The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-22
PASSED..

On motion of Mr.. STROLLER the House adj
journed ut 10 ?. NJ.
Amendments Proposed TO the state
Constitution.
| (For the Dtspatch.l
LoUDoUN COUNTY, VA, March II, 1919.
Mr.. Editor,-It is the firm and determined
purpose of the voters of Virginia to enforce
at the baIlot-box, regardless Of party or per
sunal preferences, the adoption OF certain
amendments TO the Stale Constitution when
will materially reduce the expenses OF the Slate
! government. besides greatly promoting the
usefulness and efficiency of the present leSIs-
iatiye body. The heavy Indebtedness of The
| State and the prospective increase of taxa
ton warn the people of the absolute neces-
| sty OF adopting such measures rs VIII put
on end to this criminal waste OF public funds
| in idle discussions, empty defamation, ana
| Christmas holidays, by which thousands OF
dollars are annually and uscessly expended
by those inrrustcd with the legislative de-
| partmcnt of the State government. 1t
| Is an admitted fact that political sove-
rci.nty is vested in the people, and they
have the right to demand such changes
and alterations in the State Constitution as
the public interest may require; and il their
J
| will. the citizens lave the power to enforce
their claims and demands at the ballot-box,
| hy elccling such representatives as will carry
| out in good firth the will of the majority
whom Lhey profess to represent. The people
will insist at the next election upon radical
! reform or reorganization of the present
| Legislature, with view to promoting lis
efficiency and to reduce this wanton and use
| less expenditure Of public funds. 10 speak
more plainly, the people have come 70 Tue
inevitable conclusion that the Legislature, rs
| ut present constituted, is more real expense
| than actual profit TO the State. Therefore the
voters at the next election Will require the
following amendments TO he made to the Con-
sIituton, which amendments they will en-
force nj the ballct-boX by electinS such re-
representatives. as will pledge themselves to
advocate and sustain them:
| ~ 4 biennial session Of the Legislature.
(3I. The assembling Of The Legislature on
| he first Wednesday Of January. (3) re-
| dnch0a in anD.ttrs OF one-hdf IF boM
Houses Of the assembly. (t) LimitinJ the
session to sa.rty days. 1t needs no argument
to prove the advantages resulting from such
changes and amendments, both us regards
prompt and efficient legislation and the lin
mcnse saving of public expenditure. The
! legislatures in the northwestern States meet
bienuialy; besides, both Pennsylvania and
Maine propose shortly in convention
| 10 amend their constitutions to the SAME
elect. II those great, populOuS, and olulcnt
States, with their complicated aud diversified
Interests, can afford to hold biennia! sessions
Of their legislatures, why should not Viz
ginia, with her sparse population and heavy
| indebtedness! In regard to the second
amendment proposed it is apparent to the
people that the members of the present
Legislature are not willing to make the
siighicst personal slcrilire by way of re-
trcnchment as long as there is dollar left in
the state Treasury ThcApcopIc who have
to bear the burdens OF taxation riN no longer
alio,c thousands of dollars of the public
funds to be annually expended merely to i'll
dul.e the members of the Legislature in the
lurury of Il Christmas trohc. As TO the
| thnd amendment proposed, if one member
of Congress is sufficient to represent con-
sressional district composed Of several
! counties, why should it require as high rs
| t"o aud three members TO represent one
single county in the State Legislature? If
two senators can represent whole State
| in Congress, why should 1t require
| more than one senator 10 represent
three or four counties i'll the State
Senate? 1t is evident TO the people
| that the mere force of numbers adds nothing
TO thc efficiency Of the Legislature, but
rather Ictards the prompt dispatch Of bust
ness in that body. The Legislature had been
nj session nearly one hundred days, and had
not in that time passed one single bill OF real
public interest, but thousands Of dollars OF
| The pcop!e's money and much valuable time
have been expended in the idle discussion OF
| uslry laws and such other measures of no
practical importance or interest to their con-
stituents. 1t may be much more profitable
fer some to sit in the Legislature at the tune
of six dollars per day than to pursue their
| legitimate occupations ut home, but 1t ~ don't
pay" the already oycr-burdcned taxpayer.
! They want no pcr-dicnl men i'll the Lcgsla-
| turc.
| Again \ Session of sixty days is amply
sufficient to transact all public business II
| tie members would confine themselves To
| the legitimate concerns Of their constituents;
besides, this limitation TO sixty days would
exclude al! useless discussion and side issues
in which the public interest is not directly
| involved. The first move in favor of these
| legislative reforms and amendments will be
made in the county of LOudDun, and will
doubtless be initiated by all the other coun-
| lies in the State. Every candidate, before
the next election for the Legislature, will be
ntcrrogatcd through the public press as TO
his approval Or disapprora OF the proposed
constitutional amendments: and his election
or non-election vii! depend upon his in
dor;ement or reimbursement of said
amendments. 1t is high time for the people
to arolise from their lethargy, and to
make their voices heard and their influence
felt in the direction administration OF the
State Government. And ill order to secure
concert Of action and efficient cooperation be-
| tween different sections OF the State, an ad-
dress will be issued in due time to the
voters of the state by a committee selected for
that purpose, setting forth the absolute
necessity of prompt and united effort 10
effect total Reorganization i'll the legislative
department the State government and we
venture to predict, confidently, that the said
reforms and amendments, when submitted to
the PEOPLE, will receive the cordial approval
and unqualified Endorsement of ninc.tcnihs
OF the voters OF this Commonwealth.
CONSERVATIVE OF LOUrOUE.
Esury and Usury Laws.