The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-08

also allows the several counties to levy a special school tax of 10 cents on the $100 upon the vote of three -fifths of the voters | of the county. The old constitution ap- propriates about sl0O,OOO to the public 1 school fund. and the new constitution ap- | propriates about sSn0,0n0 without increase l of taxation.
 Third-A reduction in the number, and | frequency of elections. The executive of- | iicers of the State arc to be elected | every four years, instead of every two years, as. now, and State and federal cleo ] tions are to be held at the same time As pracaution, however. against any | evil that may come, or porteEd, from | holding these elections at the same time the Legislature IS authorized to change the time of the State elections, if found necessary. or expedient.
 Fourth--Under our present constitution, | whenever a vacancy occurs in any judi cial office. it is filled by appointment of the Governor, whose appointee holds for the balance of the unexpired term. The new constitution provides. that where the | vacancy occurs more than six months prior to general election, the people | shall elect the successor at that election. ! Fifth-Provision is made for the cleo tion, by the people, of circuit solicitors, who, under the present constitution, are elected by the legislature.
 l the Legislature to create courts and elect new judges is ourbed and restricted, If the new constitution be ratified. city courts or courts of law and equity can not be established in any county which has not at least 10000 inhabitants and 8. 5O0,00O of taxable values.
 | Seventh-Not only is there provided a limitation on the creation of new courts, i but the legislature is authorized to change | aka1s soH nf fhn h. lished. except the Supreme Court and Probate Courts. and 1t may confer on the Circuit Courts, chancery Jurisdiction.
 Eighth-No salary of an official can be increased during the term for which he was elected, under the new constitution.
 Ninth-The Legislature is to meet every four years. instead of biennially as at present. The doing away with one ses- l sion each two years. results in net say Ing of about $50.00O to the State, which is the cost of each session. This change also gives the people time to become | familiar with the laws and test their operation and efficiency, before the Leg | islature can meet and try to make | changes in them.
 | Tenth-The Legislature cannot spend it's l time, and the peoples money, in local and special elgislation, under the new constitution. No special privileges or charters can be granted; no corporate powers extended, by special or private acts; no person or corporation can be exempted from the operation of the gen. eral laws; no city, town or county can be authorized to issue bonds, except upon the vote of the qualified electors of such city, town or county; no liens, by special law, can be created; no property can. by | special act, be exempted from taxation: no county seat can be located or changed by the Legislature; but 1t can be by the vote of the people; no liability of an individual or corporation to sthe State or county or city, can be released, except upon full payment; no divorce can be | granted, and no minor can be relieved oi the disabilities of homage by the Legisla- ture, nor can it grant special immunitieS | to administrators or guardians, or relieve them from making their settlements with the courts.
 Many, and stringent, provisions are in corporated to cure and prevent the evils that have flowed from special and loca legislation. Some idea of the magnitude of this evil can be obtained by noting that the General Assembly of 1S9S-9s pass ed general laws, covering less than two | hundred pages, and local and special law: covering about 1,SOO pages; whilst thu last General Assembly passed genera laws covering about 200 pages. and specia and local laws, covering about 2,600 pages
 
 in book form, is considerable and is paiC for out of the State treasury-the benefit conferred by the special acts accrue t. the favored individual or corporation This provision for quadrennial, instead of biennial, sessions of the Legislature and the taking away of the power to en- act special laws and grant special privi- leges, may be distasteful to the prOfes- sional lobbyist, whose occupation will be gone, and whose presence on the floor of either House of the Legislature, except by consent of all of the members. is for bidden by the new instrument; but the people will not suffer because of his ab. sence from the halls of legislation.
 Eleventh-The Governor cannot succeed himself. nor can he be elected or appoint ] ed, to a State office or the United States Senate for at least one year after his term ends. I Twelfth-The pardoning power is hedged | about to prevent it's abuse and board of pardons is provided for, which is com 1 posed of other State officials than the 1 Governor, and whose salaries are not in- | creased on account of having to dis ! charge that duty.
 | Thirteenth-A Lieutenant Governor to be elected by the people is provided for, | and he is to preside over the Senat; but | his only salary is the perdiam allowed | Speaker of the House and he is to be paid only during the session of the LegiS- | lature, except when he acts as Governor | This provision, secures in case of d vacancy in the office of Governor. a sue 1 cesor elected by the people.
 Fourteenth-Under the new constitution, l there will be a limit beyond which neither cities nor counties can issue bonds and it will require an affirmative | vote of the electors to obtain the issue.
 Fifteenth-A limit to the grant of fran chises to water. gas, electric lights and street railroads. through public places. by municipal authorities, is fixed.
 Sixteenth-The examination. by a public officer, of the resources and liabilities of State and private banks, Is required, and the security of depositors thereby in | creased.
 SeVenteenth-Coroporat are requir- ed to pay a franchise tax. based upon the amount of capital employed
 Eighteenth-Railroads are forbidden to issue passes to Legislators, or judicial officers,
 Nineteenth-The new constitution does | not create a large number of new of | fees, as has been falsely charged There are provisions allowing the Legislature | to change the system of circuit solicitors tu that of county solicitors, if it be here after found beneficial to do so. The only new officials actually created, are those l of Lieutenant Governor and the three registrars for each county, to register | those entitled under the temporary suf- 1 frage plan. These registrars will end their labors and go out of office by 1905 | Twentieth-The new constitution safe ] guards legislation by careful provisions l intended to control the introduction and | .f oar i,s