Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-02-12
MIR. H3THERS Talks
To The State About the Pro-
posed Convention.

the author of the measure which
was passed by the General Assembly
providing for the submission TO the
people of the question of calling a
constitutional convention for the
purpose of giving Virginia new
constitutior.
1t was only after considerable i'm
portuniu2 that he consented to talk
for the State i'll regard to tho ques
t;ou OF the convention and answer
some of the objections which have
been urged against 1t by its oppo
nents,
"Will you briefly state some OF
the reasons why yyu thiuk the ques-
lion of n constitutional convention
should Garry, and why such con.
vention would bel the interest of
the people CT Virginia." he was ask
ed.
zone reason, which ought to be
sufficient, it seems to Inc, is this,
and that is constitutional conven-
ton would 6e in the interest of
economy aud good government
replied the senator. 1.-The people
OF tue city of Richmond are at pres
ent greatly concerned about .econo
MIXING their city government. The
people of Virginia ut large ought to
be as greatly Interested in economic
III the administration of their State
affairs. SLOW mucl, money could II
new constitution save the State IN
your opinion!"
"At least quarter of million
dollars per year in the State govern.
ment, aud nearly as much more III
the administration of cou ty affairs
could be saved, give this as the
very lowest ESTIMATE of what could
de saved under proper Constitu.
ton.
THE COST.
at is objected to the convention
that it would cost something in the
neighbornood of 100000, and that
the work might be as well and thor
oughly done by the General Assem-
bly, in regular sessiou7"
"The cost of the convention ought
not to exceed, u dor any ciicum.
stances, the cost of II session of the
General Assembly cat between
S75, 600 and SS0,OuO, us rule. a
constitutional convention would Ger.
tainly not occupy more than ninety
days, aud ongdt not to be composed
OF more than one hundred or one
humid ed and fifty members. The
objection on the ground of the ex
penses OF the convention is one very
frequently urged by gentlemen who
have no argument to offer in oppo
sitlon to convention. The Gener.
al ASSEMBLY cannol amend tile Con
stitution because it is prevented by
the Constitution from boing so until
each and everyone of its amend.
ments shall have been submitted to
and accepted by vote of the PEG
pie of the State
THE PERSONNEL.
sit is argeud also rgainst the con
vention TINT its members would not
he composed of sagacious and pru.
dent men quali6ec to give the State
proper Constitution"
That same objection can always
DO made against anybody that it so
be elected by popular vote. 1t
would apply with just aa much rea
son to- the General Assembly as to
the members of the cons itutional
convention, and it seems to me if the
opponents of constitutional con.
vention are Sc much concetned about
the wisdomiand sagacity of men who
may compose that convention, that
they would be equally concerned
about the wisdom and sagacity of
the members of the General Assem-
bly,, to whom they purpose to sub
nit the amending and revising of the
Constitution"
ITS SUCCESS Is, DOUBTFUL
"no you think the question likely
to carry?'
II think its success is exceedingly
doubtful. The negro and the Re
publican party are practically solid
against it. A great many of the of.
ficeholding classes of the Democrat