The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-22
. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

4 few newspapers in the State are
making considerable agitation for con-
sti,u,ionaI convention. Il there were any
occasion. Tor one at all, the present is -
most unpropli!ous time for il that could
70 r,orslbly selected Adverse Industrial
conditions have nlied the state with IL
srnrloved or poorly paid and restless peo-
r,ie. The convention would necessarily De
largely representative q these, ana We
should have radical measures propDssa
and advocated that would mean. Il aaop-
ted with only too much prospect o.
adOptlonj. dlscOrd and turmoil FOR
long time. No. II We want a const.tl-
tional convention a. all. postpone TAX
about IL until the community - a. rest
and we can consider the questions mat
would be brought before II with ca41NsAS
and deliberatlOn-
The real inspiration Of the mgye for d
convention Is that We may adopt d con-
stltutlon Ike that Of Mississippi, which
would enable Us 10 suppress the negro
vote b. a trick aud device. The aglta-
ton az now pressed. however, puts the
whole ming On a question Of expense.
A recent issue Of the Danville Register.
Tor instance. contained the following:
State Expenditures and state Expenses.
--Ife iast nscai year Virginia paid out Tor
STATE expenses alone A,758,3z5o0. The
county expenses, which come out Of the
Eame pockets, are equally as much. For
the fiscal year ending December. 1872.
North Cardinals disbursements for state
and county expenses combined were y 49,
g2E, being tssf 1S.5s less than Virginia 3
State expenses alone, and about B0y'VD
less than Nirgiuia's State and county
expenses combined With due allowance
for Virgfnia's interest account on the
public debt. and her better. ana necessa-
rlly more expensive public school system,
and allowing aIscs for a slightly larger
popula tiOn, we are confronted with the
fact that az compared with our sister
State, whose constitution was not built
with a view 10 overmuch economy. we are
being unnecessarily hled every year 10
the tune Of s. O)000o or more.
we don't know where our Danville
friend got his figures. but he has been
very much imposed on. and he IL mislead-
ing others By publishing them He ought
10 look into the matter and find out for
himself whether what we are about 10
state If true or not. and II he finds that
1t IL true, he ought. IN all fairness 10 his
readers. 10 retract the foregoing state
He can easily determine whether what
we say In correct or not by referring this
article % the Auditor.
The Auditors estimate OF the States
expenses for the year 1894. exclusive II the
interest on the public debt. "a t2.22l .7ls s..
The interest upon the public debt f. 400
sSO.1. Thus the entire State expense for
the year 1894 Is 81. 81. 1850. instead Of. as
the Register states II. s3.754.e1S.05.
II II not exactly fair 20 say that the
Register states this as VIrginia's annual
expenditure I, says Virginia paid out
that much last year and the inference
will. Of course. be drawn that that Is
her annual charge. But in this sum Of
N.l5t.sSs1s paid out last year. Is included
two years back interest on the States
bonds issued under the OlcOtt settlement.
and large sum paid in redemption OF
coupons which had been rendered for
taxes. both having been provided for- in
the settlement 81 the debt undeT the
Oleott arrangement. These charges had
been provided for BY moneys laid aside
20 meet them. They are ended and done
ana VIII not recur. The regular charze
VIZ be. az stated above, S2.sz5. 7l0SO. which
nclunes Interest upon the public debt
""'ssosz)' expenses OF elesmOsynary in
stitutions dsss.coo). appropriations 10 in
siitutions Of learning diI5.0O. pensions
20 Confederate soldiers $40 0oO. appro.
priations 10 public schools G5sz. 30. 90. and
this Is only t5.sss23 more than yortb
carolina's expenses and II allows go 90
Tor an extra session Of the Legislature
IN case one should be called, 80 thar /, +.
really only 5000 more than that OF
North Carolina.
Now we are frank 70 say that we know
OF no reductions that could be MADE
In these expenditures by constitutional
convention which cannot be made by The
Legislature. except in the single item OF