Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-10
THE 1NpEx,s sCEPTICIsM.

On Tho subiect of retrenchment and re-
sorro and constitutional amendments the
petersburg Index-Appeal has this 10 say
in its issue of yesterday;
II is a noteworthy fact and one TO w
denlored. that while the cities ana coun-
ties of Virginia, in the elecuon Vi
gates TO the Roanoke convenuoh' nav
nrobably without an exception ihs'i eO'ou
for endorsement Of the chicago piduioi III
ON national issues. there have been put
few instances in which the great anu pei
t,nent State issue of more ecohoiiica'
form of government has even been re-
farred TO Louisa, and possibly one or TWO
NJ the counties whose names are not no"
remembered. declared for rerenchiheh'
and reform in administration OF olate
affairs. and il is possible that the conveh-
zion viii make perfunctory decldla,ioii
also. but there is not that manifestation
~ interest in the subject we had Deeh en-
couraged by the Richmond Dispatch anu
other opponents of constitutional CON
yention to expect. We nave never hdu
any faith in the proposition 10 reduce ex-
,,enses Inv legislative action, and the APP
narent Indifference Of the leaders TO the
subject now seems TO justify our scepti-
cism.
The Dispatch. too, has been somewhat
surprised that more of the county and
city meetings have not passed resolu-
lions upon the subject. However, we are
much more hopeful than the lndeX-Ap-
neal Is. In the first place, 1t is not TO be
expected that counties which draw out
of the State Treasury more than they put
into il should be much concerned about
yirginia's expenses. In the next place
we must make allowances for the fact
that the public mind is greatly engrossed
with the contests now going on among
the candidates for Governor and Attor-
ney-General.
But. for our part, we recognize the
obligation Of those who opposed the hold
ing of a constitutional convention on the
ground that the Legislature could do the
work TO make good their assertion.
The Dispatch has never contended that
our Constitution could he revised as salts
factorily by the Legislature as by
constitutional convention, but considering
many circumstances, we were unwilling
to urge the people to order a constitu-
tional convention at this time. Now, we
think the Legislature ought to so TO
work and prepare such amendments as
seem to be most necessary. If the Legis-
lature does not proceed promptly and
theoretically with this work, another de-
mand will surely be made for a vote on
n constitutional convention. 1t would,
therefore. be we'll to consider II it would
not be wise to pledge our party in the
nIatform to be framed at Roanoke that
the Legislature shall proceed without
DELAY with the work in question. There
are some amendments suggested that we
thing would be proposed by general
consent. OF these, we think. one is that
proposing to give the Legislature power
TO consolidate elections. Another refers
10 the exemption of new manufactures
from city or county taxation.
When 1t comes to dealing with the
county-court system, we can well under
stand how there may be much division
Of opinion and prolonged debate. We
take It, however. that the amendments
will be proposed and submitted separate
ly. so that each may stand or fall upon
It's own merits.
II is true, as the Index-Appeal says,
that there Is an apparent indifference OF
the leaders 20 this whole subject, but we
think a different condition viii prevail
soon. and we hope the Roanoke copven-
tion will give TO the subject very earnest
consideratfon