The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-14

 | nance, as understandrit. to the Con xentfon. and when he does that theps a minority of the commfttee. consisting | of the gentleman from Mubile, has made a minority report. Now we have | the right under thoee circumstances, l we say, to have this rule observed. | and to have that ordinance lie over and | be printed for the consideration of the l Convention, in justice to the right of | the minority of the committee which
 have been shut off as 1t were by q mo l tion made in the committe to indeti. | nitely postpone the proposition. It seems to me that the matter ought to 1 take the course laid down In the rules, which Is that 1t shall lie upon the table
 and be printed for the information ef the Convention.
 Mr. Oates---I want to correct one statement. did not. return the ordinance. hut . copy of 1t, for the purpose of making the report of the minority intelligible. had no right in view of the action of the Comm;ttec tn return the ordi- nance. They voted not to return 1t. tut to indefinitely postpone 1t. That fact is
 stated in the short report sent in. The President-The Chair will state that when the Committee on Rules had under consideration this question, the rule in the former House of Represent atives in reference to an adverse cal- enda. was considered, and the Com. mittee decided not te report any rule for an adv verse Calendar, or that when question was adversely reported by the Committee it should 90 on the ad- verje Calendar. and should be taken up on Q certain vote. but decided 10 adopt iE lieu thereof this Rule a:
 Any ordinance or resolution may be
 recalled from a committee byia vote Of
 the majority of the whole number of
 delegates elected to the Conventions"
 That IS where . committee has mat
 ter which itsrefuses to report or ad- vers,s. or indefinitely. pcstpones. Now
 if . minority of''the Committee could,
 without regard to the wishes of q ma Jority of the Committee, bring any mat ter befcr" the Convention. 1t seema to the Char that 1t would operate to abro- gate thts rule which provides when q matter has been considerAd in commit-
 tee. and ,he majority of the committee have drcided adversely te.it, and have vo.sd to irdedinitely postpope it, that the matter cannot come before the tssn-
 vention contrary to the wishes of ma toriy Of that Committee, unless recalled
 by vote under Rule ts, which requires
 vote of the majority of the whoi4 vention.
 Mc, Sanford (Montgomery)--Y. rise to question of information. When a
 Commtttee has reported to,the Conven-
 ton that they have inde1initeiySroat-
 poned certain resolution or ordinance,
 Is that not itself report?
 fhS Pissident-rhe distinguished
 Chairman of the Committee on Lag}sia-
 tiSs Department states that he makes
 no report fcr the Committee. and, sant authorized to make any report, and thertiore the Chair would rule, unless "'otion was made to recaIt tlas n,attAr fiem dhe G mmittee, that it ts noktnre r- erly teforo he Convention.
 MT. Hrooks-I rise to . question. of personal privilege. I want to aayfhak 1T the Chairman,of the Commatfee on Legislative Department had not. when l approached him on.the subject, prom ised me that he would not make q rec port: l certainly would net have made minority report. Inever was useifled of the meeting at which the action of this Committee is alleged to have taken place; although l saw the Clerk of the committee going around here and mo- tifying meSrbers. stilltI knew nothing of 1t. do not know how many were present, whether there were seven. or ten or twelve. All know Is that tLe ordinance offered by the gentisnl1a from Montgomery (Mr. Lomax) wa, aaversed When 1 went to see ..e Chairman of the Committee and 1911 him l never had been invited 10 tT5t meeting of the Comittee, and Ea,.t no opportunity to make a minnr.:y .p port. he said, very well, I will ,uika :, report and let me make a minority rs port; otherwise I should Never lave taken the trouble to make the minority report.
 Mr. Long Cwalker)-on yesterday. it IS well known. while ordinance No. 404 was up for passage. changed my vote from aye to no for the purpose. as stated then, of moving a recoasidera- ton Of that ordinance his no'nng. I ask your attention to Ordinance 40l. because one of the most intelligent members on this floor yes.er fay even ing voted against the ordinance and told me he did 1t because he thought 1t left the impeachment of sheriffs ex- actly like 1t was in the old Constitu- ton.
 It merely seeks to strike out of sec- tien 2s of Article V. the report on Ex- eeutive Department, these words: Ard the Governor, when satisfied. sf.er hearing the Sheriff. that he should te impeached, may suspend him from 6f- flee. until the impeachmens proceed ings are decided"
 This ordinance repeaIs only these words that I have mentioned, The Committee on Impeachments, of which l have the honor to be member. is unanimously in fav0r of this ordinance, Whether wisely or unwieely, the i'm. peachment of the Sheriff is removed from the county. and Is placed before the Supreme Court of our State. Now submit. to give the Governor power to fix judgment before trial, on any case. Is most radical departure indeed from time-honored customs; and is con- trary to every republican form of, gov- ernment in the world. It is placing the power in one individual, not only to try the case. and to render judgment, but that man can hear but one wit ness. or he may take a newspaper re- port If he wishes. and suspend that sheriff from office. This suspension carries with 1t the idea of guilt, or a failure to suspend carries with 1t the idea of innocence. say it is c radical departure. and speak in behalf of the Sheriffs of the State. have seen them from every section of the State of Ala bama, and have not seen one of them in this State, who did not rebel at the idea of the Governor being allowed to suspend them from Office without e trial. It is dOne for the express pur- pose. and no other purpose. of trying to prevent lynchinGs In the State of Ala bama, as We all know. LynchinEs in so many instances are to be deplored, Ak Ng@