Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-06
coNsTITUTIoNAL AMENDMENTS.


We think our contemporaries who have
stated that the constitutional amend
ments are 20 be voted upon in November
arc in error. Probably they have not
read carefully the official notices which
have been published on the subject.
Those notices appear in such fine type,
we 90 not wonder that any editor Of ma
ture years should hesitate 10 study them
closely.
As we understand the case. these pro-
posed amendments were agreed TO by
the Legislature at its last session, and,
in accordance with the requirements of
the State Constitution article XII, sec
ton y public notice IS being given that
they are 10 be referred" TO the Legisla-
ture which is be chosen this year. Then,
if agreed to by majority Of the men,
bers elected TO each house, they will
be submitted to the people for ratifica-
ton or rejection.
Thus these amendments may he said
10 be in the Intermediate legislative stage.
Nevertheless. they are in a very good
stage to be discussed by the press, and
by public speakers. IL, after discussion.
the general judgment be that they are
desirable, the Legislature will see its
way clear TO agreeing TO them; if not. not
in the latter event they viii not reach
the people at the polls.
The first Of these amendments proposes
hereafter 60 have the election for coun-
ne IN
May. The purpose is TO reduce the num-
Der and cost Of elections in this State.
Public sentiment, we believe, favors this
change There has long been a demand
for it. 1t will save money to the eoun-
ties and cities. will lessen the expenses
of candidates In many cases-and, what
IS more important, will save the people
time now given to the May elections.
The other amendment proposed. is to
strike from the Constitution section OF
Article X, which reads as follows:
mo tax shall be imposed on any OF
the citizens of this State for the priVi-
lege of taking or catching oysters
from their natural beds with tongs, Ia
the waters thereof; but the amount OF
sales of oysters SO taken by any citizen
IN any one year may be taxed at rate
not exceeding the rate of taxation i'm
posed upon any other species OF pro-
perry"
In other words. It is proposed that the
Constitution shall be left blank with re-
spect to the matter of imposing a tax
for the privilege of taking oysters with
tongs from their natural beds, and that
lnst D ~
discretion of the Legislature.
This Is an amendment which Will not
DO agreeable TO the people Of the oyster
country In this particular they want
che Constitution TO remain as 1t IS. on
the other hand, many Of the up-country
people are OF the opinion that the State
Is not receiving as much revenue as she
should receive from her oyster beds,
and they find themselves confronted by
this constitutional provision whenever
special efforts are made 20 Increase that
revenue. Hence their desire for a change.
so that the Legislature may have it's
hands free to act in the promises.
The Dispatch has repeatedly said that
the up-country people are chasing a
shadow In indulging great expectations
in the ma ter or revenue from oysters.
The industry will not bear much more
taxation. Tho dreams OF great wealth
60 the public treasury from the states
oyster beds never can be realized The
most. and the best. that can be done
Is 20 administer the present law tho
roughly. aud trust to the gradual de-
veiopment OF the oyster Industry to in
crease It, In time, there ought 20 be
Improvement In the condition of the
planters and tongers. and in All the
oyster country, and in proportion as they
prosper the States income will Increase
we much hope that this years report
81 me Board OF Fisheries Will con,
vince ths public that It would be un.