The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

Epecting any merchandise or commod- tty shall be imposed or collected in ex- cess of an amount sufficient to pay for the reasonable cost of such analysis of Inspection.
 Mr. Cobb-I will not consent to Shat or any other amendment, because l | am opposed to the whole thing. You may offer any amendment you please and the whole matter will meet with my stern and uncompromisiny opposi- ton.
 Mir. Bulger-May I ask the gentle man 9 question?
 Mir. Cobb-Yes, sir.
 Mir. Buiger--Don't you believe that . limitation upon the taxing power Is a proper subject to go into the Con- stitution?
 Mir. Cobb-I do.
 Mr. Bulger-Don't We d1 that and put limit on the taxing power that the tag tax shall not exceed 10 cents on the ton, and Is not that limita- tioh upon the taxing power?
 Mir. Cobb-As suggested to me. and think the suggestion is good one, this Is a prohibition upon all taxation. But if the gentleman has done me the honor to listen to my general remarks he would have understood my position here and that is that the Constitution should be limitation upon the power of the Legislature in matters only that it is necessary that such limita" tions should be placed upon. and these should be limited to few great con- trolling matters. The people are not often swept away. though they are sometimes, by high political excite ment. and never about all questions. It is only with regard to certain great leading matters that we want even these limitations lIpon their power and then as time progresses, as the state develops, as 1t becomes apparently ne- cessary that there should be additional Limitations here and there. the people have 1t in their power to place them there by amendments to this instru- ment.
 Jefferson. the great apostle of Demo- cracy. said time and time over again that whenever you cease to trust the people you might despair forever Of Republican institutions upon this con- tinent That is the great Democratic idea. And I say that the Legislature is a part of the people, the agents or the people. and the idea is perfectly horrible to me that from time to tune agents sent here directly from the pecpie can be manipulated and pur- chased and influenced and lead away from the discharge of their duties. Yet there is a remedy. The people VIII take care of these men and 1t IS said oy nv distinguished friend over there ana some of the other gentlemen Wno pose here as special friends of the farmer, the poor farmers that are taxed to sup port the rich. And who are they! They are the men who control the State of Alabama today. ThS 1arm- CTS of the State of Alabama can eieSe every Legislature that assemblies in these halls. If they don't do 1t, naVlne the power in that behalf. how does It rest properly in their mouths to get siu and say "Oh our interests are not taken care of" The farmers of this country are an intelligent class or men, a patriotic class of men, cuI- tured class of men. They know what government Is and what 1t means. They know better than anypooy ese what their interests require and they know better than any class of men on earth how to put their hands upon their Representatives and force them to obey their wishes.
 Mr. Carmichael (Coffee)-If we can afford to trust the Legislature In re- gard to this matter. why cant We trust them on the limitation of the ad va lorem tax here, why lower the tax ra1e from 75 to 65? < going to lower it. You are assuming somethinx that may not happen.
 Mir. San1ford-Why limit it at all!
 MT. Cobb-I have answered that
 MT. Carmichael CCoffee)-Well. an- swer it again. . LA. ters in regard to which there IS aI- ways danger of the people Deans e and ried away in times of unusual anu great political excitement and them selves do something to their own hurt. That is the reason.
 MT. Carmichael (Coffee)-They are not wise at that time?
 MT Cobb-No, sir; they are not. The gentleman laughs-
 MT. O'Neal-Will the gentleman permit question: .4 through with this young man. J am not an old man. Sometimes 1 almost think I am one of the boys yet. know I like the boys. ,,,.o
 MT whiteside-I rise to inquire uvhether or not the gentleman's time IS out? .,,4a. of it. .,, simply want to say to my worthy young frfend-I don't know whether he is so very young himself-at all events. I have been knocked and cuffed ana kicked about a great deal more in poll tics than he has yet, and l want 10 drop ito him a note of warning. rake care what sort of record you are making here today in this Constitu- tional Convention.
 You may find that the people, whose interests you are declaiming for here so eioquently and vigorously, may dis agree with you when you get back home, and you may find it difficult to explain away certain matters that may have engaged yeur attention and best efforts here during this service. If we had done and if We do. what l be- lieve we ought to do you will never be in any danger. 50 far as 1 am con- cerned, do not care. I am man of the people, and I like the people, and the people have honored me more. per- | haps, than I deserve on many occa- | sions, but I started here today to do | my conscientious duty, in fear of no | one and no men or set of men, and I | will be approved by the very men | whose friends are here so vociferously | talking about the poor farmer.
 But my good friend here is very so- | licitous that I should quit l expect l he is on the other side.
 Mir. O'Neal-The gentleman from Pike | asked you the question if 1t was not | proper to incorporate in the Constitu- | tfon a limitation on the power of tax ation. l will ask you if this substitute | is not an absolute prohibition of the
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