Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-01
rUESDAY.............MA MARCH /, 1893.
THE PIVOTAL POINT.

Another popular vote upon the sub
Ject OF constitutional convention
seems probable. There is much senti-
ment in the two houses of the General
Assembly favoring a fresh submission
OF the question. and this though the
people last year rejected the proposition
by an overwhelming majority.
The last vote was Influenced largely
by the argument that the Legislature
could frame all the constitutional amend
ments that are needed and could and
would retrench in sundry directions.
The next vote may be taken with the
actual record of the Legislature before
the people. If it be found that the
Legislature has failed i'm the work ex-
pected of il, the convention may be or
dered. but otherwise we should think
the judgment of the voters would be
pronounced against II.
II is a frank and liberal spiritson the
part Of the Legislature which incines it
10 submit its work to the people along
with the means of calling n convention,
in case that work proves to be unsatis-
factory. 1t would be saying to the pub
lie. Here's what we have done. 1t was
all we could do; If we have disappointed
you we are sorry, but you can order a
convention forthwith"
we venture 10 say, however, that the
d financial work of this Legislature will
'show up better than the public now
expect. True, the House and Senate are
still at odds as TO how deep cuts in ex-
penses should go, but We may expect
that compromises will be made, and with
net results that will prove fairly salts
factory. After the smoke of the conflict
has drifted away; after the passions of
the hour have subsidized; after our fiscal
officers have coolly calculated our income
and expenses, the people will be better
able than they are now TO decide for or
against convention. Our hope is that
fair statement of the case will preclude
the necessity for calling convention
and assure us that even under a re-
auced assessments of lands in 1900, Vir-
GINA will be able to meet all the de-
mands upon her without an increase of
the tax-rate. 1t would, therefore, be wen
for Virginia, well for our party, well for
the individual taxpayer. well for all of
our industrial interests, that the two
houses should strain every nerve to make
u satisfactory exhibit of their labors.
With this done, and with their pro-
posed amendments TO the Constitution
agreed 10 and ordered to be transmitted
10 the next Legislature. members may
calmly and confidently invoke the judg-
ment of the people upon their labors
and be satisfied that if they have not ac-
complished all that they wished they
have accomplished all that was possible,
circumstances considered.
Since the elections question has been
quieted in this State, and since there is
discoverable no great popular movement
IN favor of abolishing the county-court
system, the majority of Virginians would
be well pleased 10 have the State Con-
stitution amended by the legislative pro-
cess In short, it seems to be in the
power OF this Legislature, not only to
submit the question of convention" or
tc the public mind in it's decision at the
polls. And the pivotal point in the legis-
latlve session has now been reached
when another day or two viii decide
whether wise or unwise counsels shall
prevail!