The age-herald., 1901-05-31
Enough of Them to Make Half a Dozen Constitutions and
 More to Come
BASIS FOR REPRESENTATION
An Ordinance Introduced Fixing Term of State Senators at Four Years and Easing Representation
 On Population.
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

Montgomery, May 30. = (Special) = The constitutional convention is still firing up." Today's proceedings were a repeti- ton of yesterdays. The whole morning was taken up with the introduction of or read by the reading clerk, were referred to the appropriate committees, who will have to digest them. Enough ordinances have already been introduced to make a dozen constitutions In fact, two ordi- nances introduced yesterday-One of ex- Governor Oates and one by MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale - were to adopt the present constitution as whole except such clauses as may be changed or modified by the convention.
 A feature of the proceedings Is the con stant introduction by various members of the same ordinance. This Is probably due to inattention or absence from the hall of a member when the first ordinance was introduced. Another feature is the num- Der of ordinances which simply reafflrm present clauses in the constitution. Gov ernor Oates stated, in introducing his or dinance to adopt the present constitution as a whole except as modified, that he did it to save time in introducing it in sections.
 The first resolution friendly to the ne- gro was introduced by ex-Governor Jones, which recited that the fundamental prln- ciples of government were violated when state gives to only one class of citizens for their schools the revenues derived
 from taxes paid by them on their prop | erty only.
 l MT. Pettus of Limestone. on the con
 trary. offered an ordinance which statse 1 in plain and bold language that It was te | disfranchise the negroes in Alabama
 Two ordinances were introduced to give
 married women the same property rights
 as a feme sole.
 There were the usual number of ordi-
 nances against removing the capital, re-
 stricting the rate of taxation, prescribing the size of new counties and the change
 of county sites.
 General Oates introduced an ordinance
 to abolish the chancery courts; Mir Pill
 lans introduced similar ordinance. MT. O'Neill of Jefferson introduced an ordi-
 nance to prohibit any county being grant
 ed special privileges for collecting liquor
 licenses.
 MT. Rogers of Sumter offered resolu- ton to stop any further rererence by reso- lution to the ante-election pledges in the
 Democratic platform as unnecessary and
 in bad taste. The rules were suspended
 and the resolution adopted practically
 unanimously, showing that the house was getting weary of the subject. The constitution is still in the forma- tive stage, and at such an early stage | that little idea can be obtained at pres | ent as to what 1t will look like. It is pre- | dicted by some of the members that il | will be a much more conservative instru-
 ment than is generally expected. Convention Opens.
 The eighth days session of the conven- | tion was called to order by President | Knox promptly at 10 o'clock, and pray | CT was offered by Rev. Dr. Anderson. | Roll call showed 131 members present The secretary then, at the request oi l Judge Coleman, read the times and places of meeting of the various commit | tees.
 | Mr. Howell of Cleburne arose to correct an error in the official stenographic re- | port which stated the mileage in reso- | lution offered by him at 50 cents instead | of cents. He then offered a resolution | instructing the stenographer to correct
 daily any errors. He said he was in dan | ger of being hung to a sour apple tree for | wanting to give members 30 cents mile age. The rules were then suspended and | the resolution was passed. MT Willet of Pickens asked unanimous consent to have 300 copies printed of the | order fixing the time and place of meet l ing of the various committee. This was | objected to.
 The comittee of journal reported 1t was
 correct and it's reading was dispensed lSwith.
 lN The roll call was then begun for the purpose of erabling members to introduce resolutions. all of which were referred to the appropriate committees. Mir. Jackson introduced the first ordi-
 nance to re-adopt section 10 of article 1s | of the constitution, to prohibit the Gen.
 eral Assembly from changing the location | of the University or Agricultural College except on a three-fourths vote | Also resolution to pledge the con- vention that the limit of state and county | and municipal taxation should not exceed | that of the present constitution; that l suffrage shall not conflict with the con l stitution of the United States nor deprive
 any white man of the right to vote; the state capitol to remain at Montgomery present corporate powers not to be en. larged
 MT. Jackson of Lee moved the rules be suspended and the resolution be put on
 its passage. This motion was lost by a large majority.
 Mir Jenkins of Wilcox offered a resp
 lution to appoint a committee of fifteen
 to look after state colleges and institu- tions.
 MT. Jones of Bibb offered resolution that representation in the House be
 based on population. that the Senate be elected every four years. Also that no man of foreign birth be entitled to vote until he becomes a nat uralized citizen.
 Basis of Representation.
 MT. Jones of Montgomery offered a
 resolution to amend sections and 10 of
 article IS so as to provide that the State
 University and the Agricultural College
 shall each be under control of board of
 trustees, two to be appointed by the