The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-15


 have not done the necessary and prop CT thing, why risk 1t any longer. l have seen nothing in this report, and I presume there will be nothing in any other that attempts to fix the salary of any but this officer, the highest in the gift of the people and the honor that any and every citizen in the State would like to have and properly so. I hope that the delegates in this con- vention will individually take it unto themselves and consider the necessity for this and the reasonableness of if. and adopt 1t.
 MT. Blackwell-The arguments made by the distinguished gentleman from Montgomery could we'll have been re- served for the Legislature when 1t next assemblies in the Capitol of Ala bama Individually I am in favor of the Governors salary. h. I am in favor of giving the Governor 5000 year. but this great State that the gentlemen have pre- scented here this evening is made up of people. It is not the character Of the land that Alabama has that con- stitutes her chief greatness. It is not the mineral wealth that Alabama has that constitutes her chief greatness. It
  lands that Alabama has that consti- tutes her chief greatness. but it is the people of the State of Alabama that constitute her greatness, l want to know. who presented this question to the people in the campaigns for the Constitutional Convention and who said to them that one of the duties they expected to perform as delegate to this conevntion was to fix salary at five thousand dollars year?
 MT. Oates-If the gentleman will al- low me, I was one. I made seventeen speeches and advocated it on the stump each time and was usually ap- plauded
 Mir. Blackwell-How many more made it? The only time we have heard the question discussed as to what the Governors salary should be was in 1875 when the Governor was paid $4,00o a year, and as matter of fact the only expression given by the peo-. pie was that they desired a re- duction of salaries and in ooedi- ence. to the demands of the people that salary was reduced 25 per cent. I am perfectly willing to go before the people and say that the Governor should have what these gentlemen say now. I am willing to risk the people to do right in the matter.
 MT. Jones-Won't this Constitution go before the people?
 MT. Blackwell-Yes, and I don't want to load the Constitution down with things that the people haven't consid- cred or expressed themselves on, or wherever they have said anything about it, have been opposed to 1t. l don't want to go before the people with a Constitution loaded down with such things and jeopardize the success Of this Constitution that will relieve them of negro domination. 1 want as few things put in here as possible that the people themselves can settle at the nolls. If the gentlemen are so certain that the people of Alabama will not ob- feet to this measure, why not wait and let that be made an issue in the cam paign before the people, and hear the voice of the people direct rather than by proxy. It seems to me we want to put just as few things in that Const- tuition as 1t is possible to put in that that may endanger us success, If the gentlemen are satls- fled that the sovereign people of Ala bama favor this idea, why put 1t Tn the Constitution? Don't you believe that any member of the Legislature, 1T there is a constituency behind him that wants this thing, will readily carry IL out It Is not that I am opposed to the meas ure personally that makes me object to if hut it is the fact that the people have given me no authority or instruc- tion to do any such a thing as this.
 MT. O'Neal-Is it not fact that pro visions of a similar character 10 thIs are found in many of the Constitutions of the other States?
 Mir. Blackwell-Yes, sir. I do not en- certain that objection to 1t that l don want it in the Constitution, as the gen tleman assumes, but I want the people to express themselves on it, and wan' to know whether they want 1t put III the Constitution before l am wiling as their representative, thus to act 1ol them. My people have certainty nao m discussion on this matter My peo- nIe have certainly expressed no opinion on this matter. My people say they want reductions wherever they can De made. and we are pledged to have nc increased rate of taxation. IT we go or and increase the salaries Of oHlcers where are we going to get the money te nav the increase except by taxes upoI inc people. And yet. if the people wan to increase 1t, they have a right 10 ao so and YOU say the people would DC willing to do it. Then why not suoml tba question to them and not speak foi them when they have not authorized IL hui ask them and let them say whether ar not they want it. l know AlaodhlS is great enough to do this 1T she want to do it. but the people have rlght l' sneak on the matter, and. therefore am opposed to putting 1t Tn the Noh stitution as their representatives, an, | if seems to me that these appears WhlCi tbe gentlemen are now making shoul he made to the Legislature, ana II
 is so important and the people can
 made to see it, it would be mace al
 iesne in the next campaign and tn | Governor can have the full beneft O
 if if the people of Alabama are wlihn
 he should have it, and l, for one' ar
 willing he should have it.
 Mr Grter-I move the previous ques
 ton. t,, ,,,es
 tion was ordered, and further vote pc | ing taken on the motion to adopt LII
 minority report, the yeas ana nay
 were demanded and the roll call result
 ed as follows:
 AYES.
 Almon. JoneL, ol
 Ashnraft I4edbetter,
 | P5redeid Leigh,
 | Rartiett Locklin.
 | Beavers Long, of Butler, | Blackwell. i-ons' ot ,,,rorce
 B,jger McMillan (WilcoX),