The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-09
aRInAx MORNING.

Let us concede for the sake of argu- ment. that it is oppressive. We have debt which has been created by the city of Montgomery. That debt we are honorably bound to pay and we are here appealing to the sovereigns oi the State Of Alabama to place us in the position where we can pay that debt as honorable men.
 MT. Sanford-Can't you do 1t by re- ducfng your expenses!
 MT. Graham-As to that I am not informed. There may be excessive eX- penses. but I presume on account of the existence of this large amount of indebtedness on the part of Montgom- those who are now administering it's affairs are sailing as close to the shore as it is possible for them to do con- sistent with good government. Now MT. President, Colonel Sanford, my colleague, has told us that we cannot pay the debt. There is no doubt in the world about the fact unless we get the relief which is sought through the amendment offered by my col league, MT. Lomax the city of Mont Gomery will be absolutely unable to pay the indebtedness and must de- fault. Now is 1t better that we should confer upon the city the right to pay this indebtedness. although it may re- suit in small amount of hardship. Confessing that, for the sake of argu- ment. say is it not better that that should be done, than that the capital city of the sovereign State of Alabama should be disgraced in the commercial world by failing to pay the interest on her obligations when they fall due :?
 MT Sanford-We have no evidence that one hundred and twenty-five will save us from the disgrace of which you speak.
 Mir. Graham-One hundred and twen- ty-five. MT. President. in the opinion of those who are interested deeply m this matter. and who are informed on this subject, will relieve Montgomery from this threatened disgrace. It is fortunate that we have five men who represent the county of Montgomery, who come from the county of Mont gomery. who are agreed on this prop osition. An effort as 1 am informed. was made to satisfy my friend here that it was proper and right that we should have the power conferred upon this city which has been asked by this amendment, but. as I am also in- formed. he did not agree to it. am also informed that our distinguished friend who formerly hailed from the wire grass of this State, and is now an honorable citizen of Montgomery County, has also been approached on the subject. As to how he stands I do not know and it is entirely immaterial It is between him and his conscience. as to what he thinks is right. MT. President. I do not care to add any thing more to what I have said. but I do appeal to this Convention in the interest of the fair name of the city of Montgomery. in the interest of the nf Ia ho ma n int nf the taxpayers of the city of Montgom- cry that this amendment should be adopted.
 MT. Sanford-.Mr President. is it not as much to the interest of the people that it should not be adopted I would like to ask the gentleman one more question. Is it not a fact that the town today has great many officers. some of whom might be dispensed with?
 Mir Graham-I do not think there is any doubt about that fact.
 Mir. Sanford-They are like the Si- mese frogs
 Mir. Graham-I do not agree on that rroncsition I never saw Simese frog and don't know what it Is.
 Mr. E~ster-I have an amendment.
 The Secretary read the amendment as follows: Amend Section Il by add ing after the words "per annum" on line twenty the following: And pro- vided. further that this section shall not apply to the cities of New Deca- tur and Cullman. which cities may. from and after the ratification of this Constitution. levy and collect an aAdi- tional tax not exceeding one-quarter of one per centum per annum in ad- dition to the tax hereinbefore author iza1 which snecial tax shall be applied exclusively to educational purposes"
 MT Blackwell-I desire to offer a substitute to the amendment
 The Secretary read the substitute as follows Amend Section II by adding after the word per annur" in line twenty "and provided further, that thus section shall not apply to the cities of Decatur and New Decatur and Gull man. which cities may. from and after the ratified tion of this Constitution, levy and collect an additional tax not exceeding three-tenths of one per cen tum: sush special tax to be applied exclusively to paying the current ex- penses of public schools. public i'm movements and to the payment of current expenses of their city govern ment."
 MT. Eyster-I ask consent to accept the substitute offered by the gentle man.
 There being no objection the substi- ute was accepted
 Mir. Cunningham-I have an amend m"nt.
 The Secretary read the amendment as follows:
 Amend Section il of the Article on Municipal Corporations. line IS, in serting after the word Florence" the words Pratt City, Ensley and Wy lam"
 Mir. Cunningham-1 desire to say tha- the dele gates from Pratt City and Ensley and Wylam are unanimously in favor of r..
 .Mr. Weakley-I ask unanimous con- sen: to add Avondale.
 There being no objection the amend ment was adopted.
 MT. Weakley-I have an amendment. The Secretary read the amendment as follows:
 ence in line IS. .
 Upon a vote being taken the amend men: was adopted. 5-.
 MT. deGraffenreId-It seems from the mum per of amendments already added to that Section, We are going into the same difficulty we criticised the Leg isls ture about. in:o the business of lCcal legislation. and I believe that nearly every own except Florence, Greens boro. Eutaw and a few others have been exempted from the operation of the Section and I therefore move to lay the Section and all of its amendments th