The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-17
Mr. Burns-Do not the words "qual- flied elector'' cover both ''residents and


 sitizens?"
 Mir. Oates-It is wholly unnecessary. The section is just as 1t has been In uhe Constitution for twenty-five years, except the change in the age ct the senator and the change of the one word that has been made.
 Mr. Burns-I want to ask one ques- ton: Don't the words qualified elec- tors" mean as much and embrace cit ixens and residents?" Can he te d. qualified elector without being a citi- zen and a resident?
 The President-Has the gentleman from Dallas the gentleman from Mont gomery under cross-examination?
 MT. Burns-I want him to answer that question.
 MT. Oates-The only reply have to that is to move to lay the amendment of the gentleman from Dallas on the table.
 On a vote being taken upon a divis- ion 1t resulted in 65 ayes and Ss noes and the motion to table the amendment was carried.
 MT. Oates-I move the previous ques- tion upon the adoption of the section as amended.
 And upon a vote being taken the section as amended was adopted.
 Section was then read IS Follows:
 Section 5. The legislature shall meet ouadrennAlly. at the Capitol in the Senate chamber and in the hall of the House of Representatives (except in cases of the destruction of the Capi- tol, or epidemics, when the Governor may convene them at such place in the State as he may deem besO on the day specified in this Constitution, or on such sother day as may be prescribed by law; and shall not remain in ses- sion longer than sixty days at the first session held under this Constitution, nor longer than fifty days at any sub sequent session.
 MT. Williams (Barbour)-I have an amendment to Section 5.
 The Clerk then read the amendment As follows,
 To amend Section by striking out the word "quadrennially'' and insert Ing in place of the same the word Potentially"
 Mr. Williams (Barbour)-nhave only few words to submit on the amend ment. It will be seen it refers only to the sessions of the Legislature, and not to the election of the members. It seems to me, sir, that four years is too long a period in which there will be no session of the Legislature. l care nothing about how long mem- Der of the Legislature may be chosen Tor: but I do think that the Leg.sla- lure ought to meet oftener than once n four years. I believe that the elec- tons ought to be oftener than once in tour years, but that is not the ques- ton now. It is a question of the mat ter of sessions. A legislator is the nearest man to his people. and when they are in session they represent the body of the sovereignty of the State of Alabama. We profess to be a pro- yressive people, keeping up with the changes and requirements of the times. St least it is our wish to do so. 3on't know what the custom may be In other States, flor do l care. l was born and reared in the State of Ala bama and my familiarity with political policies is confined to this State. All of my information as to proper poll cies and procedure is with reference to my own State. It would be an sexper- iment to keep our Legislature silent for four years. Wa would almost forget we had Legislature. It IS too long period for bad law to run or to wait for the enactment of good one. Leg islatures sometimes make unwise laws, and if the people can't be rid of such laws shogt of period of four years, they wilftge to indulging the feeling akin to revolution and almost equally so will their sentiment extend when they want a new law which they can- not get short of such period. We would forget the acquaintance of cur members, sir. and they would forget the business of legislation If they could not meet oftener than every four years. What is the good of it? I take the liberty of saying that the best system ever saw was in my youth in the State of South Carolina, the Legislature met every winter and stayed in session only thirty days. The members are accountable to the people. They make their changes with the peo- pie. They get their directions from the people who give them their com missions. It is not my purpose to make a regular speech, because l do not believe it would be welcomed, and l have no disposition to undertake it. I say it is an untried thing for the Legislature of the State of Alabama to sit only once in every four years. IL would be an untried situation to the people, who could hardly become fa- miliar with their Representatives if they did not see them in official ses- sion 0ftener than once in every four yearsa It would be an untried condi- tion of the affairs of the State if they could not have an examination into the weak places and remedy them by tit legislation injected oftener than once In four. years. It is too long a dearth, Sir. There is unwlse legislation per haps at every session of the Legisia- ture and al every session something is left out that ought to go Tn. I am not undertaking to interfere with the period for which you elect the mem- berc. Let them go to the people and council with the people. and learn not only their duty but how. to do it at least once in every two years. Without saying more l respectfully insist upon the amendment.
 MT. Long&I offer substitute for the original Section, and the amendment offered by the delegate from Barbour.
 The substitute was read as follows:
 Amend Section by striking out the word "quadrenniar' in the first line and insert biennial" Also by insert ing in lieu of the word sixty" in-the third line thirty" and also strike ouf the word fifty and insert the word twenty Tn lieu thereof.
 M. Long-I shall no1 attempt to make a speech. That amendment al. lows the Legislature to meet every two years and instead of being an addi- tional expense as 1t ia claimed. it will be sayinS. The committee s report fixes the length of the first ssssi, n at sixty days and l reduce that to thirty days. Then instead of fifty days as in the other part of the Se,tion. make 1t twenty five days. NJ. Harrison-Do you think the sext