The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-07
Notes and Sketches
 of the Convention.
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vention for consideration on a favor able report. There have not been any very material changes in the present Constitution except that a Lieutenant Governor is provided for to be elected for the same term as the Governor and to be paid at the same rate for the time he Is engaged in active duties. The Committee Is said to have been unanimous for this section, there being recognized demand from the people for the creation of the office. The re- port will also favor the fixing of the Goyernor's salary at 5000 per annum MT. Hinson of Lowndes opposed 1t, but 1t is understood that he will submit no minority report but acquicsce in the action of the committee. The re- port will also, it Is understood, recom- mend the increase of the terms of all executive offices to four years. the Governor to be ineligible to succeed himself. The report of this Article will be the first made to the convention. It will probably be presented today and under the rules will lie on. the table and be printed to come up for discus sion a later day. This will be the first report to be considered bY' the con- vention and upon 1t the arst debate will take place. However, the senti- mGnI SGGnS u OC AA AoSSA OA eAS changes that are proposed and there will be no serious opposition.
 The Committee on Judiciary has been considering the many proposi- tions to change the present judicial system of the State, and while it Is the opinion of the majority of the con- mittee that some change is necessary. a plan has not yet been agreed upon. It is learned that majority of the committee is favorable to the plan of making the Circuits much smaller and fixing certain requirements for Cir cult which may be carried out after the expiration of the present terms of the Judges of the State. The plan is to require a certain population for Cir cult and when it is ascertained that county or a number of counties grouped together have the requisite number of inhabitants then the General Assembly shall form a Circuit and have a Judge and Solicitor elected as the law re- ouires. The committee has also been considering the ordinances for the abolishment of the Justices of the Peace in the State, and while they have some support the question will hardly meet the approval of the com mittee. The committee has also had under consideration the proposition to abolish the Chancery Courts and con- fer equity jurisdiction upon the Circuit Judges. No action has yet been taken on the proposition and it is not known how the committee stands on 1t.
 A number of ordinances retaining the present tax limit ip the Constitu- ton are pending. The act providing for the calling of the Convention stip- ulates that there shall be a tax limit incorporated in any organic law that may be adopted and the Democratic platform pledged the delegates of that party to a strict adherence to low tax rate. The Committee on Taxation of the Convention has been consider ing the matter for the whole time since its formation and 1t is under stood is practically unanimous against any proposition to raise the limit Of the tax rate in the State, County or municipalities. The Committee is said to be against any proposed tax for schools that will carry the tax rate above the limit fixed by the present Constitution and the people have ex- pressed themselves too often on that question to be misunderstood.
 The proposition to have the conven- tion to adjourn June 10th for ten days, to which time ordinances and resolu- tions shall be introduced, and after that time no other new matter shall be proposed. is meeting with favor, and it may be adopted. The Act calling the convention provides that the members shall be paid for only fifty days, and this action is deemed necessary to save time and enable the committees to dis pose of the work before them without haste and with due deliberation. There is one trouble in the way of this action and that is that the committees will scarcely be patriotic enough to stay here and carry on work without pay and to pay them for ten days would be the General Assembly to meet the ex- penses of the convention.
 The Committee on Representation had a meeting yesterday afternoon and 1t is learned that there was an effort made to have the Committee report an ordinance making an entire reappor- tionment upon the census of 1900. The majority of the Committee Is said to be in favor of letting the matter rest where it is. making no change and adopting the present apportionment. This seems to be the wish of major ity of the delegates, desiring to avoid the conflict that the opening up of the question is sure to precipitate. It is remembered that the General Assem- bly did nothing in this regard, and left the law just as it had been for the past ten years.
 Hon. John Henry. Representative of Russell County in the General Assem- bly. was in Montgomery yesterday. MT. Henry delivered the annual ad~ dress to the alumni of the State Uni versity in Tuscaloosa early in the week. and it is said to have been one of the finest speeches ever delivered in Alabama. It will be remembered that MT. Henry made fine impress sion upon the General Assembly by speeches made in the lower House at the last session. He Is a son-ln-law of Judge J. E. Cobb, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.
 The meeting for men at the Young Mems Christian Association rooms next Sunday afternoon will be an address by Hon, H. F. Reese of Selma. MT. Reese is a delegate to the Constitu- tlonal Convention from Dallas County, and is a prominent lawyer and man of ability. He will no doubt be greet ed by a good audience of men.
 Hon. W. R. Oliver, Hon. G. B. Deans and Messrs J. H. Gum. A. s. Bristow, c. c. Oliver and N. A. Graham, are registered at the Windsor Hotel. They are interested in the Shelby County Court House matter and represent the Calera faction.