The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-02
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The Amendments.

The Amendments.
The following is going the rounds OF the
Virginia Conservative papers as a correct
description OF the amendments.to the Con-
stitution, which the people at the ballot
box in November next are either to ratiiy
or reject:
"fst. That no man who does not pay his
poll-tax to support the public schools shall
vote.
.2d. That no convicted thief shall vote.
Esd. That registration shall not be had
unless required by the Legislature.
9Th aud 9th. That the Legislature shall
meet once in two years and only for ninety
days, with no per diem, but fixed salary
and the number OF members OF the House
be reduced to ninety or one hundred, and
the Senate to thirty-three."
There are other provisions in the amend
mcnts. which zoe will number as follows:
9th. One giving to the Legislature power
to enfSanchiSe all persons who shall disfran-
chisc themselves by engaging in duels after
the ratification OF these amendments, or
have heretofore DISTINGUISHED themselves in
that manner. But it is not altogether GER
tain that the latter class would not be en-
franchised by the fact OF ratification.
7th One empowering the Legislature
to provide for the government OF cities
and towns, and to establish new courts
therein.
Sth. Taking from the qualified voters the
right to vote ''upon Ill questions that
NAV DC submitted to the people at ''any
election" and allowing them to vote only
for "members OF the General Assembly and
all officers elected by the people"
9th. Providing for q reapportionment OF
members OF the General Assembly in 1879
or sooner; then again in 1891; and every
tenth year thereafter; instead OF as now.
10th. Providing that no person holding 4
salaried Office under the State government
shall be eligible to either house OF the Gene
raj Assembly.
18th. As the constitution now stands, no
session OF the Legislature can exceed l2O
days-90 days being allowed without il for
NAL extension OF the session, and 80 more,
and only so more, in case thrce-tiitls OF the
members elected to each house shall vote
thus to extend it. But one OF the new
amendments will il ratified allow tho
first session OF the General Assem-
Div under this amcndment' to bt
as long as the members choose
to MAKE it, and this, too, without re-
curing them to vote upon the question O.
extension. What reason there could have
been for providing for allowing sis
months session OF the General Assembly
next wear we cannot imagine. But so it is.
It was done, not careieSsly nor thoughtcss
", but Intentionally; for the words cum
der this Constitution were stricken on
and the words .'under this amendment
were substituted. There is not much econ
omv promised in this matter.
The amendments, rs stated in the eXtrac
we quote above, provide that members OF
the General Assembly shall receive ga sal
ary.' As a salary is an annual allowance
it would seem that the pay Of the member;
is to be annual, though the sessions OF thu
Legislature are to be only biennial.
The payment Of the capitati0n tax is t
be made condition precedent OF voting
but 10 provision is made for allowing 4 mar
to vote il Il commissioner OF the revenue
should fail to enlist his name.
The act OF Assembly makes provision for
striking out OF the present Constitution thu
following words:
1.-The House OF Delegates shall be elected
biennially by the voters OF the several cities
and counties on the Tuesday succeeding the
first Monday in November, and shall be dis
tributed and apportioned as follows"
But it makes no provision for striking on
the words apportionins the delegates, which
words are: ~.---
''District No. /. Accomac shall have two
delegates.
.'DIstrict No. >. Albemarlc shall have
three delegates.
"District No. 3. Amelia shall have ont
delegate"
And so on rs to nincty-SiX districts.
The acts OF Assembly concerning the
amendments are badly drawn. A 'sche
dulc > is interposed between section pro
posed to be stricken out and 4 section pro
posed for ratification.