The age-herald., 1901-08-09


 then introduced an ordinance to repeal section 2s of the article on judiciary, which provided for county solicitors.
 Mir. Hefiin of Chambers introduced a resolution to instruct the committee on harmony to report substitute for sec- tion B of the article on Judiciary.
 The convention then adjourned until S.30 o'clock.
 Afternoon sesslon.N
 The convention reassembled at SSO o'clock. and MT Chapman of Sumter spoke in favor of the Beddow. amend ment.
 Judge Coleman of Greene opposed the amendment and urged that the present law as to the assessment of property be retained. He did not think much of the report of the committee, but in this in- stance he thought the committee had used the right language in using the words preceding year" A city assessor in January without any restrictions can as- sess property at any thing he sees fit and the property holder has practically no remedy But where he is restricted to the assessed valuation of the preced- ing year he can not act arbitrarily.
 Mir. DeGraffenried moved to table MT. Beddow's amendment which was done. This was adopted.
 MT Leigh of Escambia moved to amend
 
 was adopted. Mir Lomax of Montgomery offered an amendment which provided that this sec ton shall not apply to Montgomery, which can levy an additional tax of three fourths of 1 per cent.
 General Sanford spoke against the amendment and said there was no reason why Montgomery should be burdened more than other cities.
 MT. Macdonald of Montgomery said he was opposed to putting any additional burdens on the people, but that he had been convinced that this was a case of necessity. The city of Montgomery was in such a financial condition that 1t need ed this relief.
 MT. Graham of Montgomery said he would usually take General Sanford s opinion on all questions except on the subject of municipal management, when he was always "sagin de government" |" He spoke in favor of the Lomax amend- ment. and said 1t was necessary to save Montgomery from financial disgrace. The amendment was adopted.
 Other Cities.
 MT. Eyster of Morgan offered an amendment to provide that the section should not apply to the cities of Decatur New Decatur and Cullman. which could levy an additional tax of A of per cent. Captain Blackwell of Morgan moved to amend by fixing the additional tax rate for schools and improvements at S-16 of per cent This was accepted and the amendment was then adopted.
 Dr. Cunningham moved to amend by inserting the cities of Pratt City, Ensley. Wylam and Avondale. This was adopted. Mir. Weakley moved to strike out Flor enee, which was done.
 Mr. DeGraffenried moved to table the section and amendments, which was lost. The previous question was then ordered and the section as amended was adopted
 ? last section of the report of the committee.
 General Sanford of Montgomery offer ed a new section which provided that no charter of any municipality shall be- come effective unless ratified by the vote of the people. This, on motion of MT. Weakley. was tabled
 Mir. Whiteside of Calhoun offered new section which provided that any person or corporation who may construct any public utility in the streets of a city shall be liable to abutting property holders for resulting damages.
 MT Boone of Mobile favored the amend ment. He said that a street railroad or trunk road could run It's track close to a sidewalk. preventing ingress and egress and thus damaging property and that they ought to pay for it.
  was adopted there would be no more street railroads put down and If there were the 96 lawyers in the convention would thrive on damage suits.
 Captain White of Jefferson spoke in fa- vor of the amendment. He said the company proposing to use the streets should pay for the additional burdens on the property.
 Mir Hood of Etowah thought the ques tion could be left to the legislature. He moved to table the amendment. This was lost by a vote of 25 to fl. The previous question was then ordered and the sec ton was adopted.
 Municipal Bonds.
 MT. weakley of the committee then re- ported back section ', which had been re- committed yesterday. This read as fol- lows:
 Sec T. No county, city, town. village, district or other political subdivision Of a county shall have authority or be au- thorized by the General Assembly after the ratification of this constitution to is- sue bonds. unless such issue of bonds shall have first been approved by major ity vote by ballot of the qualified voters of such county. city, town. village. dis trict or other political subdivision of county, voting upon such proposition. In determining the result of any election held for this purpose. no vote shall De counted as an affirmative vote, which does not show on It's face that such, vote was cast in approval of such issue of bonds. This section shall not apply to the renewal, refunding or reissuance of bonds in cases where the same have been authorized by laws enacted prior to the ratification of this constitution, nor shall this section apply to obligations incurred or bonds to be issued to procure means to pay for street and sidewalk improve ment or sanitary or storm water sewers, the cost of which Is to be assessed against the property abutting said Improvements or drained by such sanitary or storm water sewers.
 They also reported back an additional section. which provided that no city or town shall make any assessments for sewers or for street improvements in ex- cess of the increased value of such abut- ting property by reason of such improve ments.
 The committee then asked leave to con- solidate the two sections. which was granted.
 Woman Suffrage.
 Mr. Craig of Dallas moved to amend by providing that women tax payers could vote on this question He spoke in favor of his amendment, as did MT. Fitts of Tuscaloosa The latter said the bonded debt of cities was as much the debt of the women tax payers as of the men, and that they ought to have the right to vote on bond issues.
 The previous question was then ordered. and an aye and nay vote was demanded on the adoption of the section and the amendment
 MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale moved to ta- ble the Craig amendment. This was lost
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