The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-02

Among the half dozen veto messages from Governor Johnston to the legislature of iS93-s9 was that upon the bill to exempt cotton mills from taxation for stated period of time. This message included an apology for approving the bill Of like character that became law In the session of thre previous legislature The argu- ment of the veto was that a discrimina- tive exemption from the general burden of taxation stood on no better ground than a discrimination tax. The principle or discriminative exemption sought to be es- abolished by the bill could have no known limit of application. Each succeeding leg slature might at discretion enlarge the application so that in time only those in terests large and powerful enough to ap- pear in their own behalf before the legis- ature might expect exemption and only the taxpayers too feeble to plead their own cause might expect to be taxed.
 At the night session Of February 2s. lS99 the houses adjourned sine die In response to the routine notice of their readiness to hear from the governor on the occasion he sent the following:
 sGentlemen of the general assembly,: Your joint committee having waited on me to inquire whether l have any further communication to make. desire to ex- press to the members of both houses without single exception my sincere appreciation of their unfailing courtesy to me and their respectful consideration of all suggestions l have made to them, col l bers have not agreed with me in regard to every measure that has come before the general assembly. 1 desire to say In this closing hour l yield to every gentle man the same right that I claim for my self of following dictates of his con- science and l beg to assure every mem Der that not one shall depart from these halls leaving in my heart any unlxind feel
 ing because of any difference in judg- ment that has come between us.
 Upon the whole the result of the ses- sion. In my judgment, will build up the common schools. improve our revenue laws, strengthen the public credit and stimulate faithful service on the part of all public officials. We have possibly in the haste with which measures have been considered, enacted some laws and made some appropriations, local and per sonal that may not have been entirely wise, in the present condition of our treasury and people. but I am sure that all of us have had the welfare of the peo- pie and the good of t5e commonwealth at heart.
 with the best wishes for the health, welfare and prosperity of each member, l beg respectfully to state that l have no further communication to make"
 Immediately the enabling act to call a constitutional convention came before the people.
 The polls were to be opened the first Monday in July, 1899. to take the vote of the enfranchised public upon the act The total membership of the convention was fixed by the act at 133, which number was the combined membership of the two houses of the legislature.
 of the total membership the counties were to chose 100. county by county, as for the lower house of the legislature. The remaining B were to be chosen from the state at large, and these state-at-large delegates must be those persons 'who may be nominated by some party conven- tion or caucus. or by petition, in the same manner as state officers were nominated under the general laws" etc.
 At the election the first Monday in July there must be one ballot marked Con vent1on' or ''No Convention,'' and on this ballot must be written or printed all names of candidates for the state at large On another ballot must be the names of the candidates for the county delegation.
 Great was the consternation of the gem eral public, who had reached the con olusion that a new constitution was need- ed to rescue the ballot from impending ut ter prostitution, when the press and the politicians at once divided upon the ques- tion convention or mo convention" AL though Governor Johnston had signed the enabling act in December it was common rumor in January that he would vote mo convention
 On January 2e. 1899. an unusually full