The age-herald., 1901-07-03
TIE CONVENTION ADOPTS THE
 TEN MINUTE RULE FOR DEBATES

from 9:3O to 1 and s:sO to 6. A motion to suspend the rules was adopted so that the resolution could be put on its immediate passage. The resolution was then adopt ed.
 Mir Craig of Dallas presented petition from some women taxpayers of Madison asking that provision be inserted in the suffrage to allow all women to vote on school matters and matters affecting their property. It was signed by Virginia Clay Copton and others. MT Greer of Cal houn moved a vote of thanks to MT. Craig If he would not introduce any more of such petitions. The president ruled the motion out of order.
 The Executive Articles.
 The committee on executive department asked that the ordinance on executive adopted by the convention be passed to it's third reading. The convention decided to do this, then some of the delegates wished to reconsider section thirty of this article. which authorized the Gov ernor to remove sheriff during impeach- ment proceedings. A long parliamentary discussion ensued over motion of MT. Reese of Dallas to rescind the action of the convention as to this section. The ordinance was finally ordered read for the third time. It was then put upon it's passage, which, under the rules of the house, required an aye and nay vote. It was adopted by a vote of 101 to 20.
 MT. Burns of Dallas moved to recon slider the vote. Under the rules this mo- tion would come up tomorrow. Governor Jones moved to suspend the rules so that the motion could be considered at once. This was lost, as a two-third vote, which was necessary to suspend the rules, was not obtained.
 Section 5 Taxation.
 The convention then resumed consdera- tion of section of the article on taxation relative to county taxes, and Dr. Gun ninghams amendment, which was to strike out the clause which required a special school tax
 MT, Browne, chairman of the commit tee, read some letters from Texas and Colorado, where similar laws were in force, showing their operation and ef- feet. He said that in Alabama the coun- ties and not the townships were to vote these taxes. In this way a rural district In county where there was city would get more taxes for schools than it paid in. Answering a question of Captain White, he said it was dependent on the liberality of the cities in voting the tax whether the rural districts were bene- fited by it. This provision had no effect upon the present system of city schools. HcNCidl qutSllOllS were dSKeQ Browne in which the famous "hill billies' 1g- ured very conspicuously MT. Helin of Chambers asked MT. Browne to define the difference between a "hill billie' and Black Belt Democrat MT. O'Neal asked MT. Browne to define '.hin billie" Dr. Cunningham then arose and said that the name hill billie was a misnomer and had no place in the convention. This was received with great applause MT. Browne then said 1cpnnDt of tho iu- terruptions he must decline to answer any further questions. Continuing he said that the candidates in many of the counties of the State were different It would not be fair in some counties to al- low mere majority vote to impose a tax. Personally and so far as his county was concerned, he favored Dr. Cunning hams amendment, but did not think 1t would be fair to other counties
 MT Merrill of Barbour offered an amendment to require a two-thirds vote to impose the tax. He did not think a. man with a dollar should have more power than man without the dollar But this was an unusual delegation of power and he thought it should re- quire a twd thirds vote.
 MT. Williams of Barbour said that un- der the present school system the prop erty owners were paying for the educa- tion of all the children. This was a proposition to put an additional tax upon them and he thought the property hold CTS ought to vote upon it and he was opposed to the Cunningham amendment. At this point the convention adjourned until 3:30 o'clock.
 Afternoon Session.
 The afternoon session was called to or der at 3:30. There were 117 members present.
 
 the section and favored Dr. Cunnngham's amendment He had always been a friend to education, and believed that community should have the right to tax itself for the support of public schools but he did not approve of the plan of the committee. What the State should do was to give every child in Alabama a common school education The commit tees plan was class legislation in favor of the rich against the poor. It was con- trary to the spirit of our institutions. We had promised not to disfranchise a single white man In Alabama but if this section passed many white men would be disfranchsed We might as we'll make this system apply to State and county elections. The people would rise up and curse us if we passed the law. If we don't keep our pledges to the people none of us will ever have a chance to break any others. This was MT Hef1ins mai den speech and he was applauded as he concluded.
 MT. Long of Walker said he was heart ily in favor of Dr. Cunningham's amend ment There was no good reason for ex- cluding men from voting because they did not own propert It was contrary to the nrinciples of o5 lemocratic government. There Is no efsuse for 1t. He would not support it himself and did not believe majority of the people would He denied the proposition that it was property which paid the tax. It was the tenants on the farms who paid the taxes through their rents He did not believe there were a dozen members present who were in fa- vor of 1t.
 Reynolds Opposes 1t.
 MT. Reynolds of Chiffon spoke against the section as reported. The law was so couched as to be imperative If the law was right why not put 1t in such shape that the people in the different counties could put 1t in force? He thought that to levy taxes on property to educate the people was ultimately for the benefit of the property holders. Educate a people and you elevate them. It is a great prob lem as to what to do with the uneducated white people of Alabama Property and wealth are cowardly and the rich people are cowardly. It is the poor who fight the battles of the country. If the law was just. put it upon the statute of our State and let majority of the voters de- eide whether they wish to put 1t in ope- ration. He had cast his vote against re- ducing the tax rate. believing 1t was to the interest of the children of the State but he would not vote for this measure, as he thought it against the interest Of