Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-11-23
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

Gov. Tyler is of the opinion that
the cost attending the extra session,
constitutional con yention, and special
elections will be considerable. He
places the extra session at $4,000,
special election at Si5, 900, and the
convention, if it should last many
months, at about 100000. He is
not oyer-sure that the new constitu-
ton will meet with overwhelming
popular favor if it be constructed on
the lines generally discussed, EN-
bracing the reduction of officers,
modifying some of the provisions of
the oyster laws on longing and
natural rocks, and election OF some
CT the officers. One of the most in
teresting questions the Constitutional
Convention will have to considerable
be the separation of the school taxes
paid by the two races.
The Legislature is expected 10 do
more. More or less general legisla,
ton will undoubtedly be enacted.
1t has been frequently noted that ev-
cry member has hobby, or, at least,
some special subject upon which he
desires legislation. Several members
of the present Legislature have these
subjects,and there is little doubt that
they will seek to have them consider
ed. 1t has been stated authoritative
iy that an effort will be made to Sc
cure the enactment of the commits
sioner of valuations bill, which was
apparently passed by the last Legis-
lature, but was declared unconstitu-
tional by the Supreme Court of APP
peals. Under the Constitution, the
members will receive pay only for
session of forty-five days. However,
the session may last ninety days.
The present House of Delegates APP
portionment would, we think, afford
a good basis for representation in the
constitutional conven ton; but there
is widespread wish that several DEL
egates should be elected for the State
at large-say, seven, eight, or nine.
We do not say "ten," for the simple
reason that that number would be
equivalent to saying one from each
congressional district, which, we take
it, is not the object aimed at.
The obstacle in the way of having
delegates from the State at large is
that the Democrats would have to
hold a State convention to make
Observation-Disclosures Dispatch.
THE PRIMARY SYSTEM.
There is a growing sentiment in
the State IN favor of the Constitu-
tional Convention adopting a pri-
mary system similar to that of South
Carolina, requiring candidates in any
party to hold primaries for all offices,
from United States senator down to
county constables.
1t has long been thought that the
rank and file of the Democratic party
favored such a reform and its friends
are likely to endeavor to incorporate
it In the new Constitution.
Many of those who "speak the Lam
guage of the tribe" are said to fail to
see the necessity for the change, and
thereon may hang a big fight over
the proposition when the body meets.
There is strong probability that
a great fight will take place III the
Convention over recognizing the
judiciary of the State, and it looks
like the county judgeships may be
abolished and the duties placed upon
the Circuit judges.
1t is also probable that the posi-
tions of treasurer aud sheriff, i'm the
several counties may be consolidated.
-Richmond Times.
CONVENTION SUGGESTIONS.
lie all the people who want amend
ments to the State Constitution are
listened TO, the convention will be in
session year. You can'tget the kind
of men You want as delegates to leave
their business indefinitely. Have it
understood that there is to be long
sitting and you will get lot of del
egates whom couple of dollars day
will pay for their time, and sweet
mess it will be. The upshot of it
will be patchwork which the people
will reject at the polls and lot of
money spent and gone for wind. Re-
member that to have any constitution
adopted it must be one on which the
white voters will unite. A consti-
tuition counted in" would be sub
ject to being upset by the courts.
Pick the very best men in every
county representing all the county's
interests. Let there be a fair sprnk-
ling of lawyers of knowledge and
character. Do rot send any man
because he can make flowery speech
or has a pull with the boys. The
less silver-tongue business and the
more hard common sense and faith
full work we have in the convention
the better. Let the favorite son and
the gifted young orator with his
flashing eye and scathing tools go
and do his stunts in the courthouse
or at the academy or somewhere else.
lie isn't wanted where there is seri- |
Gus business to be done; nor is our
venerable fellow-citizen who is kin |
to one-half the county by marriage
AM the other by blood and to whom |
a job liz Richmond would be ac-
ceptable.
Pick the best and shrewdest and |
soundest. Let them come here deter
mined to do the one or two things
immediately and urgently needed, to |
do them as quickly and thoroughly as
possible and to frame a constitution |
which will appeal directly to the
common sense and interests of the |
people.-Richmond Meas. |
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov, 10th, 1900.
How Democrats in Congress feel