The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-05
Il Embraces Variety of Subjects Of Much
Importance.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION NEEDLESS
Ehc oyster Questions ma the Pro.
fcc:ion OF the Interests Involved
De"f with Very ENhausiively-
Ehe University OF virgfnin-Thc
Election E.nw Fully Discussed.
Commonwealth of Virginia,
GoNernor's Office,

An Obedience TO the requirements of
Inc CONSTITUTION OF Virginia, YOU have
assembled to enact such laws us may
III your wisdom be necessary to pro-
mote the welfare end advance the pros
pcrity of the people whose sovereign
Will has made you their representa-
tivSS.
| congratulate you upon the recov-
cry. III great measure of the Common
wealth from the long financial depres-
sion under which she has been suircr-
iGg. the resumption OF work in many
OF her industries so long closed. and the
prospect -. an early general revival
oil business and trade.
congratulate you upon the general
good health with which our borders
have been blessed. and our freedom
from serious cpidemics and contagion
which have afflicted other sections OF
our land.
You have before you ninety days for
work. every available hour of which
will lie required for the faithful and in
t.t'i ant discharge Of your important
Gs:ties.
constitutional Convention.
1t is likely that the question Of a con-
Nention 20 fram" = new Constitution
Will toe brought before YOU. With due
defci cncc 10 the sentiment which pre-
wallis, to some extent ut least. in it's
favor, It is my opinion that a con
vention would be impolitic and involve
an unnecessary expenditure OF money.
50 far rs I ann Informed the reasons
advanced for Il convention are, that
the expenses Of the State government
could thereby be lcssened by returning
10 the old sEstrm Of county courts. re-
ducinE HE number Of circuit Judges and
GunCI!ntGHduntS of public free schools.
abolishing tnc office of county trca-
@urcr and imposing the duties now per-
formed by him upon the sheriff. and
changing existing criminal laws in
many particulars.
lie; lis consider them In their order:
I'irst--A return to the old system of
Justices courts
In this their would be no economy.
for the aggregate pay of the Justices
vino constituted the county courts prior
10 THE present Constitution was fully
as much, think. as the aggregate sula
iies of the county judges which are
GRADED according to the population
Of the respective counties. Under the
old system the county courts had no
jurisdiction in felony cases except
against frec negroes, where the penalty
Was not death; and do not suppose il
IS seriously proposed 10 confer such jul
lisd!ction now for il ii was not con-
sidercd wise when the justices were
Es2n OF superior Intelligence, il could
not be AT present. Under our enlarged
suffrage and citizenship, II is Il well
known fact that i'll certain sections OF
the State the justices in many instances
are inferior in character as well as in
tnlligcncc. Then, If felony eases are not
to be tried in the county but in the cir
cult courts, speedy trials could not he
had, and injustice would me done TO the
innocent and too tardy Justice meted
out To the guilty.
Seo1nd-EcduCtion o? the number
OF circuit Judges.
In my opinion nearly every judicial
circuit of the State is as large rs Il
proper regard for the administration OF
justice will admit. Though the popu-
lation of the present territory of Nir-
ginia has greatly increased and
busia css has grown immensely we
nave about the same number of circuit
judges as In the same territory in 1860.
and the uniform salaries less now than
then If the Circuit courts are to have
original criminal jurisdiction in all
felony cases, it must he admitted that
The number Of circuit judges would
have to he increased. In fact. | think
II would be infinitely better now TO
increase the number of circuits and the
number Of terms annually OF the cir
cult courts. and confer upon the cir
cult courts exclusive orisinal iurisdic-
tion in felony cases. If this We're done.
appeals would be directly to the Court
of Appeals, and this would result in a
more speedy determination of such
cases and large decrease Of criminal
expenses.
Third. Reduction Of number of SUI
perntendents Of schools
Tho salaries Of these officers. like the
ralarics of county court judges, are
graded according to the population of
their respective counties and cities. In
the cities aud larger counties the time
OF the surcrintendents Is wholly occu-
pied, If they do their duty; in the small
counties they are not continuously en-
gagged. but. II additional labor Is i'm
posed. additional compensation should
follow. The salaries are ms low as
thov can lie to secure well qualified
and efficient officers, and the peorFe
demand the best system attainablc
and will not tolerate any change which
may tend In the most remote degree
TO impair or weaken the system or place
II in the hands of incompetent or incfli-
cient Supcriniendents.
Fourth. Adjustment of the Offices
of county and city trcasurers.
State. county and city taxes are col
lected upon commissions. If the Offices
OF county and city trcasurcrs are abol-
ished. and the duty of collecting the
revenues imposed upon the shcriffs
there will simply be u change of per-
Sons without any saving. unless the
commissions are reduced. Should this
be done? I think not The responsible
lities are great and fine business quail
ncatlons arc required, and II the emolu-