Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-08-01
the State CONSTITUTE Oh

Several amendments to our State COusltu-
ton are to be voted on by the people at the
November election. As the matter is very
important one IN which the public are deeply
interested, we call the attention Of the reader
to the particular features and character of the
amendments TO be SO voted upon.
The amendments embrace Sections | ., 3,
and 4. Of Article VIZ, which have passed two
legislatures as regnila-d by law, aud now require
the confirmation OF the people They provide
that the counties shall be nivided into ''pagis
teral districts" instead Of townships" Each
district to elect Supervisor, Justices Of the
Peace Constable and Overseer Of the Poor;
each township now elects Supervisor, Town
ship Clerk, Assessor, | Collector, Commits
souer of Roads l Overseer of the Poor 3
Justices of the Peace, and 3 Consfables. The
Township Board is to be abolished and there
will be no district levies, as the power of tax
Ing will be coutined entirely to the State and
county. Each county will elect one sher-
if, one attorney, one county clerk, and If
over Il, 900 inhabitants one Circuit court clerk,
one county treasurer. and so macy commits
sioners Of he revenue as may be provided tor
by law; AMI there is 10 be appointed, 10 man
ncr to be provided by law, one superintendent
OF the poJr and one county surveyor. All re-
gular elections for county officers are to be held
on the 9Th Thursday in May, instead OF No
vcmber, as at present, aud the officers elected
will enter upon their duties on the lst Of July
following (instead Of the LIST of January, as at
PRESENT. and are to hold their Offices for
term of four years instead of three years, ex-
ccpt that county and circuit court clerks are to
hold their les for six instead of four years.
The district election will take place on the
fourth Thursday in May, and the district off,
GERS will serve Tor two years, commencing the
lst of July following. The county and town
ship elections will be thus thrown together
only the former will take place once in four
years, Except for clerks while the latter will
only take place once 10 two years. The provi-
sion 10 regard to road districts is to be struck
out and nothing put in its place. The legally
constituted officers Of the several counties and
townships ofthc State, at the date of the rati
fcation of these amendments by the people,
are to continue to discharge their duties until
the officers provided for by these amendments
have been elected or appointed and qualified
These amendments are very important for
it adopted they will rid US of our present town
ship system which is a burden and tax upon
our people, and can never he made to work
VIII in our State. Petersburg Ne'oS.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH On Monday last
Philip Mclaughlin, formerly of StauntoD, who
has been doing business near Qunnimont, w.
Va, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad,
was run over by the cars near there and his
left arm and right leg crushed. The arm was
amputated at the shoulder by DR.. McChesney
at QuinDimont, and Mr.. Mclaughlin was sent
to the residence of his mother 10 Staunton,
where he was attended by Dr. Fauutlcloy.
The accident was mysterious oue On the
evening n question, Mr. Mclaughlin, who
With young gentleman is keeping house near
Quinnimont mad gotten bucket of milk and
started home. Whcn he had gotten some dis
tauce, he was knocked down aud thrown on
the track Before he recovered from the blow
a train had passed over him and cut his arm
If, besides tracturiDg his leg Upon recover
ing, strange to say he picked up the milk buck
ct aud started to the depot, crossing plank
over trestIe work on the way, a feat hard TO
perform by man 10 good health. Arriving
at the depot, he was challenged by the watch.
man, who at first threatened TO shoot him, but
recognized him by his voice and rendered him
assistance Mclaughlin. bleeding tearfully,
told him of the accident, and that he had left
his arm lying on the track, which was found to
be So 1t is supposed that the assault was
made under the impression that Mclaughlin
had large amount OF money on bis person,
but he had sent it By express that day TO his
mother in Stauntou.
Yesterday morning McL1ughin died from
the effects of his injury -iSmunton Vmdicator. |
PhlIadelph Van Trump died yesterday in
Ohio. For several years he represented the
Twelfth DISTRICT of the State In tunpress and !