The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-03-07
At THE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA
Many Matters Of Interest to All
Good Citizens.
AN ADDRESS ON SCHOOL BOOKS
The Financial Status Reviewed by Mr..
Hobson. The Fair Elections Move
ment Assuming Definite Shape.
A Convention Held. The
a Washington Conference.
Special Dispatch to The virginian.

iSpectai tliephtSu 10 Inc
RICHMOND, Va, March 6.-Mr. j.
Haskins Hobson, chat rman of the Pop.
mist State committee, in SD eaking to.
day OF the EXHIBIT of the States tinau-
cal condition, made in the report OF
tine Auditor of Public Accounts. said
from what he could learn the assess.
ment of real estate now being made
will show large decrease as com pared
with that OF five years ago. MIR. Hob
son believes that there will have to be
q large cut in salaries aud other State
+ expenses by the Legislature next win
ter aud probably an increase in taxes.
He predicts that if the taxes have to be
Increased under Democratic admins.
tration the party will suffer greatly for
1t. Mr.. Hobson stated also that county
finances generally are in bad shape.
x 1t is reported here that Rev. Sam
Small will deliver an address to tine
public in Richmond with reference to
the school book matter. l learned to-
day that letter had been received here
2 making inquiries ubout suitable build.
ing in which to speak. Mr.. Small
probably would have u good sized
crowd to hear him, but interest in the
subject is not anything like MS great as
1T was few months ago. Gov. O'Fer-
rail- and Attorney General Scott arc
understood to havo written their last
card to the public on this subject. They
are not likely to make any more state
ments.
A large crowd to day attended Incl.
dent to the opening of the sessions Of
the Washington Go inference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, tcolored),
at True keformers' Hall. Bishop
Nallalein, (white), of Buffalo, pre-.
sided. Nearly everyone else in at
tendance was colored. A feature of
fhe morning session was a resolution
providing for memorial meeting in
honor OF Fred Douglass. A delegate
occasioned much surprise by opposing
this, He said Douglaes was a preat
man but the colored people would raise
up several greater and in due time
they would die and 1t would be an
almost physical impossbiity to hold
memorial services for all. He was
IN favor of simply adopting appro-
pirate resolutions in regard to Doug
LASS. This Deegnte's views met with
approval and his suggestion was car.
rled out.
The fair elections conference has at
last materialized. This was not pub
licly known until to-day, though the
meeting was held a few nights ago.
Mr.. j. Haskins Hobson is the only
person who it can be stated positively
was present. He authorized the an
nouncement to day that several gentle
men had met and considered plans for
the proposed campaign, but would not
Il state who attended nor give the detnils
OF the proceedings. Mr.. Hobson said
everything went of smoothly and the
i general features of n cooperative move
ment were decided upon. These do not
contemplate any agreement Us to di
vision OF offices in the event the 'fair
slectlonists' cupture the legislature,
buf the plan is simply one Tor persons
IN ell parties favorable TO Il change in
the election laws to work TO secure the
election to the legislature OF persons
who will carry out their views. MIR.
& Robson denied that fusion movement
was thought of.
1t Is proposed to hold other confer
ences, bnt the next one will not take
place until after the May election. 1t
is probable that at that time bill re-
peailng the existing laws and provididg
new system of conducting elections
VIII be prepared and submitted TO the
people. MIR. Hobson admitted that il
was proposed to make tho fight on q
specihc measure. 1t is generally be-
neved that very few persons attended
This preliminary conference and these
Rrobhoiy were representatives of the
Popuist, Republican and Prohibition
parties.
II