The age-herald., 1901-06-22
GOV. OATES PLAN FOR REFUNDING THE STATE
 DEBT MEETS WITH FAVOR
SraSSbuger, Montgomery Broker, Says Would Save the State Nearly Half Million Dollars and Offer Attrac-
 tive Investment for People in the State

Montgomery June 21.-(Special) )-Gover- nor Oates ordinance to refund the State debt is creating much interest among the bankers and brokers of the State. In talking with A. Strassburger, a well known Montgomery broker, and a special ist in Alabama bonds, he said the refund- ing of the debt on Governor Oates plan would save the State in the neighborhood of half a million dollars.
 "The amount of the State debt matur- ing in 1906," said MT. Strassburger, Ifs $S, ,4O3. 500, of which s7,43 500 are per cent bonds, and $966. 900 are per cent bonds. If the entire issue can be refunded before maturity, say in July. 1902, at BE per cent, the saving in interest to the State would amount in the four years to $465,576 or if refunded at per cent the saving would be $297 ,5O4.
 Governor Oates plan is to issue fifty year 315 per cent or per cent bond which would be a very attractive bond to invest ors. These would be given in exchange for the present short date bonds provided the present bondholders made the ex- change in a given time say on or before July l, 1902 This would save money to the State in the way of interest while the bondholder would get a first class long date bond at a fair rate of interest for his present 5 per cent bonds which have only few years to run. He would not be obliged to exchange unless he wished to. and the new bonds which were not given that in cases fixed by law the trial judge may discharge a jury without the con- sent of the defendant.
 In section 13 the words For libel" are inserted in the first line so as to permit the truth thereof to be given in evidence.
 Section 23 is changed by prohibiting the General Assembly from granting any ex- elusive, as well as irrevocable, special privileges or immunities, and providing that all franchises, privileges and im- munities shall be subject to revocation, alteration and amendment.
 There is added to section P a provision requiring the General Assembly to define small arms and to regulate the bearing of the same.
 The word right as applied to suf frage. is stricken out and the word priv ilege' inserted.
 Section 35 is stricken out as having no place in a declaration of rights.
 Section 3S is changed to section 37 and
 
 against an educational or property quol iflcation for suffrage.
 Section 3S Is a new section prohibiting, the exercise by one department of the government of any of the functions of either of the other departments thereof.
 Section 39 is retained as in the present constitution with the addition of a de- claration that the rights retained by the people are excepted out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate.
 J. H. Barefeld made a minority report, insisting that the place where a crime was committed should be stated with reasonable certainty in the indictment.
 A minority report was made recom- mending that three-fourths of jury in civil case should make verdict. This was signed by Samuel Blackwell, E. P. Wilson and T. J. Carnwell.
 Some Resolutions.
 MT Vaughan of Dallas offered a resolu- tion to take up this article for considera- tion after that of the article on taxa tion. This was adopted under suspension of the rules.
 MT Reese of Dallas. by consent offered resolution to require all members of the Legislature and officers of the state to take oath to enforce the provisions of the constitution before entering on the discharge of their duties.
 MT. Beddow of Jefferson, by consent in- troduced an ordinance to establish state board of arbitration This provides that each party can name two arbitrators and gives authority to them, and an um- pire to enforce awards.
 MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale offered an or dinance to prescribe the right of way of corporations and how obtained
 The oNeal Resolution.
 The house then took up the O'Neal res- olution relative to the Governors salary, which was under discussion yesterday at the hour of adjournment, MT. Browne of Talladega being in the chair
 Judge Coleman's amendment was to leave the question of fixing the Cover nor's salary at $5000 to the discretion of the Legislature, instead of requesting them to do so at their first meeting after the adoption of the new constitution as the original resolution read. Judge Cole man then spoke in favor of his amend ment. He began by making some remarks about 'button-holing'' He said he knew of no state which paid its Governor $5000 whose revenues were approximately the same as ours. North Carolina, he sad paid 5000, Ohio in 1880 paid $400O. Here MT. Graham of Talladega asked Judge Greene to state which of those states furnished the G0VernOr mansion. Judge Greene said that was a different ques- ton as the mansion would belong to the state, and the state if 1t paid its Cover nor $5000 would have nothing to show for the extra 5000 Continuing. he said Ten nessee paid s4000; South Carolina $500; Georgia 5000, and Arkansas $3000 Georgia has a furnished mansion owned by the state. West Virginia paid $S700, and Ms sissippi $500
 Judge Coleman caustic.
 At this point some little passages cc- cured between Judge Coleman and Gov ernor Oates in which Governor Oates cited William J. Bryan, saying a declara- ton in Democratic platform of 1892 was not binding. Yes and where is Bryan today?' asked Judge Coleman. ,Continu- ing he said to Governor Oates: "You have followed too closely after him yourself" "In what respect?" asked Governor Oates q won't say" said Judge Coleman. lex cept to quote the general rule that like causes produce like results"
 President Knox Speaks.
 President Knox then spoke on the ques- tion. He said that Judge Coleman had made two arguments yesterday. but was evidently not satisfied with his case and had made another this morning. He did not know what the gentleman meant by alluding to .'buttonholing He remem- bered. however. that he (Judge Coleman) had done the same thing as chairman of the suffrage committee when things were not going smooth there Mir Knox then