The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-13

and rests m the Soun0 olSoretlOns ans views of public policy of, those who declined to admit that the plan of local assessment referred to was violative. even of the strong provisions of the State constitution. He says: T am of opinion. that the statute authorizes in effect local assessment and and does not prescribe a public tax. | in the sense of the Constitution. and that local assessments are not neces- sarily confined to particular real prop erty to be affected by them favorably in contemplation of law.
 | It is universally conceded that the State may by its Constitution provide ored -..-.aren without violating the Federal Constitution. If separate schools may be maintained certainly separaxe districts may be organized for the patronage of such schools. The section proposed by the minority proposes that white school districts may be laid out to the greatest advan- tage of the white people and that coI- ored school districts may be laid out to the greatest advantaEe of the colored people.
 It is provided by Section nf the ar- ticle that the general school funds shall be so appertioned as to maintain equal school terms in these districts. So far 1t will be admitted that alf receive the equal protection of the laws. The sub stitute further proposes to permit each school district to impose upon itself a local assessment the better to carry out the purpose for which the district was organized. In this right the col ored districts and the whitA districts are equally protected. Each district iS guaranteed from the general school fuDSs reasonable school terms. If the members of one district see fit to fnl- pose on themselves a special assess ment how can it be said that the other. which has the same right. is denied the equal protection of the laws. It is said that one district owns more property than another. the same may be said about the different counties under the plan proposed by the maojrftv. The white race being given an opportunity to do something for itself as race will no longer he irrjtated bv the dispro- portionate share which thev contribute to and receive from the general fund. The negro being given the opportunity to do something as race will no longer be in the position of an abso- lute mendicant. and will have the op- portunity of showing himself worthy of the large share he receives from the general fund. He will have the oppor- tunity of cultivating self-respect and self-reliance. Race pride and race fra ternity will take the place of that sus- picious envy which now manifests 1t. self in the commission of those crimes which shock humanity.
 The primary purpose Of this Con vention was to establish & more just relation between the two races and the State. and so to insure domestic tram guilty and prosperity.
 The divorcement of the white and colored school systems stand side by side in importance with the proper suffrage regulations.
 John T. Ashcraft.
 Erle Pettus.
 P. W. Hodges.
 Henry Opp.
 Substitute proposed by minority foe Section 13 of majority report of the Committee on Education.
 12. It shall be the duty of the County Superintendent of Education. or other school officer in each county by and with the advice and consent of the Court of County Commissioners. or body of like Jurisdiction. to organize the white people of the county into white school districts. according to their respective needs and advantages without reference to each other as to territorial boundaries. Provided no in- corporated town or city maintaining a system of public schools as provided by law. shall be separated into districts without the consent of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of such town or city.
 For the purpose Of building, enlarg- ing, improving or furnishing school houses in any district. or for the pur- pose of supplementing the general school funds received from Federal. State, county, municipal and other sources, the Court of County Com n,s- sioners, or body of Nike jurisdiction shall .as hereafter provided. levy a spe- cial assessment of not more than one fourth of one per cef1tum iii any one year upon the property of the white persons situated in a white district. or. upon the property of colored persons situated in q colored district; provided. NO such levy shall be made except upon the request of three-fifths of the voters voting at an election held for that purpose and residing in the dis trict. At such election in 8 white school district on1y qualified white electors shall be permitted to vote, and in colored districts only qualified col cred electors shall be permitted to vote It shall be the duty of the Probate Judge to order such election in any district upon the patition of not less than one-fourth of the voters who will be entitled to vote at such election. The order for such election shall state the purpose for which 1t is proposed to make the assessment. the rate of the proposed assessment and the number 61Iriner Is proposed to be made. Notice of such election shall be given and the election held in such manner as may be pro vided by law for such special elections. No proposition shall be made at any such election to levy such special ae- sessment during period of more than four years.
 When any property belonging to a corp Drati'n is situated in a whi-e school district where a special assessment Is to he made as herein provided such assessment shall be levied upon srrh proportion of the value of such prep erty as the number of white children of school age in the county bears 10 the whole number of children of sch pol age in the county. When such property Is situated in a colored school district where such assessment is made. 1t Shall be levied upon such proportion of the value thereof as the number of colored children of school age in the county bears to the whole number of IL { 4 4