The age-herald., 1901-07-13

not think there was much difference in the two propositions it was merely a question of expediency and he thought the original section was better
 The previous question was then ordered and MT. O'Neal proceeded to close the de- bate for the committee and explained the section
 The convention then voted down the substitute offered by MT. ONeafs com mittee by a vote of 46 ito 70.
 The section offered by Governor Oates committee, which is section 25 of article 4 of the present constitution, was adopted by vote of 91 to 20. This reads: "The General Assembly shall pass general laws under which local and private interests shall be provided for and protected"
 Section Six.
 Section was then read and adopted as follows
 Section 6. general law within the meaning of this article Is a law which ap- plies to the whole State; local law is a law which applies to any political sub division or subdivisions of the State less than the whole-a special or private law within the meaning of this article is one which applies to an individual, associa- tion or corporation.
 | Aooitlonal sections.
 Mir. Boone of Mobile offered an addition al section, which read as follows
 ''The courts can take judicial notice of any municipal charter" This was tabled | The committee offered a new section which as follows:
 ''No bill introduced as a general law shall be so amended in its passage as to become a local special or private law" This section was adopted
 MT. O'Neal then moved that the article be engrossed and ordered to a third read ing. This was adopted and the convention adjourned until 3:30 o'clock.
 Afternoon Session.
 The convention reassembled at 3:3O with 106 members present. The report l of the committee on state and county boundaries was taken up. There were three minority reports of this committee and MT. Cornwall of Jefferson sought to introduce fourth by way of amend ment A point of order was made against It's introduction. The chair stated he would reserve his decision on this point until he could look into the matter.
 MT. Long of Walker by consent here | introduced a resolution reciting certain efforts to reduce the expenses O the 1 convention by discharging some of the pages, and providing for blind-folded page to select 55 of the 155 delegates. who should resign and go home to save ex- penses.
 Considerable parliamentary discussion | here ensued as to whether the report l of the commi~se on state and county boundaries and the. minority reports should first be considered or the Corn wall substitute. It was finally decided | At 70 41@ @Nft section by section.
 Section One. Section one was then read as follows:
 Section l. The boundaries of this state are established and declared to be as follows that Is to say Beginning at the point where the 31st degree of North Latitude crosses the Perdido river; thence east, 10 the western boundary line of the state of Georgia thence along said line to the southern boundary line of l the State of Tennessee, thence west, along the southern boundary of the State | of Tennessee crossing the Tennessee l river, and on to the second intersection of said river by said line, thence up said | river to the mouth of Big Bear creek; thence by direct line to the northwest corner of Washington county, in this | southerly along the line of the State of Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, thence eastwardly, including all islands within six leagues of the shore to the Pedido river; thence up said river to the be- ! nig;-Provided, That the limits and jurisdiction of. this state extend to and include any other land and territory now acquired, or hereafter acquired by con- | tract or agreement with other states or | otherwise, although such land and ter | ritory are not included within the boun- | daries hereinbefore designated This section is the same as in the pres ent constitution with the exception of the proviso which applies to territory hereafter acquired. It was adopted as read.
 County Boundaries.
 Section two was then read as follows:
 Section 2. The boundaries of the several counties of this State as they now exist | are hereby ratified and confirmed. | MT Cornwall of Jefferson offered an | amendment as follows:
 Sac g. Until changed by the General | Assembly as allowed by this constitution, 1 the boundaries of the several counties of | this State as heretofore established by | law, are hereby ratified and confirmed and no new county hereafter fomed shall | contain less than 18,000 inhabitants; nor | shall 1t have less assessed taxable proper ! ty than $2,250 900, as shown by the last tax returns nor shall it contain less area | than 400 square miles, and 1t shall be en- | titled to one or more representatives un- der the ratio of representation existing at | the time of it's formation.
 MT. Cornwall explained that this all | lowed new counties of 400 square miles, l but that he would later on in his substi- | tute offer a section which provided that no old county should be reduced below 600 square miles.
 MT. DeGraffenreid of Hale moved to ta- ble. This was done by vote of 69 to 21. Section two as reported by the minori- ty report was then read,
 Section three of the majority report was then read as follows:
 Section 3. The General Assembly shall have the power, provided that each house By a majority of the members elected thereto shall vote in favor thereof. to submit to vote of the people residing within the territory proposed to be taken from one county and given to another, change or alteration in county lines, but no such change or alteration shall be made unless such proposed change or al- iteration shall receive two-thirds of the votes of the qualified electors voting at such election, and provided, that no coun- ty line shall be changed or altered so as to reduce any old county below five hun dred square miles or which shall reduce the inhabitants in any such county be- low the number of inhabitants to entitle the county to one representative. Amendments Offered. l