The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-29


 no rood reason why 1t should take two- thlrdA of this Convention to do any thing. It is not Democratic, and ask the members Of the Convention to con- slider we'll how they gag and bind | themselves here. It Is wrong in prin- ciple to adopt any rule requiring tv.o- thirds of the members of this Conven- tion to pass upon any question. A ma 5ority should have the right to amend any article. am as anxious to get home as anybody. l served notice amendment to the whole Constitution with the exception of the Article on 1 Suffrage and Elections. I will not do that. have decided to take the tur- key feathers and all, and think the people of Alabama will take 1t, but there are some amendments which the members of this Convention may wlsh l to offer. and think with the consent of majority they should at least have the right to offer them, and I think the delegates should vote down the res port of the Committee on Rules.
 Mir. Heflin (Chambers)-Th majority report of the Committee that no amendment shall be offered unless by two-thirds vote' does not say whether by two-thirds vote of the naemkers present or a two-thirds vote of the en- tire membership of this entire Conven- | ton. It says two-thirds vote.
 MT. cunningham--It says two-thirds of those voting.
 Mir. Hefiin (Chambers)--r have just read it.. and 1t says two-thirds vote. If that is true 1t would take one hundrsd members of this Convention to allow an amendment to be offered.
 I agree with the gentleman from Ma con when he says that We ought not to be too nasty now. .d am as anxious to get away from here as any member. Circuit Court begins in our county next Monday and 1t is very necessary that we iaXyers be there who live ir the county at least, but my time belongs to the people. When I allowed them to send me here, I took the responsi- bility on me that rests on any member of this Convention. and until the labors of the Convention are completed. my time belongs to them. do not think that by adopting the substitute or the minority report of the Rules Commit tee, that we will be here longer than Saturday night. There are only two or three amendments to be offered, but delegates have been home and they have seen the people who are inter- ested very much in this Constitution, and delegates can not get too close to the people in this matter. Suggestions may have been made to them, and those delegates. 1t may be. will desire to offer some amendment. Now our report says "not over two hours" shall be devoted to any Article, not to an amendment. but to any entire Article, and if the Convention sees it, any dei- egate can move the previous question or a suspension of the rules. There is only one amendment that I shall favor that now know of, and that Is to allow the Sheriff to succeed himself and to allow him to be impeached as provided by Governor Jones in his re- port on tho Executive Department. I believe a majority of the delegates in this Convention will favor that amend menr. We ought at least to have . little time to consider that. If the gentlemen here think that, that would be wise provision. and I do not see why it would not they ought to be allowed little time to consider that and when that Is offered, do not know of any, other material amendment that will be proposed. favor, Mir. Presi- dent, the adoption of our substitute, and 1t Is the first time I have ever dissented from the report of the Rules Committee, and would not do it at this late hour, but I feel that 1t is due the delegates of this Convention, who are the people in Convention as- sembled. to offer amendments if they see fit to the wisdom of this Conven- ton for their adoption or rejection.
 MT. Cunningham The purpose of the author of the original resolution was, as well stated by the acting Chairman or the Committee on Rules. to prevent nasty legislation. That was the first reason. I do not believe that delegates on this floor have had an opportunity during the last few days. certainly I have not, to hear from the people gem orally in regard to the Constitution as 1t mas been proposed by this Convention. what have heard however, has been that 1t is our duty to finish our work. adjourn, and come home. Certainly that is practically the universal opinion in my section of the State. Now. | want to call attention to the fact that the rules We are now operating under provide that every amendment offered must be referred back to the Commit tee and by them reported. That will take two days.
 MP. O'Neal--Where is that rule
 Mir. Cunningham-Rule5 53. You will GinA that when these amendments come up for discussion. that the same straw that has been threshed over time after time will be threshed over again, and I am quite sure that the people of Ala bame will not commend the action of thia Convention in reconsidering and readopting matters which we have had up so often. There is scarcely a prop osition of any importance in this pro- posed Constitution that motion was not made to reconsider after 1t was adopted. Tho amendment that my friend from Chambers alludes to in regard to the Sheriff matter has been considered. think. four distinct times. That ia my recollection in regard to the matter. An amendment was adopt ed allowing the Sheriff to succeed him. self. That was reconsidered and voted down. The original Article Of the Committee on Executive Department had provision that the Governor could suspend the Sheriff after hearing the Sheriff in a case of lynching or bodily harm to a prisoner. That was repealed, I think. by special ordinance, and was stricken out. So you see upon that particular question we have not only consumed hours, but days.
 Another thing, take the question of quadrenniaI sessions of the Legislature. l have no doubt some gentlemen enter tain the purpose of introducing an amendment on that line. That again will excite & good deal of discussion and if there is anything in Alabama that ia universally approved, 1t is the quadrennial sessions of the Legislature do not know what other amendments wautlar,nav t1aau haua rRu fhafr QlaA4raa