The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-07

orally so understood or not, and have been all my life, ever since was . grown man, but 1t does seem to me r you desire to keep up these agricul- tural schools. if you desire to have ap- propriations made for their continued prosperity in accordance with the abfI- ity of the State and the needs of the farmer, 1t is a question that ought to remain exactly where 1t is now. 1f ought not to become . part of our or ganic law. the Legislature estabiished the school. the Legislature imposed this tax, the Legislature has the power to remove the tax. and 1t has the power to establish additional schools. It has the power now if they see flt to abcl- ish them, according to the emergencies and contingencies of the time. and | think they ought to consider theee questions and we should not put any thing in the organic law which canuo$l be changed, except by another C0nstlx tutional Convention. Surely in a Snf ter of this kind we can trust to thu Legislature---
 MT. Pearce-I offer an amendment
 The amendment was read as follows:
 Provided that nothing herein con- tained shall be 90 construed as to pre- vent the Legislature from abolishing any or all of the agricultural scheole now established by law, or to prevent the Legislature from reducing the tar tax on fertilizer below 10 cents per ton, or to repeal such tag tax altogether"
 MT. Greer (Calhoun) sought recogni- ton.
 MT. Graham (Talladesa)-I desire te rise to a point of order, on both of the gentlemen. They have both spoken on this matter. Further, this amendment is not germane to the question that is before the House.
 The resolution was again read: ''Re- solved further, That the General As- sembly at the same time shall provide for the support of the various agricul- tural schools of this State out of the general funds of this State.'
 The President pro tem-In the opinion of the Chair the amendment Is not ger- mane.
 Mr. white-As I have heretofore said think this tax the most iniquitouD one that the farmer has to bear. Whether he bears it or not, the tax is wrong in principle. It is selecting one product and taxing 1t at a different rate from that at which any other product Is taxed. However, there are other questions involved in this mat ter. If this means anything (and I doubt very much whether 1t means anything at all or not) it means the establishment permanently of certain so-called agricultural schools in this State. It means that they must be maintained by the Stae of Alabama, whether in the future they perform the ofiices intended or not. They are ar- bitrarily located, and we don't know how soon this State may be .redistricted into new Congressional districts, and there may be two or three of tho9e schools put into one district. am ut terly opposed to selecting and pingltng out these schools and making them constitutional schools in Alabama.
 Mir. Sanford (Pike)-I desire to ask the gentleman from Jefferson if he ever expects to see one of the schools abolS ished.
 Mir. White-Well, may not live to see 1t, MT. President. and yet they may be abolished after am dead and gone, and 1t may be at time when they are not fulfilling the purposes for which they were intended. At all events, do not want them permanently fast- ened upon the people of Alabama. They have been criticised. and severely criticised upon this floor by men who claim to know something about them. do not. But certainly in the face of the criticism indulged In against them they ought not to be made permanent institutions in this State, but as saiA just now, doubt very much whether this resolution means anything, and got the idea from a distinguished een- tleman upon this floer, the gentleman from Madison Judge Walker) that this Is simply a resolution, and" dees not become a part of the organic law of Alabama. It is simply advisory
 A Delegate-It is directory.
 Mir White (IafYAraonN-EYau fa if Hf. rectory. It is neither that the Legisla- ture shall, or should, or must, but is is simply a letter addressed to the Leg islature from this Convention giving them the sense of this Convention. It does not in any sense become a part of the organic law of this State. It is not an ordinance. But l say if it means anything 1t means too much. It means a permanent fixing of these ag- Alabama. and I am opposed to 1t, and however much may be in favor of relieving the farmers of this iniquitsus tax, will never do 1t at the expense of fastening a number of so-called ag- ricultural schools, which they say through members claiming to represent them upon this floor are not, in fact, agricultural schools at all.
 Mr. Vaughn-I move to lay the rese~ luton ana the amon0ment upon the taA bls.
 ,Mr. Espy-I ask for a division of the question and call for the ayes and noes.
 MT. Long (Walker)--I meve that this Convention remain in session until the matter is disposed of.
 Upon vote being taken a division was called for.
 MT. Fitts (during the taking of the vote)-I make the point of order that under the rules the House is adjourned, the hour of o'clock having arrived.
 The President pro tem-By a v0re oE S3 ayes and 65 noes the motion that the House remain in session is lost.
 Mir. Sanford (Montgomery)-I move that we do now adjourn.
 The motion prevailed and the Cons vention adjourned.
 Free Trip to Buffalo.
 The Advertiser Is going to send a