The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-12
lFFlcIAL REPORT 0F TIE PROCEEDINGS OF
 THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF ALABAMA

 the most important bulwarks that pro .ect the rights of citizens against cor porate greed and rapacity In order to frame this Constitution to suit the needs of a certain city in this State. Now gentlemen. if you propose to make that the Issue, 1 am ready to meet you If you propose to strike down the safe guards of this Constitution and shape 1t and mould 1t to suit the desires or one city, in order that all other cities in this State can lay their hands upon the moneys of the common schools or Alabama, then take the responsibiiity. desire to say upon the part or tnis Committee that we protest against this action. You have the power to do 1t. You formed this unholy alliance the other day. What did the Committee do the other day? They read you a provision providing that no special franchise should be conferred upon corporations. individuals or assocla- tions. The dispensary men say we object to that because you use the word ely, municipality and county; that it might interfere with the legis- Iature granting . city or a municipality the privilege of establishing a dispen- sary. We answered that proposition by saying that the highest tribunals in the State have declared that the right to establish dispensary is not privilege. It is a transfer by the State of . part of it's police power to a political sub division of the State. But if that Is the only objection we will strike out cities. municipalities, or counties. We struck it out, yet after we struck 1t out. after we placated the dlspensary men. uprose the hosts from Mobile to lay the whole section on the table. Now there is this unholy alliance which seems to prevail in this Convention. You strike down the provision which leaves the people of Alabama open to the legislature to pass any local law granting special privileges and fran chiees and rights to a few favored in- dividuals or corporations in this State. I say when you strike down that pro- vision. in my judgment you say to every corporation in Alabama, "come to the legislature, they are authorized to grant you any special law or exclu- sive privilege" This convention has sanctioned 1t. It has in solemn con- vention stricken down a safeguard which has been in the Constitution of Alabama for over a quarter. of cen- tury. Now I will say to the friends of the dispensary that am perfectly willing after this article is reported to put in a general provision that nothing in the foregoing article shall prevent the legislature from passing any laws regulating or prohibiting the liquor traffic in this State; but you are not satisfied with that offer No. the gen. tleman from Henry says there Is a masked battery behind every provision nf IA fharn a aenrAf pose upon the part of this Committee. which has not been declared. Our motives are impugned. Couldn't say with the same justice. if I was disposed to question the motives of the dele gates on this floor. which am not dis posed to do because I believe that every every delegate in this Convention | Is actuated by the highest and most patriotic motives to do that which vill | subserve the best interests of Alabama. | To question the motives of certain gon- | tlemen and to say with equal propriety | that you are hacking behind this great l moral reform In order to confer upon l corporations privileges and franchises which they ought not to have. Couldnt t I say 1t with equal propriety because | why didn't you agree to amend 1t? Hhere Is the provision you strike out Let me read 1t to you:
 Sec. IA. Granting any exclusive or special privilege. immunity or fran chise whatever. to any individual private corporation or association n this State.'
 | I offered an amendment yesterday morning limiting that to private indiv. | iduals and corporations, didn't l, ano you struck it down? I excepted cities and counties. The gentleman sayi haven't we enumerated every possible subject of local legislation-
 The President-The time of the gen tleman from Lauderdale has expired.
 Mir. O'Neal-I would like to be al lowed to read one section.
 The President--Read the section.
 MT. O'Neal (Lauderdale)-Herei is ont that you shall not grant to any cor poration, association or individual an! special or exclusive privilege or i'm munity, or to any corporation or indt vidual the right to hay down railroad track. That is found in the Constitu ton of twenty States. and yon have stricken it out from our Constitution.
 MT. Henderson--I desire to call thu attention of the gentleman from Dallas to the fact that in the thirty odd sub jects the Legislature is prohibited from passing of local laws alread!
 
 tion two covers every other subject. il my opinion. that would possibly refe to the Legislature passing local laws and If the members of this Convention will read that section I think they wil agree with me on that subject. desir' to yield my time to the gentleman from Mobile on this subject.
 MT. Sanders-I move that the time o the gentleman from Lauderdale be ex tended five minutes in order that h. may conclude his remarks.
 The President-Does the gentleman from Pike yield to the motion to exten' the time of the gentleman from Lau derdale?
 MT. Henderson-Yes, if the gentle man from Mobile shall have the bal ance of my time.
 The Presldent-The chair can no parcel out time so far ahead.
 Mir. Henderson-Then l yield to tn gentleman from Mobile.
 Mr. Smith--If this is in order
 The President-Does the gentlemaI yield to the gentleman from Lime , stone?
 MT. Smith (Mopile)-No sir, unless ] am to be recognized afterwards.
 The President-The chair does no care to make any contracts with refer ence to the disposition of the time.
 MT. Smith (Mobue)-I appreciat that.
 The President-The question is doe the gentleman from Mobile yield t the motion to extend the time of tn l frnro I Io.tAardaIa