Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-25


before their constituents and said they
had honestly done their duty as they
saw II, would they be censured or not
He thought not. He declared that this
great question should be tackled" just
as any other issue In reference to a re.
mark as TO whether 1t was advisable to
have constitutional convention or not
Mr.. Diggs interrupted the speaker. by
stating that he (Watkins) was misrepre-
senting him. The Delegate from King
William took occasion to say that Judge
Watkins had frequently referred TO the
fact that he CDiggs) seemed TO be bother
ed about coming back" Mr.. Diggs
said every time he had desired to "come
back" he had, done so. and he would
state, for the benefit Of Judge Watkins,
that he didn't again wish TO occupy a
seat in the House, and didn't intend to.
SHOULD BE WIPED OUT.
Captain Featherston described the man
ner in which the present Constitution
was framed, and said he did not see how
the people Of Virginia had lived under it
so long. 1t should be wiped out. Let
us so back to our people and say that
we have done our best in the way of re-
trenchment but we were tied down by
this miserable Constitution. and our
efforts. therefore. were almost futile
Mr.. Withers thought the bill as amend
ed. would pass the Senate. The answer
that had always been given the advocate
Of a constitutional convention was that
the government of the State was econo-
mically administered now, and there was
no great need for any change This state
ment, however could never be maintained
by the facts in the case. and though COM
pilation after compilation Of figures had
been submitted, they had always shown
that the affairs of the State were any
thing but economically administered.
Under a new Constitution the number of
officers could be reduced one half
The State of Virginia spent nearly as
much TO administer the government rs
did North Carolina and Georgia COM
bined.
NOT THE RIGHT PLACE.
you can't reduce expenses in a
Legislature" declared Mr.. Withers. you
nave got to change your system of gov
eminent and wipe out all useless offices.
Talk about commissions; why they tell
me that five bank officials here want TO
form a commission and run this city's
finances. Watch the people sit down on
them" said the Senator from Danville.
''You cannot amend our Constitution by
a. commission. because l deny the right
of such a body of men to enact the
legislation Of the State. Let as either
Withdraw this attempt to have conven-
ton. or go before the people and submit
II to them"
WILL HOLD ANOTHER CAUCUS.
Mr.. Saunders thought no one could
better determine this momentous issue
than the Democratic caucus he was ad-
dressing. He agreed with the Senator
from Danvilie in either going in a bust
ness-like way TO bring about constitu-
tional convention, or else throwing TO |
me wind all "him-ham" attempts, such |
as were made by the several resolutions
onered during the session.
Mr.. Saunders said he believed hrst
In holding q constitutional convention;
second in issuing reasons why the body |
nad arrived at such a conclusion, and
-nird in submitting the question OF a
constitutional convention as soon as pos
sible. 80
However. as many of the members OF
ne senate were not present. owing TO
he haste with which the call was issued
no aid not think any action should be
.aken at the present meeting, but that
he body should adjourn until to-morro"
night. "a tha
.optarepcp adjourned.