The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-11

StWutfOn ana MlSCeldHeOuS FTOVJSionr.
 The report was read as follows; Report of Committee on Amending
 Constitutic n and Mi csllau sous Pro-
 visions. f.
 Mir. President.
 Your Committee on Amending the Constitution and Miscellaneous Provt- sions, to which was referred Ordinance No. 390 by Mr. Spears of St. Clair. has instructed me to report favorably the accompanying substitute for said or- dinance. The committee was not unan- imous IS to the policy of adopting the ordinance, some of its members reeerv- ing the right to oppose it's adoption.
 Under the instructions from the com mittee, the chairman reports, for the information of the Convention, the facts showing the necessity of coart house in the district affected, without recommendation as to the policy 0f adopting ordinances which are local in their operation and within the prov irce of the Legislature.
 St. Clair county is divided into two parts by Back Bone Mountain which runs entirely across the county from east to west. The two portions into equal in area and population while the larger portion of the wealth of the county is in that portion which lies south of the mountain. A great CT portion of the litigation in the county originates in the territory south of the mountain. and a greater number of the parties and witnesses who attend the courts in St. Clair county are from that territory.
 Mir. deGraffenreid--f rise to a point of inquiry. Hasn't that report of the committee been once read?
 The President pro tem.--The Clerk informs the Chair that it has been read.
 MT. deGraffenreid-Then all We need is to have the ordinance read.
 The President pro tem.-That Is all.
 MT deGraffenreid-Then the reading of the report Is out of order isn't it?
 The President pro ten.--It is unless the reading Was called for at the time.
 The ordinance was then read as fol- lows:
 AN ORDINANCE.
 To provide for the establishment of
 court house and Jail at some point,
 to be determined by an election by
 the people, in that portion of St
 Clair which lies south and southeast
 Of Back Bone Mountain. and which
 is embraced in precincts numbered
 9. 10, II. F, 13. II. 15. Is. IT, 19, 20
 and 21. in said county
 Be it ordained by the people of Ala bama in Convention assembled:
 Ffrst-That 1t shall be the duty of the Probate Judge of St. Clair county to order an election to be held in pre- cincts numbered 9. 10. II. 12. 13. fl, Is, 16, IT. 19. 20 and 21. in St Clair county, not later than sixty days after the ratification of the Constitution to be submitted by this Convention. for a vote of the qualified electors in said precincts. at which court house and Jail shall be erected and maintained. Omcers for such election shall be ap- pointed, and the election. in all things In accordance with the law governing general elections. Upon the ballot to be used at such election the names of all places to be voted on shall be print ed. and the choice of the elector shall be indicated by a cross mark before the place of his choice. The votes cast at such election shall be canvassed, tabulated. returns thereof made, and counted, in the same manner as Is done in elections for Sheriff and other county officers. At the place receiving the highest number of votes at such election there shall be erected and maintained a court house and jail for the trial of all cases and the transac- tion of all legal business origina ting in said precincts g, 10. II, 12, 13, 14. 16, 18. IT, 19 20 and 21.
 The venue of all actions and suits (other than such as are to he tried be- fore Justices of the Peace), in which only residents of that portion of said St. Clair which lies south and south As ct rrF Iloa fotK arn IA fendants shall. except as otherwise pro- vided by law, be at the Court House herein provided for. Provided. how ever, That Ashville. in St. Clair Coun ty, shall continue to be the county seat until changed by vote of the qualified electors residing in that part of St. Clair County which les north and northwest of said Back Bone Mountain.
 Second-The Court of Coanty Com missioners of St. Clair County shall at its first regular meeting after the cleo tion provided for in Section 1 of this ordinance, take all the necessary steps and make all necessary orders 10 issue and sell bonds of St. Clair County to the amount of s1O,000, the proceeds to be used only for the erection and equip ment of such Court House and jail, or to provide by other means a sufficient amount of money to erect a suitable Court House and jail at the place which shall have been selected in accordance with said Section 1. and to properly equip and furnish the same with record books and other necessary equipments, provided, however, that if said Court of County Commissioners shall levy a tax for such purpose, such tax shall be levied on all taxable property in said county. but all of such tax shall not be levied and collected in one year. And provided further that such Court House and jail shall be completed in every way and shall be ready for the holding of court and the transaction of legal business on or before the first day of the spring term, 1903, of the Cir cult Court of St. Clair County.
 Third-The Sheriff, Probate Judge, Circuit Clerk. Register in Chancery, Tax Assessor. Tax Collector, and Su- perintendent of Education of St. Clair County. shall keep offices in the Court House, which shall be built in accord ance with the provisions of this ordi- nance. .-.-:
 Fourth-The General Assembly at it's first meeting after the ratification of the Constitution to be submitted to the people by this Convention. shall en- act laws regulating the holding of courts at the Court House provided for in this ordinance.
 Fifth-This ordinance shall be valid and effective if the Conststution which shall be framed by this Convention be ratified by the people. Otherwise it shall be void.
 MT. Beavers-I have a substitute I desire to offer-The Clerk proceeded to d., F. tsk,.