Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-29
TIL RSDAY. .......J ULl 10 1901
STATE ISSUES.

T, having become evident that there
-,m he no votes in the Roanoke conven-
lion against endorsing and reafiirhliNs
me Chicago platform. public attention
ls now being directed to state issues
that may be dealt with by that BODY
First and foremost, there is de-
mand that the convention shall declare
in favor Of such rotrenchment III pup
lie expenses as will enable the state 10
adiust her present and prospective IA
bu,ties to her income. We doubt II
there will be any objection TO the in
scrtfon Of such a plank in the Roanoke
nlatform. The necessity for reduction
~ The expenses Of our State Govern
ment is too plain to admit of any ques-
ton. But we suppose the convention
will deal with the subject in gene
raj way only; it will not have the IN
formation before IT to enable II to go
into details.
The Roanoke convention VIII also DC
asked TO pledge the Legislature TO pro-
coed as soon as possible to the Work
NJ amending the Constitution. Here TOO
e. will be impracticable for the conVeh-
,ion 70 go into details. 1t could not
undertake to say whether our judiciary
svstem should be remodelled; nor whe-
Their the offices OF sheriff and urea
surer should be consolidated; nor
whether some of the officers not now
elected by the people would better be
elected by the people hereafter; nor
ubother some Of tho expenses now
horne by the State should not be borne
nv the counties and cities, etc. NO.
the convention could only pledge the
.nortv TO give early and earnest atten-
linn 70 the subject, and leave IT to the
Legislature TO cut out the work 10 DC
done.
Those two Enthusiastically they might
he spoken of as one subject-wilL we
nresume, occupy no little of the tl"o
Of the Committee on Resolutions, but
after the planks have been properly
framed. we cannot believe there VIII DO
anv objection TO adopting them.
II the Roanoke convention should I'M
dertake to point out any amendments
that seem 10 be needed. 1t might quite
saroIv include in the number one re-
rerring TO elections. This is a question
hat has been discussed "om and on
for wears. And we believe the opinion
Ia well nigh unanimous that we nave
foo many elections in Virginia Each OF
these elections imposes considerable
cost upon the taxpayers. and, what is
worse. costs many people much ume
that might easily be better employed.
Wa suppose it would be practicable Tor
ma yirginians to do with fewer elections
II would be rather difficult to convince
81 disinterested man that this state needs
mora elections than North Carolina
does. Possibly the whole subject OF
elections might be left TO the Legisla-
ture. nj any rate, the Legislature shonid
have the power to provide for ming the
offices affected, while we were passing
from the old order TO the new order
Another benefit that we might expect
from a change would be that the voters
being called upon less frequently would
take far more interest In politics ana
he far more willing TO go to the polls
than they are now. II this one good
result could DO effected by constitu-
tIonai amendment. II alone would be
worth our while TO make it. However.
we think the Roanoke convention will
treat the subject of constitutional amend
ments in a general way only; that Is.
will pledge the Legislature TO give early
attention TO them.
The latest suggestion on the subject
OF State issues comes from the North
ern Neck News. which wishes the Rca-
noke convention 10 declare in favor OF
nominating United States senators by
the people This is a new question IN
Virginia Under a good uniform plan.
we can see how the arrangement
might become very popular. But, al
farthest, II should not be expected
OF the Roanoke convention that 1t would
do more than appoint committee 10
consider the matter and report upon 1t TO
the next State convention.
Again science and exploration have