The age-herald., 1901-09-01
NEW CONSTITUTION ADOPTED
 BYTHE CONVENTION AND THE
 BODY ADJ0URNS TILL MONDAY


 .--------s--- then read by the clerk and adopted as read.
 The article on education was then read.
 MT. Case of DeKalb moved to strike out that section which related to the Mobile schools. This was tabled.
 The section allowing Tuscaloosa County to levy an extra school tax of 10 cents per $10O was, on motion of Mir. Foster, stricken out.
 MT. Kyle of Etowah moved to strike out the provision relating to the Mobile schools. This motion was tabled and the entire article was adopted on viva voce vote.
 MT DeGraffenried of Hale moved that the convention remain in session until o'clock provided the work of the conven- tion was not completed sooner.
 The article on militia was then read and adopted.
 The article on miscellaneous provisions was then read.
 Convict System.
 MT. Beddow moved an amendment to provide that after January 1, 1904, the States convicts should not be leased out. He said that for number of years the convicts of the State had been saddled upon Jefferson County, and that each
 
 Every other section of the State had had some courtesy shown to it. and he now asked that something be done for Jeffer- son County. He said that if this was done for Jefferson County It would march up in solid phalanx in support of the con- stitution.
 On motion of MT. DeGraffenried the 1 amendment was tabled. | MT. Beddow then offered an amendment | to provide that convicts should not be 1 worked in the mines unless they were felony cases, and that in misdemeanor cases the prisoners should be- kept in | their respective counties. pr. Cunningham of Jefferson spoke in favor of the amendment He said the question was dear to his heart and he had worked in an effort to pass such law through the Legislature. It was on &C., count of the defeat of this measure that he had retired from politics. The present system was disgrace to the State, and experience showed that the mortality in the mines was greater among the short time or misdemeanor convicts than among those who were in for long term of years. He cited statistics to prove this, and said that in sentencing men for costs in Alabama they were frequently sen- tenced to death. He begged the conven- ton to strike a final blow at this sys- tenn, for God. humanity and morality.
 He spoke of the relation of coal mines to health, and said an unhealthy mine would injure the health of a healthy man Ior abrSdge the life ,fof an unhealthy man. Should this convention be asked to commit a murder every four days for costs, for that Is what Alabama does when she sentences misdemeanor convicts or sends men for costs to the mines. Here his time expired. An effort was made to extend 1t but MT. Jenkins of
  against the amendment. He then moved to table 1t. On an aye and nay vote it was tabled by vote of 56 to 55. The article was then adopted.
 Other Articles.
 The article on the mode of amending the constitution was then read and pass ed without change. The schedule to the constitution was then read. This provides among other things that the constitution shall be submitted to a vote of the people for rat iflcation.
 Mir Williams of Barbour moved to amend so that no elcetor shall be deprived of his vote by reason of not being regis tered. The amendment was adopted Mr. Craig of Dallas offered an amend ment to repeal all laws in conflict with the article. This was tabled as the ar- ticle itself had this effect. Judge Coleman offered an amendment to allow all those to vote on the consti- tuition who were now qualified to vote. This amendment was tabled.
 General Sanford moved to amend so as to provide that the election shall not be held In less than thirty days from the proclamation of the Governor. This was tabled.
 An amendment of MT. Burns relating to the Railroad commission was tabled.
 The article was then adopted.
 The entire constitution was then adop- ted on an aye and nay vote of 95 to 10 Long and continued cheers greeted the announcement of the vote. Captain White asked consent to explain his vote. He said to his regret owing to the fact that one of the suffrage blanks in his opinion violated the consti- tuition of the United States, which he had taken an oath to support, and he would be compelled to vote no. President Knox was called on for a speech but said it was not in order at i this time
 An ordinance appropriating $13O for ex- | penses was passed. The convention then adjourned until 12 | o'clock Monday.