The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-12

called INTO session during the present ad-
minist alton without the aid of the leg
islatu e, and should the legislative body
assemble it would be at a special cali
Whether or not Governor O'Neal will
issW..the call is a question that none can
answer though il is question that has
Occupied a foremost place in the public
rnfnd during the past few months.
No Positive Statement
Governor ONeal declines to make any
positive announcement in the matter of an
extra session of the legislature until he
has fully made up his mind on that
subject The governor declared last sun-
mcr that he would not call the legislature
together unless IL were absolutely neces-
sary and for a few months following
that statement the need of an extra ses-
sion became less and less apparent. with
the result that the opinion became gen.
eral that there would be no extra session.
But with the passing of time, the need
has again made itself felt, developing
so much strength in certain sections OF
the state as to almost constitute a pub
lie demand. particularly in Jefferson
county where regulation looking to the
control of the fee system is absolutely
dependent upon the legislature.
Question Hangs In Balance
Il have not yet made up my mind con-
cerning an extra session OF the leglsia-
ture." said Governor O'Neal, in reply 10
direct question as to whether or not
he would issue call.
"Of course. we need reforms he con-
tinued. ..but to effect the most important
reforms which We need would require the
aid of a constitutional convention
'sWould you include in your call for all
extra session, should you issue one, a
request to consider the question of new
constitutional convention?' he was
asked.
Il cannot say he answered with 4
laugh. But | believe that the time is
not far off before we shall have another
constitutional convention. Further than
that Governor ONeal would not commit
himself.
Talk of Convention
While Governor O'Neal refrains at
present from making any positive decla-
ration with reference to an extra session
of the legislature, it is believed that he is
giving the subject much serious thought,
also that should he issue a call for a
special session, he will in all probability
invite the attention of the lawmakers to
the consideration of a new constitutional
convention.
The need of a new constitution is being
made more and more apparent BY the
glaring defects in the old The report
Of the Russell Sage foundation on the
ed the Importance of revising the sys-
tenn that obtains in the state Cor the
support of the schools. The fact that
Massachusetts,, which has the best school
system in the country, provides only
per cent of it's public school through its
state government, while Alabama, which
ranks lowest in the classification, pro-
vides IS per cent of it's school funds
through it's state government is taken as
a clear indication of the Importance of
imposing local taxation for the support
of the schools. But a constitutional con-
vention is necessary in order to change
the old system, and it is believed that
the necessity for a change in the System
constitutes the most paramount need for
a new constitution.
Taxation a Remedy
Governor ONeal believes that local tax
alton offers the only remedy for building
up the efficiency of the public school
system of the state. He believes that
local taxation does more than anything
else to create civic pride in educational
institutions, and he n of the opinion that
Alabama will never take its proper place
in the educational world until the old
system is changed, and the people are
allowed to tax themselves for the support
of their schools.
The defects in the present. system OF
supporting the public schools of the state
suggest one of many reforms which might
be provided by constitutional conven-
ton In the opinion of Governor ONeal