The age-herald., 1901-06-07
Yesterdays Session of the COn- stitutiona| Convention LaSt-
 ed Only an Hour
COMMITTEES HARD AT WORK
The Present Constitution Probably Will Be Readopted With Few Amendments-Suffr and Ed
 ucation Leading Issues.

today safely got through the unlucky thirteenth day of it's session. To- morrow it will have been in session two weeks. Most of the sessions so far have been consumed by the introduction of or dinances and resolutions whereby the various delegates have presented their pet schemes for disfranchising the negro and regulating things in general. In the neighborhood of four hundred such plans have been presented to the convention, and referred to the various committees. They as as might be expected. a mixture of good. bad and indifferent The secre- tary has become quite expert in endorsing the proper references on the backs of ordinances, and his desk when the con- vention Is running at full speed resembles the desk of distributing desk in the postoffice.
 This flood of ordinances and resolutions which has been on the ebb for several days, today reached low tide. Only twelve ordinances and eightsresolutions were in- troduced and the tin7e consumed in calling the roll of the counties for this purpose was only one hour. The convention short ly after adjourned.
 No committees made any reports today. It is probable that some of the commit tees in order to present a harmonious scheme to the convention will adopt the practice of reporting a whole article at a time instead of making a special report on each ordinance submitted to it. The committee on education has decided on this course. and the adoption of such a plan will save vast amount of debate on con licting and irreconcilable resolu- tions. The probabilities are that the pres ent constitution will be readopted sub stantially as 1t is, with such new matter added as the convei1tion deems necessary. It is thought that the suffrage plan to be reported by that committee will embody the poll tax and registration features and also he understanding" and either the grand father" or ''soldier,' clauses
 The committee on education, as intimat- ed in Sundays Age-Herald, have unani- mously decided to report adversely the numerous resolutions whose purport was to give the negro for his schools only sucn taxes as were paid by negroes.
 Among the ordinances introduced to- day by MT. Foster of Tuscaloosa, who wants June 10 fixed as a time limit for introducing ordinances, the convention adjourn on that day for a week so as to give the committees time to prepare their reports Mir. Pearce of Marion wants to prohibit lawyers from holding any office except judicial one, and MT. Watts of Montgomery wants the state to buy the remaining portion of the capitol square.
 Convention Opens.
 The thirteenth days session of the con- stitutional convention was called to or der by President Knox at 10 o'clock A prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Provence.
 Roll call showed 129 members present.
 The committee on suffrage asked leave to sit during the day. This was granted.
 MT. DeGaffenried of Hale moved to set for special order of business on Tuesday an ordinance reported favorably by the committee on municipal corporations to classify towns and cities into four classes. MT. Sanford of Pike amended the motion so as to postpone consideration of the report until the committee reported a full article on the subject. MT. DeGraf- fenried accepted the amendment, and the motion as amended was passed.
 The committee on the journal reported that it was correct. and the report was dispensed with.
 The roll was then called for the purpose of enabling delegates to introduce ordi- nances.
 MT. Banks of Russell introduced an ordinance to provide for commission CTS court in each county composed of ten commissioners and presided over by the judge of probate. It divides the coun- ties into ten districts, each district to have a commissioner whose duty shall be to assess the property in his district.
 Mr. Espy of Henry introduced an ordi- nance to amend section 1 of article to regulate the judicial powers of the State. This confines the judicial system as at present, except that city courts are ex- cluded.
 MT. Foshee of Chiffon introduced an ordinance that representation in the as- sembly be based on white population only.
 A Time Limit.
 MT. Foster of Tuscaloosa introduced an ordinance to prohibit any ordinances being introduced after June 10. The con- vention to adjoprn on that date for a week to enable the committees to make their reports. Those reports are to be printed and distributed among the dele gates.
 MT. Grayson of Madison introduced an ordinance to repeal section 8, article Ii.
 Mir. Harrison of Lee introduced an ordi- nance to amend section 21. article 4. so as to provide when and in what manner bills in the General Assembly may become laws.
 Mr. Hefiin of Randolph introduced an ordinance to amend sections 3. 5 and of article so as to provide that Senators and Representatives shall be elected for four years, and that the General Assem- bly, shall meet biennially. It increases