The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-04
THE NEW COUNTY QUESTION.

THE NEW COUNTY QUESTION.
 The question of a provision in the new Constitution for more counties is one that seems to be giving the Con yention Committee on County Bounda- r.es considerable trouble lately. The Committee is being called upon to make special provisions in some cases. The case of Bessemer County is one. The whole question is likely to provoke con-. siderable discussion in the Convention when the report of the Committee is reached.
 The Committee will make blunder If if undertakes to arrange for any spe- cial counties in any part of the state. Such exceptions would be sort or special legislatior that Is not the prov ince of the Convention. Nor would 1t be a prudent thing from the stand- point of expediency. It would offend many voters not so favored, and might lead to internal county broils of greater or less extent in the specially excepted cases.
 l mittee and the Convention to do Is to lay down certain broad rules and care full restrictions under which the people themselves can decide the question or new counties. It may be said that the Legislatures should do that. but the fact remains that Legisla- lures for years have refused to form a single new county and thatthe chances are largely against future Legislatures doing 1t. The mem- bers of the Assembly are ordinarily too thoroughly under the influence of the county officers for their ears to be open to any change of that sort.
 The Convention should reduce the minimum size of counties very cons:d- erably, and then should make 1t pos sible for the voters in any given neces- sary territory to exercise their right of self government in that matter by voting their choice for or against a new county, provided the new county does not take off enough territory to cut any existing county below the minimum. If the people in any given territory want to go to the expense of county court house and Jail. and to support new set of county officers. they should be allowed that privilege as a part of their right Of self government. They should not be held back by the people out side that territory in the existing coun- ties around them. for reasons of van- ity. selfishness or obstinacy.
 The existing counties were made for the convenience of the people, not for the benefit of county officials. Yet for years the formation of new counties in this State has been held back largely by the self-interest of county officials, who feared to see their incomes cut down or their political plans upset by any loss of territory. It is time that a situation working such an injustice to the mass of people be remedied.
 It has been said that the Conven ton itself is just as sensitive to the wishes of the county officers as previous legis- lative bodies. We don't believe this can be true. There are too many big, strong. shrewd men in the Convention, who must see that the right course in this matter is to frame a provision on , principles that will be adaptable to any situation, that will enable the peo- pie to relieve themselves of great in- convenience and expense wherever they really desire to do so. There is a great deal of talk about the wishes of the people and of letting the people rule. Here is an opportunity for the Con- vention to display its consideration for the people and its confidence in their capacity to decide for themselves.