving money to the people, but do not beleleve in that economy which would drag us to strike down and destroy one of the great CO., ordinate branches of our government; and tell you in my opinion, gentlemen of the Convention. when you go before the people of Alabama with this provl- sion in your fundamental laws you will create a storm of opposition which will not down at your bidding. It may be pleasing to the vested interests, it
 may be pleasing to organized capital, and it may prevent the people from
 ro aching and checking the rapacity and greed of corporatio but l tell you 1t will not be received with favor, with tears of joy and rejoicing by the horny handed masses of this great common wealth.
 The President-The gentleman from Sumter.
 MT. Sanford (Montgomery)-I am
 very glad I have an opportunity The President-The gentleman is our of order.
 MT. Sanford-I want to ask a ques-
 tion. and do it from self-respect When I suggested to you that l wished to be recognized
 The President-The gentleman is out
 of order and will please be seated. MT. Samford-You asked me if 1t was
 to speak on the four years system and I said no.
 The President-The gentleman is out of order The Chair will ask the gen tleman to discontinue interrupting the Convention.
 Mir Rogers (Sumter)-Mr Chairman | and gentlemen of this Conevntion. In- situations made by the gentleman | from Lauderdale that this movement was made in the interest of organized | capital probably emanates from mind 1 that would be governed by such mo- tives as those
 MT. Oates-Wil the gentleman per | init an interruption?
 Mr. Rogers (Sumter)-Certain!y sir.
 with the greatest of pleasure
 MT. Oates-I want to state there