The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-15
SHELLEY'SPROPOSITION
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 Third-A reduction in the number. and frequency of elections. The executive of- ficers of the State are to be elected | every four years. instead of every two years, as now. and State and federal cleo tions are to be held at the same time. As a precaution, however. against any evil that may come, ur portend, from holding these elections at the same tune, the Legislature IS authorized to change the time of the State elections. If found necessary, or expedient ~, -s
 Fourth-Under our present constitution. whenever a vacancy occurs in> any judi cial office. 1t is filled by appointment of the Governor, whose appointee holds for the balance of the unexpired term The new constitution proyides. that where the vacancy occurs more than six months prior to a general election, the people shall elect the successor at that election.
 Fffth--Provision is made for the elec- ton, by the people, of circuit solicitors, who under the present constitution, are elected by the legislature.
 Sixth--The hitherto unlimited power Of the Legislature to create courts ana elect new judges is curbed and restricted, If the new constitution be ratified, city courts or courts of law and equity can not be established in any county which has not at least ZU,WU lHndolldHlS anu 8, 800, 900 of taxable values.
 Seventh--Not only is there provided limitation on the creation of new courts. but the legislature is authorized to change or abolish any of the courts now estab- lished except the Supreme Court and Probate Courts, and 1t may confer on the Circuit Courts. chsncery jurisdiction.
 Eighth-No salary of an official can be increased during the term for which he
 sL.1. 1Gfi hi
 Ninth-The Legislature Is to meet every four years, instead of biennially, as at present The doing away with one ses- sion each two years, results in net sav- ing of about 1000 to the State which Is the cost of each session. This change also gives the people time to become familiar with the laws and test their operation and efficiency. before the Leg islature can meet and try to make changes in them.
 Tenth-The Legislature cannot spend its time, and the peoples money, in local and special elgislation, under the new constitution. No special privileges or charters can be granted; no corporate powers extended, by special or private acts; no person or corporation can be exempted from the operation of the gen. eral laws; no city, town or county can be authorized to issue bonds. except upon the vote of the qualified electors of such city, town or county; no liens, by special law can be created; no property can, Dy special act, be exempted from taxation; no county seat can be located or changed by the Legislature; but 1t can be by the vote of the people; no liability or an individual or corporation to sthe State or county or city, can be released, except upon full payment; no divorce can be granted, and no minor can be relieved of the disabilities of homage by the Leg1sla- ture, nor can it grant special imfnunlties to administrators or guardians, or relieve them from making their settlements with the courts.
 Many, and stringent. provisions are in- corporated to cure and prevent the evils that have flowed from special and local legislation Some idea of the magnitude of this evil can be obtained by noting that the General Assembly of 1S9S-99 pass ed general laws, covering less than two | hundred pages, and local and special laws covering about 1890 pages; whilst the | last General Assembly passed general laws covering about 200 pages, and special | and local laws, covering about 2,6O0 pages. | The cost of publishing these special acts | In book form, is considerable. and IS paid ] for out of the State treasury-the beneht | conferred by the special acts accrue to | the favored individual or corporation | This provision for quadrennial, instead | of biennial, sessions of the Leglslature' | and the taking away of the power 10 en- | act special laws and grant speclal prNl- | Ieges, may be distasteful to the profess sional lobbyist, whose occupation will be 1 gone. and whose presence on the floor | of either House of the Legislature, except | by consent of all of the members. IS ior- | bidden by the new instrument; put the people will not suffer because of his ab- sence from the halls of legislation.
 Eleventh-The Governor cannot succeed himself. nor can he be elected or appoint ed to a State office or the United States Senate, for at least one year after ms | term ends.
 Twelfth-The pardoning power is hedged about to prevent its abuse and board i of pardons Is provided for, which Is com posed of other State officials than the | Governor and whose salaries are not m creased on account of having to dis l charge that duty
 Thirteenth-A Lieutenant Governor to he elected by the people Is provided for, | and he is to preside over the Senat put | his only salary is the perdiam allowed | Speaker of the House and he IS to ne | paid only during the session of the Legs lature, except when he acts as Governor | This provision, secures in case or vacancy in the office of Governor a suc- | cesor elected by the people
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 | there will be limit beyond whlch l neither cities nor counties can lssne | honds and 1t will require an afnrmaliNe vote of the electors to obtain the issue | Fifteenth-A limit to the grant ot Iran | chisss to water, gas, electric hghts ana | street railroads, through public places' oy
 municipal authorities. is fixed.
 Sixteenth-The examination. by pubic
 officer of the resources and liabilities or
 State and private banks Is required and
 the security of depositors thereby in
 creased.
 eenth-Coroporations are requir-
 ed 10 pav a franchise tax. based upon
 the amount of capital employed.
 Eighteenth-Railroads are forbidden to
 issue passes to Legislators, or judicial
 officers.
 Nineteenth-The new constitution does not create a large number of new or fces as has been falsely charged. There are provisions allowing the Legislature | to change the system of circuit solicitors | to that of county solicitors, If 1t be here | after found beneficial to do so. The only | new officials actually created, are those | of Lieutenant Governor and the three | reeistrars for each county, to register | those entitled under the temporary sur | frage plan. These registrars Will ehd their labors and go out of office by l9oS. Twentieth-The new constitution sa1e- guards legislation by careful provisions intended to control the introduction ana
 massage of bills. There can be no surrep-
 titious legislation and the crimes or
 briberv and corruption in office are
 strongIv dealt with, both as to giver, and
 taker of the bribe. or the party guilty Of