Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-08
Not Convincing.

Not Convincing.
peninsula Enterprise)
The views of Mr.. Parsons I'm this and
previous issues of the Enterprise. how
ever convincing they may have been 10
others, have not convinced us or the
necessity for a constitutional convention
at this time. or shaken our belief That
il would be both costly and dangerous
We may be wrong in the conclusions we
have arrived at, after q long and thought
full contemplation OF the subject, but
If we are we regret to have to say mat
Mr.. Parsons has advanced no argument
to convince us of our error. Having no
axe to grind i'm the matter. we not only
are willing "to be convinced against our
will" but ii would be n plsasure'to us
to change our views, II convinced mat
a constitutional convention would be con-
ducive to the best interests OF the peo-
pc. We briefly submit that he has not
advanced one idea showing the necessity
for convention. IN reply 10 our first
article. Il will be remembered mat he
met our inquiry how the great saving
could be made to the Commonwealth in
the event a convention was held, by
lodging the question and pointing us
to Georgia and asking then, as he does
now. why Georgia is governed az so
much less expense than old Virginia. 1t
would have been just as pertinent Tor
him TO inquire why some States I'm the
Union have no debt at all, and to have
given as empty an answer as he did In
regard TO Georgia. If Mr.. Parsons could
dispense with the glittering generalities
of which he Is so fond. and get down
into the details by a comparison Of the
expenses Of the two States, by showing
us how. like Georgia, we could cut down
expenses If a convention was held. we
might be brought 10 favor IL. but 1t is
asking too much in these hard times for
Virginia to spend $4,000 or more for a
convention to find out what way Georgia
saves her money. without knowing
whether we could do IL or not. For in
stance. Virginia spends over million
of dollars for educational purposes. over
$500 600 for the care of lunatics. If Georgia
spends less for these purposes. would
Mr.. Parsons begin to retrench in these
matters? Are the criminal expenses less
I'm Georgia than Virginia? He has not
shown Il. If he ignores these and like
details i'm regard TO Georgias finances.
where is the force of his argument when
he holds up to us Georgian And II
Mr.. Parsons should get down to details
on these matters, il is TO be hoped that
and not tell us, as he does I'm this issue
of the paper, that the difference in the
interest charges of Georgia and Virginia
is $751; 1906, when, If the interest charge Of
Georgia, as he alleges is s9S6974. and
that Of Virginia, according TO the report
Of Auditor Marye. is $3H,19l, the differ
ence. as every school-boy ought to know.
is not $685. 106, but 1927 ,191. OF course he
did not intend to make misrepresenta-
lions i'm the matter. We prefer TO be-
lieve that in his zeal for rounded periods
and pOetical flourishes that he has inno-
Gently mixed his figures of speech with
figures Of another kind. Much ado about
nothing surely. Is the thrust which Mr..
Parsons attempts to make at US for
being opposed TO a convention, because
a friend of the ofilce-holders Is he so
ignorant as not to know that the terms
Of every one now holding office would
expire If a convention was held before
its proceedings could be put into opera
ton. except those Of the judges of the
Court Of Appeals and about one year OF
the terms Of circuit judges2 Abolish use
less offices. says Mr. Parsons, and SO
say we. but why take the more expensive
way Of doing 1t through convention.
when changes In them can be as equally
well secured without material expense.
by submitting the same to the people in
the form Of an amendment to the Con-
stitution? Why deprive the people OF n
voice In the matter. as we would do If
convention was held? In conclusion.
the answer 10 the query of Mr.. Parsons.
how we would meet the additional in
terest on our State debt in 1900, is a very
simple one. We would not begin by
piling up n debt Of 800 coo or more on the
state, as he would by holding a conven-
ton but by cutting down expenses by
a revision OF our criminal laws, de-
creaslng appropriations along some lines
and amending the Constitution through
the Legislature, so as TO lop off every use
less expenditure with which the State Is
now burdened.
That Mr. Parsons may have the oppor-
tunity 10 give TO the public some reasons
for his views. we append some of the
things that would come before a con-
vention i'm the interrogatories below from
the Richmond Dispatch. and ask how he
stands in regard to them:
Would he favor the adoption by a
constitutional convention Of an amend
ment restricting the right Of suffrage,
so as to relieve the Black Belt OF Vir-
ginla from that class OF voters which is
a menace to its political peace?
Would he favor taxing each county and
city Of this State with criminal charges
there incurred?
Would he agree TO make each city and
county of the State pay its pro-rata share
of expense FOR the maintenance of the
insane2
Would he favor an amendment intended
TO produce the greatest possible amount
of revenue from our oyster eds?-not
taking into account whether the persons
who offer to lease plant-grourds are citi-
zens OF Virginia or non-residents.
Would he favor an amendment abolish
ing county courts thereby creating the
necessity OF increasing the number OF
circuit judges?
Would he favor the abolition OF the
office OF county treasurer?
Would he favor the division OF the
public school funds between white and
coIored schools in proportion as said
funds have been derived from white and
colored Taxpayers