The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-16
had not been submitted to the Commit

tee. L
 Mir. senteil, as member of the Leg islature declared that he had seen many bills passed by the last Legisla- ture when not more than two dozen members were present and yet the journal showed that a quorum had voted.
 Mir. Knight of Hale said he desired to make a statement. He said he was a member of the late and much abused Legislature and had hardly missed a roll call. He was an attentive listener to all questions. He did not hear of the Shelby County bill and he deliber- ately stated that he did not believe such a bill was passed by the Legis- lature.
 Mir. Thompson of Bibb made an argument in support of the Committee report. He said Mir. Sentell had changed his views on the matter in one night.
 After dwelling upon the fact that the work of the Convention was not half completed. Mir. Fitts made an assault upon the Committee report as local legislation. He said the Convention was considering the smallest piece of local legislation. He said if the Con- vention went into the Shelby County matter at all 1t ought to hear the testi- mony in the case.
 Governor Oates spoke against putting the clause in the Constitution. He said the whole people of the State had no interest in the matter. It was an inn propriety to ask the people to vote on it. He contended that the Convention is the people of Alabama-the execu- tive. the legislative and the judicial de- partments combined.i The Convention could pass law nuliifying the court house act and 1t would not have to be submitted to the people. He did not believe such a law would have to be approved by the Governor.
 Governor Jones asked Governor Oates if he was of the opinion that the Con- vention had the power to appropriate money.
 Governor Oates replied that if he had a denfiite opinion about anything he knew that the Convention had such power.
 Mir. Browne of Tailadega spoke in support of the Committee report. He said. however, that it made no differ ence whether it was made a separate ordinace or not, if relief was given. He made a careful argument in support of the report and declared that there was evidence of "damnable fraud" in the passage of the Shelby County act. He had on his desk the Shelby bills which he displayed for the benefit of the Con- vention. Mir. Browne also sharply criticised MT. Deans, the Shelby Coun- ty representative, who claimed to have passed the bill.
 A number of delegates undertook to propound questions to MT. Browne.
 Finally MT. Gilmore of Clarke asked him If ha was not the attorney for the Columbiana people. some warmth in his voice.
 "I am the kind of .oreny for the Columbian apeople," retorted MT. Browns, with some emphasis, that be- fore God in Heaven I will always be against the perpetration of q damnable fraud of any kind. I am the attorney for the Columbiana people, but am an attorney without fec
 T don't know whether you are an attorney without a fee or not, replied MT. Gilmore. as he took his seat.
 MT. Browne had spoken about MT. Albert Wilson of Calera and Mir. Will son of Washington arising to a Ques- tion of personal privilege began to say with a show of passion that he had taken no interest in the controversy; that he had tried, to act decently about the matter. but he proposed to defend his brother.
 He was interrupted by the President, who ruled he was not addressing him. self to a point of personal privilege.
 MT. Browne moved to lay the minori- ty report upon the table
 The ayes and nays were called for and the call was sustained.
 a. the beginning of the vote Presi-
 Knox said that he had been of- fered retainers on both sides ot tne .,ueIuy case and he did not think he was warranted in voting. He was ex- cused.
 As the vote proceeded Captain White S T4fcrson explained that he too had been offered a retainer and he was ex- cused.
 By a vote of "A ayes and 2s nays the minority report was tabled.
 MT. Whiteside of Calhoun sent for ward an amendment to strike out the words "two-thirds vote"
 On motion of Mir. O'Neal Of Lauder dale the Whiteside amendment was tabled. 49 to 3s
 MT. Pearce of Marion sent up an amendment to strike out the words two thirds vote" in elections for re- moving county seats and inserting the words "a majority report.
 Mir. Pearce was speaking to his amendment when the Convention at i o'clock adjourned until 3:3O o'clock.
 AFTERNOON SESSION.
 Nlnety-one delegates were present when the Convention reassembled at 3:30 o'clock.
 MT. Pearce resumed his argument in support of his amendment for ma jority vote on removing county seats instead of a two-thirds vote.
 Mir. Waddell of Russell, argued against the amendment and MT. O'Neal moved to lay 1t on the table.
 A call for the ayes and nays by Mir. Pearce was sustained, and by a vote of 45 ayes and 59 nays the Con- vention refused to able the Pearce amendment. and 1t was then adopted. By a further vote the Section as amended was adopted.
 On motion of Mir. Parker of Cullman. the Article as completed was ordered to be engrossed.
 The Convention then proceeded to the consideration of the Article on Banks and Banking. On motion of MT. Fletcher it was agreed to consider the Article by sections.
 The Clerk read Section 1 as follows:
 Section 1. The General Assembly shall not have the power to establish or incorporate any bank or banking company or money institution. for the purpose of issuing bills of credit. or