The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-05
Notes by the Wayslde.
Ss x x x < x *

The campaign for the State offices this year seems late opening up.' said a gen. tlemap to me on an out going train few mornings since. 1 reminded him that the State election. under the new constitution, was not held in August, as has been the case since 1875. but was now held In November and perhaps that was the cause of the delay, 1t being probable that the State Nominating Convention this year would not be held until July or August and that there was plenty of time yet for beginning the canvass. T had not thought of that" said the gentleman, and I am sure that large majority of the people have not thought of the change. I remember very well the cause for the separation of the State and Federal elections and there are none living at that time who do not remem- Der why 1t was necessary. It can be recalled that Federal soldiers and Federal bayonets cut a prominent part in the elections. for President and Congressmen in the South, and 1t was to get rid of them that separation had to be had and the time for State elections fixed for August" It was thought by the recent convention that elections were too fre- quent and that the causes making the State election in August necessary had long ago been passed and 1t was provi- 6ed that the elections for Senators and Representatives and all State officers should be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. unless the Legislature shall change the time O. holding elections. and every fourth year thereafter. This change is favorably regarded by the people because 1t will give fewer elections.
 Under the new Constitution the next session of the Legislature of Alabama will begin on the second Tuesday in January next succeeding the election of 1902 and shall not remain in session longer than sixty days at the first ses- sion not longer than fifty days at any subsequent session. This will give the Legislature to assemble next January sixty days in which to complete it's labors. and this extra time is given to enable the Legislature to pass laws carrying into effect the provisions of the new Constitution regarding local laws and other matters, and 1t was deemed to be also lately necessary. It will be noticed, however, that thereafter the sessions are limited to fifty days as has been done by the Constitution of 1875. The Legislature will now meet after the holidays. and its labors can be completed without any re- cess. It is very doubtful, however, about continuous sessions being held, and 1t is possible that a recess will be taken until the summer or fall, when the work will be completed. The me mbers will want time to confer with their constituents about important matters of legislation, and 1t will be very tiresome and work quite hardship, in many instances, to keep members here for two months and a half at one time
 From the time of the adoption of the Constitution of 1875 until the adoption of the Constitution at present in force, Ala bsma had a General Assembly, and there was no such thing as Legislature. The style of the laws were then changed and is now. "Be 1t enacted by the Legislature of Alabama" and 1t shall not be neces- sary to repeat it at the beginning of every section. as heretofore, but the Act shall be divided into sections for convenience. according to substance, and the sections shall be designated by figures. The neces- sity for such a change does not appear. except that 1t is shorter and Legislature Is more common in the other States of the Union. It was given as a reason by the committee for the change that it was shorter and more modern to say Legsla- ture rather than General Assembly, and that it saved a good deal of space to not repeat the enacting clause at the first of each section, as done in the past.
 me WoFk or feBlStrdtloH or voters un- der the new Constitution will begin now in few days. All of the Registrars have not yet been appointed by the Board, but they have to the 18th of Jam uary in which to complete the appoint ments, The law does not fix any time for the work of registration to begin, but provides that prior to the first day of August, 1902. the Board of Registrars in each county shall visit each precinct at least once. and oftener. if necessary. to make complete registration of all persons entitled to register and shall remain there at least one day, and shall give at least twenty days notice of the time when, and the place in the precinct where they will attend to register ap- plicants for registration, the time con- sumed in completing such registration shall not exceed sixty working days, ex- cept in counties of more than nine hun dred square miles in area, ninety-five days may be taken and in cities three successive weeks may be taken and there after one week in each month except in Jefferson an additional session of five consecutive days may he held in each town of over 1000 inhabitants. The Board shall not register any person be- tween the 1st day of August. 1902 and the Friday next proceeding the day of election, November, 1902. On Friday and
 
 election in November 1902 they shall sit in the court house of each county during such days and shall register all appli- cants having the qualifications prescrib- ed. The Board of Registrars shall hold sessions at the court house of their respective counties during the entire third weeA in November, 1902, and for six l days next prior to the 2Oth day of Decem- Der. 1902, during which sessions they shall register all persons applying who possess the prescribed qualifications. The Board of Registrars in each county shall on or before the 1st day of Febru- ary, 1908 or as soon thereafter as practica- ble file in the office of the Probate Judge of their county a complete list. sworn to by them, of all persons registered in their county and also copy of the same list shall be filed with the Secretary of State and such names and those on such lists shall remain electors during life and shall not be required to register again unless he changes his residence when a certificate of such life registra tion to be furnished free of charge bv the Probate Judge shall enttile him to register wherever he may reside The legislature shall provide general registra- tion laws not inconsistent with the con- stitution of all qualified electors after Jan. l, 190S I have been asked so often about the beginning and ending of the work of making up the life list of electors. that I have compiled the above 1ok