The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-20
ADDRESS OF THE COMMITTEE OF
 THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Advantages the New Over the Old Shown by Contrast the Two InSu- men-Convncng Argument in Favr of RatcatonMesss Knox, Coleman, Jones' C0bb Weatherly, HOOd Smith,
 Espy and Reese Sign the Address

descent. or by will. or instrument taking
 the father. mother. husband. wife, broth efs sisters Or children or lineal descend-
 ants of the person owing such estate.
 Increasing the Power of the People. | One prominent object of the new instru-
 men, IS 10 9ring the government nearer | confided to them of some officials hereto l ioIe chosen by the Legislature; the re. quirement Is made in case of vacancies, | judicial offices. that the people fiil the
 once at the next election for any State | omeer; that counties, cities. towns and
 n savas vOss of aSsr Ss and that majority of the qualified cleo. l tors or county. voting at an election | Tor that purpose can alone authorize the | removal of county site.
 Lessening the Number and Frequency of Elections.
 While providing for effective control by | the people of their government, it has been one of the aims of the new instru. ment to save the people from the expense and turmoil of an unnecessary number or frequency of elections. The Constitu- ton of the United States requires the holding of an election for Representatives | In Congress every two years Under our present Constitution. there must also be separate elections every two years for all the executive officers and members of the Legislature. Every fourth year these officers and sheriffs must be elected, Ey- legislative, executive or judicial, is elect ed. These frequent elections. and the canvasses which precede them have be- " divertinB. them from their ordinary pursuits. and promoting instability in the execution of the laws, and policies of | this expense and vexation, the terms of | the executive officers and members of the Legislature have been heightened to four tions are to be held on the same day. In | view of the contingency of it again be- coming advisable to hold the. State and Legislature is authorized to change the time of elections It Is confidently be- lieved that these changes will he grate-
 rul & to the people. and conducive to the
 Declaration of Rights.
 The only marked changes under this head are that an application for change of venue for a defendant in jail, or other on his application without the personal presence of the defendant: and the courts may, for reasons defined by. law. dis. any case. without the prisoners gaining advantage thereby, and the omission therefrom of the clause forbidding any
 property or educational qualification for Eegisiative Department.
 The changes in this Article are far reaching and important. By ''the law of the land,'' we hold all that we have. The rights and interests of the people are most securely guarded. when the law, under the same circumstances, is the same for all men. Without this. there is no equality before the law" For years past this great rule of just and good gov ernment has been ignored by our General Assembly. Local legislation and private laws have been the rule, and general
 privileges have been conferred with iib- eral hand upon favored individuals and localities. which could not be had by of legislators has been devoted almost wholly to matters of no concern to the general public. The interests seeking with lobbyists. absorbing the time members. The usefulness of a the number of private or local laws he can get upon the statute book. These be- ing of prime importance. members en- trusted with local measures frequently ton upon any general law of importance. The vast number of these special meas ures prevents all scrutiny of them, and causes shocking disregard of the safe guards the Constitution requires in the passage of laws: and sometimes scandal. The legislator, instead of being the rep
 
 monarch to dispense It's favors. so- called courtesy denies a hearing to the people affected by these measures, if their immediate representatives insist on on their passage. General legislation has been almost wholly neglected. Such measures. when taken up. are enacted without time for due deliberation or con. sidera tion, resulting in much crude and nasty legislation. The speed necessary, when such a vast number of bills are passed in limited session. not infre- ha pA nj jos the journals, and thus Overthrown i'm pOrtant general laws, as in the case of at least one general revenue bill. These things have made legislative service dis. tasteful to many whom the people would have been glad Co have called into their service. Local and private legislation has greatly detracting from the morale of the law-makinR department and to some ex- tent withdrawing confidence from It. The suppression of this evil If nothing else had been accomplished, would justify the cost of the ConN entiOn.
 Under the new Constitution, this evil Is piucked up by the roots; for the power of the legislator over such matters has been absolutely annihilated. Instead, pro vision has been made for general jaws. applicable alike to all, whereby local and private interests may be secured and pro- tected. with such rights and privileges as are requisite. Individuals ar localities interested in such matters. can obtain relief at home, without submitting them selves to the caprice of members of the Legislature, or incurrng loss of time and money by coming to and remaining at the seat of government.
 The constant change or repeal of laws and the substitution of new laws in their place after the people have adjusted their pursuits and business to the old law, is always a drawback to confidence and contentment. The Legislature, having been freed from the necessity of dealing with innumerable local and private inter- ests. which demand more frequent ses- sions than general subjects, change has been made from biennial session to ses- sions once every four years. This change was induced by the consider ationS that the laws having longer time 10 stand, would be better understood. and. there- fore, better executed, and men could pro- ceed with more confidence. The change will also result in the saving to the tax payers of fifty thousand dollars every four years, which is the cost or the biennial sessions now omitted. lt IS con hdently believed experience will fully vlndicate the policy of longer intervals our Iaw-inakers. Certain 1t is. no harm can come to the State; since if the emer- geney arises. the Governor can call spe- cial sessions; while provision has been it's own motion if necessary, to exercise the power of impeachment.
 Many new provisions have been made to prevent impositions upon members, or bills; to guard members against improper influences. and for laying before each regular session of the Legislature reve- nue bills with such provisions as the ex- perience of the Executive Department may suggest. for their action,
 No liability, Of any person. or corpora ton. owned by the State or any county or other municipality thereof, shall be re- leased. or in any way diminished, by the Legislature except upon fun payment tb.reoTt nor sbo1i s1,ob NiEo tottlts- l. '-