The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-04


 ly in order that some gentleman from Boston may walk the streets and say what a beautiful town Montgomery is. !" That don't feed the poor man. How many white people have you in Montgomery? Thirteen thousand white people. Its population is supposed to be according to the census SOFAS. but 17,0o0 of them are negroes. Of course they are not taxpayers. And of the thirteen thousand white people, how | many are taxpayers? Five years ago an inquiry into that matter was had and there were seventeen hundred tax | payers in the city of Montgomery. And l all this great indebtedness is burden upon those people. Now, | know | whereof I speak. One of the finest es- establishments in Montgomery is today | under a mortgage which the young men owning it are laboring day after | day simply to pay the interest and 1t | will finally be swept from them. Am | other young man has a house which he inherited from his father and he has | said: You can take my house for the l pavements and the supposed benefit" These are facts. Your bankers have moved from Montgomery. Men who | owned houses on the prominent streets have gone to the country. gentlemen ! oI IOTtuuS, nave Uuht OutSluC IhC Gity. . I know that less than twelve months ago there was a meeting of the citizens | to consider these matters, and there, sir. I know you heard my voice pro- | testing that this taxation would amount to confiscation. These are facts about this thing and yet we have | gentlemen who would tax you still more. What benefit are brick streets | to a man who works day after day for his bread. How do brick streets bene- | fit him? And yet you say to him you | must pay these taxes" when he can barely support those dependent on him. | And these officers who have been paid ! bv the municipalities are always shocked by the voices when they ap- peal for the people and against grasp I ing municipalities. I am glad to say that if my voice is harsh the people have heard 1t. Today a man said to | me. For Gods sake don't let then, continue this system of government. We rely upon you and our other friends to prevent that" And I stand here today protesting against any such proposition which has been so ably ex- posed by the gentleman from Greene and the gentleman from Lee and which was defended by my two colleagues from Montgomery, one an ex-alder-
 
 and mayor. That carries out what I | snid that that class is always asking for power for municipalities against the people.
 They say that we are choking mu- nicipalities to death. Who are the municipalities? Are they not the peo- pie? When we say the city of Mont gomery, it has no existence apart from the people who compose 1t, John San- ford and George Macdonald and James Smith. and others. We are protecting the people against these grasping mu- nicipalities apd you will hear our voices before this Convention adJourns \ in more forms than one.
 Gentlemen of the Convention, I hope | you will listen tC the eloquent appeals of the gentleman from Lee, to the earnest and truthful argument of the | gentleman from Greene and even to the voice. and nothing but voice. but with a great deal of heart and sheer ity and earnestness for his people. hope this amendment will be defeated by. an overwhelming majority. l MT. Pillans-I, offer an amendment.
 MT. Harrison-Is not there already an amendment to an dmendm snt?
 The President-Yes. the Chair will state to the gentleman from Mobile that the gentleman from Taiiadege. of fered an amendment to the Section and the gentleman from Lauderdale offered an amendment.
 Mr. Pillans-Then my amendment is not in order?
 The President-Not at this time.
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-The amend ment of the gentleman from Talladegs was simply a change in phraseology It was really no amendment.
 De- A1A,. from Lauderdale was offering his amendment. I begged the Convention to all ow this little verbal amen 1men of mine to be gotten out of the way but 1t was declined. Now l ask upan imous consent that the amendment of fered by the Committee be taken III and disposed of in order that the gen tleman from Mobile can offer hi: amendment. The amendment of tn, Committee is only q formal amend ment.
 The President-The gentleman ask unanimous consent on the part of th, Committee to incorporate that amend ment. Is there objection? The Chai hears none and the amendment will b, made and the gentleman from Mobil, can now send up his amendment.
 The amendment was read as follow s Amend the substitute by striking ou paragraphs A and D.
 | MT. Pillans-I will ask that the clerl read paragraphs A and D of the sub stitute offered by the gentleman iron Lauderdale.
 The sections were read as follows (a) Notes, certificates of indebted ness or revenue bonds issued in antic ipation of the collection of taxes, un less the same be not paid within tw, years from the date of such issue 8nt all such notes. certificates of indebted ness and revenue bonds shall he pro vided for. and made payable from th taxes levied for the year Tn which the. are issued. and shall never exceed tn amount of such taxes.
 (d) Debts created for the preserVa tion of the public health.
 MT. Pillans-The object of this amend ment is to make the substitute whicl is offered. and which contains a hmi Atation upon the indebtedness which municipal corporation can subject it self to. not applicable to the foliowini extraordinary matters, to wit: (b
 bonds issued for the purpose of pur chasing or otherwise providing for
 supply of water or for the ,conStructiol
 or installation of sanitary sewers. o
 for the extension of either of the same (c) obligations incurred and bonds is
 sued to procure means to pay for stree
 or sidewalk improvements or storn water sewers, the cost of which is t be assessed against the property abur , ting or drained by such sewers. (e
 debts existing on the 9th day of De cember. 1875. or any obligation issue, | tn renew ar rafund the same.