The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-27

or uf1e to nave feboiuttoub Toha over end over again, and that when gen- tieman sends resolution to the clerks desk, if he will make statement that he intends to move a suspension of the rules, 1t will call the attention of dele- ss.ss to the resolution. and it viii not have to be read again.
 The President-The Chair thinks the suggestion of the gentleman from Chambers Is a very good one. Of course thure are sometimes matters read from tine Clerks desk. which are merely to be referred, and nembrs do not give the strict attention 10 the reading that they would If 1t was known that motion was going to be submitted 10 suspend the rules, and place the resolution upon its passage.
 The report of the Committee on State and County Boundaries was thereupon read as follows:
 State of Alabama,
 Constitutional Convention, 1901
 Report of the Committee on State and County Boundaries,
 Mr. President:
 The Committee on State and County Boundaries instr,icts me to report herewith an ordinance to take the place of the article in the present Constitu- tion on the subject.
 All of the ordinances and resolutions submit cd to the committee have been carefully considered. The principles of some of the same have been incorpo- rated In the article. These ordinances and resolutions are herewith respect fully returned. e
 :, The material changes in the article reported are as follows:
 To the first section as to the bound aries of the State is added . proviso, so that if circumstances should be pro- bilious, the limits and Jurisdiction of the State would extend over any land or territory hereafter acquired. In this connection. we have reported favorably Q resolution giving the sup port of this Convention to the Com missioners appointed under an act of the last Legislature as to the matter of the connection of certain part of Florida to this State.
 Section 2 of the present Constitution has been divided into several sections so as to make each provision therein clear and definite.
 The boundaries of the counties un- der Section 3 can only be changed by an act of the Legislature passed by 8 majority of the members elected to each house thereof. and two-thirds vote of the qualiGed electors, within the proposed territory to be taken from one county and added to another.
 New counties can only be created In like manEer.
 No county line shall be changed so ss to run within seven miles of the Court House of any old county.
 No county site can be removed with out a two-thirds vote of the qualified electors voting at an election held for such purpose; and elections for such purpose can only be held once in every four years
 The area of counties has been reduced from six hundred to five hundred miles.
 The county site of Shelby county, by proviso to Section 6 Is fixed at Columbi- ana until changed by vote of the people. There is an act of the General Assem- bly of Alabama approved the sth day of February, 1899, and an act amendatory thereto, approved the 20th of Febru- ary. 1899. providing for an election to fix the permanent location of the coun- ty site of Shelby county, and the bene- fit of such an election could be had at any time within four years from its approval. Without seeking to have an election under these acts, bill was passed through the last Legislature, changing the county site from Colum. biana to Calera. After a patient and careful investigation of the manner Of the passage of this bill it was evident to A majority of the committee
 First-That only one member of the House could be found who knew of the existence or passage of the bill. and that member was the originator of the same.
 second-No officer of the House had any independent recollection Of the bill
 the calendar of the house and out or the newspapers
 The bill was passed regularly in the Senate. during its last day. and was on it's calendar, but so late that nc one in Shelby county except those interested in it's passage, knew ary- thing about 1t until after the adjourn ment of the Legislature. The result is that this 6ct was passed by wrong methods without the knowledge ot the members of the House. and the county site changed, without the consent or knowledge of the people of Shelby county. It is conceded. in our Judg. ment, that the courts cannot so penino the Journals. The people of that coun' ty are therefore left without remedy unless this Convention grants it to right the above wrong, and as an act oS iiiatice to the people of Shelby coun- tv the committee Is of the opinion. and if ia their judgment. that said county sIte shouid remain at Coiumbiana un- less changed by the vote of the people of that county. We return the eVi- dence heard before the committe.
 Upon some portions of the article aone of the members dissent and re- serve the liberty of action.
 George H. Parker. Chairman.
 Minority report of the Committee on State and County Boundaries:
 Mir, President.
 We the undersigned members of the Committee on State and County Bound aries do not concur with the majority in that part of Section which refers to The Shelby county Court House. And we offer as an amendment to Section of the majority report that all part of Faction 6 which refers to the Shelby county Court House be stricken out, J. o. Senteil.
 J. A. Gilmore.
 The undersigned member of the connnnittee on State and County Bound aries does not concur in the report of inc committee as to Sections 2, and 4 and he offers as substitute therefor tho following:
 Sec. 3-The boundaries of the several counties of this State as heretofore es- tahIshed by law, are hereby ratified ana confirmed. The General Assembly nav by I vote of two-thirdS of both Houses thereof arrange and designate boundaries for the several counties of this State. which boundaries shall not he altered. except by a like vote; but m new counties shall be hereafter