The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-20
THE FREE PASS EVIL
 IS STRICKEN DOWN
(continued from Page one.)


 part of any corporation, He said thsre might be at least two Building ana Loan Associations which are not prac- tising rascality. If this were so II was because of the honesty of the managers and not because of restrictions by law. Mir Proctor ridiculed the idea Of be- neficcnce of the Associations. He said that the lobbyists from Birmingham who had been here since the report had been made were paid by the Associa- tions. They were not paid by the l stockholders who were represented here by the delegates and by letters.
 Captain Graham of Montgomery. spoke in support of the Committee re- port. He introduced statements sign ed by citizens of Jefferson. and Nor gan counties that they were borrowers of Building and Loan Associations ana were entiiely satisfied.
 Captain Graham concluded his re- marks by moving to table the minority report. Mir. Proctor of Jackson, called | for the ayes and nays and the call was sustained.
 By a vote of "A to 36 the minority report was tabled. At this point MT. Long of Walker. sent up a resolution authorizing the Committee on Harmony to insert in the Article on Executive Department. clause providing that sheriffs may, serve two terms and may be suspended from office by the Governor pending impeachment.
 Section IA of the Article on Corpora tions was then read and adopted with out division. It provides for operation of railroads and canals without dis elimination and is the same as the present Constitution.
 The Railroad Commission.
 
 confers upon the legislature the power to regulate rates and control railroad and transportation companies. General Sanford of Montgomery. sent up an amendment conferring this pow | CT upon the Railroad Commission and addressed the Convention. He said If l the majority report was adopted there would be absolutely no necessity for Railroad Commission. He said that | with quadrennial sessions of the legis- lature the railroads would not be con | trolled.
 | General Harrison of Lee, Chairman Of | the Committee, supported the report of l the Committee. He said that under the old Constitution, the power WAS con- | ferred upon the Legislature, which ere ated the Railroad Commission to carry out its pleasure. General Hariisol gave it as his opinion that it would be an interference with the legislative de- partment of the State to give exclusive authority to an unconstitutional Com | mission He said the section reported had been copied from the Georgia Con- stitution, and was stronger Tn its con- trol of railroads than the present Con- sttution of Alabs ma.
 MT. Espy of Henry spoke against the section which, he said. was the most meaningless thing that had been pre- sented to the Convention. He said the Legislature already had the power. The people of his section, he said, ex- pected this Convention to enlarge the power of the Railroad Commission. In stead of this, the Committee came in with a report that was written to catch votes.
 MT. Murphl ee of Pike spoke of the compromise in the Committee on Cor porations He had taken the position of Messrs Sanford and Espy, but had finally compc omised With the Commit tee, and he hoped the section as report ed would be adopted.
 MT. Kyle of Etowah sent up supsti- ute making it mandatory for the Leg isIature to pass laws at its first session after the ratification of the Constltu- ton providing for regulating railroad corporations. MT. Kyle said if the sec ton as reported was adopted, an un- just determination might continue foi four years without regulation, as tne Convention had provided for quadren' nial sessions.
 On motion of MT. deGraffenreid oi Hale. the amendments were tabled anc Section l5 was adopted as reported.
 Free Pass Section.
 Section 16 was then read. It prohib it's railroad companies from issuing free passes to members of the Legisla ture or officials exercising judicia functions, and fixes a penalty Tor th' accordance of such pass. Members o the Legislature who are employees O railroads may accept passes.
 MT Vaughn of Dallas sent up al amendment to include members of mu nicipal councils in the list or olncer' who shall not receive passes.
 Mir. Vaughn spoke in support Of nl me ndnent. He Contended that fre' passes were an evil in public Ire. h' said he had been informed by rall road attorney that passes were issued for influence. He said the man "n' would not be influenced by receiving pass WAS an inSrate.
 MT. Blackwell of Morgan sent up al am andment to the amendment. l nrovided that members of the Legisla ture who are employees of railroad may accept passes for themselves ou not for others. Mir Blackwell address ed the Convention in support or hH amendment
 MT. Brooks of Mobile made an ear nest argument against free railroad masses. He said he had always been friend of railroad corporations. He said the section reported by the com mittee was not a whit better than the dead letter clause in the present Con- stitution on the subject. He said he would introduce an amendment whicF would make the giving of railroad pass to public officials by an agent or officer of a railroad company misde- meanor.
 MT Long of Walker secured the op- . portunity to express his opinion Cn 4 free passes. He said he was surprised that the committee had reported such a sectional He said he was oppose1 tc a the principle contained in Section 16 He believed the whole thing grew cut | of petty jealousy. He believed n the . lowest possible freight and he aljN . shelieved in the lowest possible tranM portation. He said he had neVer rec ognized a free pass evil. If a man . could be bought for a free pas; he could be bought for q dollar 0. a Cilu k of whisky. He said if he was Aveh the opportunity he would submit a sub stitute providing that no person in Alabama should accept free nlSs.
 Mir. opp Of Covington made char acteristic address. He said he did not