The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-17
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF
 THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF ALABAMA


 aren't that these who are opposed to him are indulglng in procrastna,:oh' IL Is perfectly apparent that not chiy uas the gent. emdn undertaken 10 sac- rifice the whole ordinal nee for the pur- pose of enforcing his individual vieWs upon the Convention, but 1t Is desired to abolish the rules, and to proceed i'll line with his particular wishes, In derogation of the method of procedure that has been deemed sufficient and proper in all of the important matters of this Convention. When he laiol this article on the table, he did 1t un- der a speech, in which he positively as sured this Convention that there would be no embarrassment whatever in talk ing that article from the table. anc' when it was taken from the table, un- der parliamentary rules, 1t would bt subject to this amendment. which he seems to introduce special rule to ac' complish. Now, Mir. President, what is the proposition. Under the rules oi this Convention. that article cannot be amended, when it is put upon it's ras- sage. To suspend those rules. requires a two-thirds vote of the Convention. The gentleman now proposes to intro- duce a resolution and asks the Rules Committee to declare that rule Is not cooperative and effective in this particu- lar instance. I am not much of par- liamentarian, but it semes to me, Mir. President that the Rules Committee has no more right to declare that a rule shall be suspended, by majority vote, than has any other committee 6r small number of this Convention. If the Rules Committee were to report a resolution that this article might be taken up and amended, that would simply be a report. recommending a suspension of the rules, and then to adopt that report take It. unless the Chair ruled that they might do by in direction what could not possibly be done by direction, they would have to suspend the rules by a two-thirds ma jority.
 Mir. Coleman-May ask the gentle man a question? This Convention adopted the rules?
 MT. Smth-It did.
 MT. Coleman-And can't it change them?
 MT. smith-They were adopted for the method of procedure. and not to met the behests of any one individual
 MT. Coleman-Answer my question.
 Mir. Smith (Mobile)-I am answering your question and will not be cut off in my answer when you have part of 1t and not the whole.
 The President-The gentleman does not consent to yield.
 MT. Smith cMobile)-Not to stop. This Convention can suspend the rules, for the benefit of the Convention. and in the interest of the people, and the Convention can revoke the rules, but the Convention cannot simply sus- ped the rules by a majority vote. when it is declared by its rule that 1t shall only be done by two-thirds vote. I submit that there is no excuse for this further effort at delay by parlamenta- ry tactics. I submit that the whole procedure of laying this on the table is not in the interest of the people generally, and Is not SO considered, and l submit that this ar @le ought to be brought up as special order at II o'clock and hope that the Convention will vote down the amendment.
 MT. Hood-I call for the ayes and noes.
 The call was sustained.
 The President-The gentleman from Mobile moves that the consideration of the motion to take from the table the article reported by the Committee on Judiciary be made the special order for II o'clock today. Thereupon the gen tleman from Greene moves to amend by making it's consideration ehe spec iaI order for o'clock this afternoon. The question will be first upon the amendment offered by the gentleman from Greene. The ayes and noes have been called for and the call sustained As many as favor the adoption of the amendment will say aye and those who oppose no, as their names are called.
 MT. Pettus-I understand there was a motion to table the amendment
 The President-The Chair heard nc such motion.
 Upon a call of the roll. the vote re- suited as follows: