Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29
Virginia Democrats to Discuss Consti-
tutional Convention.
QUESTION FOR TEE LEGISLATURE
Little Else Will Be Done at the
Extra Session.
AN IMPORTANT MATTER
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

special correspondence of The Evening Star
RICHMOND. Va. December g. 1900
A number of the leading democrats of
Virginia will meet here for conference a
day or two In advance Of the assembling
of the legislature in extra session January
%. They will meet to discuss the questions
of the time of holding the constitutional
convention and the basis of representation.
There is no organized movement for a con-
ference, but simply a general understand
ing among some prominent party men, both
in and out Of the legislature, that they will
confer with view to aiding the general
assembly in solving some knotty problems.
The convention Is really a more impsr-
tant matter than most people imagine. The
whole organic law of the state can be
changed If the convention sees fit to do So
There will unquestionably be radical changes
made. 1t is pretty well understood in ad-
vance that the judiciary system will be al
tered and completely reformed. Instead of
county judges, there will probably be an
increased number of circuit judges, with
larger salaries than are now paid.
School Tax Apportionment.
A question of great public interest the
convention will have to deal with will be
the apportionment of all school taxes paid
by the whites to the support of schools for
white children and the taxes paid by the
colored people to the support of schools for
colored children. This movement will have
very able and influential supporters, but 1t
Will meet with strong opposition. 1t would
not be surprising if the liveiest debates in
the convention should occur over this one
proposition. The late Frank G. Ruffin was
perhaps one of the first persons to advo-
cate the division of the school tax fund
He always claimed that the thing ought to
be done as matter of party policy, and
Ia a nod hot
ored race to greater efforts toward con-
tr1buting to the support of the govern
ment.
1t begins to look very much as if no gem
era! legislation will be considered at the
extra session. Many members will come
with important measures to offer but some
OF the wisest men in the democratic party
Will insist upon the general assembly sim
ply making provision for holding the con-
vention and then going home. They will
argue that 1t will be useless to enact i'm
pcrtant general laws when the constitution
OF the state is so soon to be changed. If the
bars are once thrown down there will hard
ly be any end to the bills that will be Of
fered.
Will BE Held in Richmond.
The constitutional convention will Of
course be held in Richmond, as have all the
bodies that have had to make the organic
laws for the state. Very likely the dele
gates will be chosen on the fourth Monday
in next May. The legislature will fix the
date. the basis of representation and the
time and place Of meeting. The conven-
ton will probably assemble in Richmond
about next July. Its work will probably
consume two or three months time. In the
meantime an election will follow fer gov
ernor and other state officers and for men,
bers Of the general assembly with the ex-
ception of the hold-over senator's.
1t is unlikely that the new constitution
will be submitted to the people for ratifi-
cation or rejection at the next state cleo
ton In that event there may be some
interesting complications as regarding the
terms of the governor and officials
There will certainly be an element in the
convention who will insist on having all
the state officers now chosen by the legis-
lature elected by popular vote. These same
people will also demand that the people be
given an opportunity Of choosing their
judges.
To sum the matter up, the next year
premises to be very interesting one, from
a political standpoint, in Virginia.