The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-22
Bill of Rights Will be Completed
To-Day.
JUDGE GREEN is. HIGHLY PLEASED
Pages Held q Session and Elect Officers,
Mr., Brax.on's Fine Record-Local
Taxes for School Purposes-hir.
Watson's Amendment
Adopted - Conven.
tion Gossip.

1t has been praCtlcally settled tnat tI1e
Constitutional Convention will take a
recess from next Friday until Thurs
day, November 7th. 1t has been evident
for some days that the members desired
TO have a little time at their homes in
order to help out their candidates for the
Legislature and to put in few lioks
for the State ticket as We'll
There were only five Republican MEM
bers present yesterday, Messrs. Blair,
Summers, Moore of Montgomery, and
others being already at their homes. Ut
seems to lie the sentiment of those
representing both parties to adjourn for
the time indicated without pay, and this
course will undoubtedly be pursued.
Mr.. Meredith offered a resolution on
the subject several days ago and that
was passed by temporarily after several
amendments had been offered.
Mr.. Eggleston presented one amend
ment providing for adjournment from
Friday until November 7th, and a poll
of the leading members shows that that
one will undoubtedly be adopted unless
there shall be o wonderful revolution OF
sentiment before the vote is taken.
Members in the convention We're graft
fed yesterday to see that Mr.. Bryan,
away off in Nebraska, had correctly sized
up the freedom of speech situation.
Editor Lindsay, OF the Charlottesville
Progress, who is also one Of the leading
members Of the convention, commented
as follows on the editorial from the Com
moner: SO the truth has travelled nearly
two thousand miles to Nebraska, and yet
has not reached some spots within a
radius of fifty or one hundred miles Of
Richmond" Following is Mr.. Bryans
editorial on the subject:
a report was sent out from Richmond
q few days ago to the effect that the
Constitutional Convention, in its indig-
ration over the assassination of the
President, had stricken out OF the pro-
posed Constitution a clause guaranteeing
freedom of speech AS might have been
expected, the report attracted widespread
attention and called forth emphatic pro-
tests from Democratic quarters. The edi-
tor of the Commoner has ascertained the
facts, and is gratified to know that Vir-
ginia has neither abolished free speech
nor INTENDS to.
There We're two clauses in their Con-
stituton relating to the subject-one was
an amendment to the section written by
George Mason in 17TG, and the other was
a section drawn substantially in the Ian
guage of the Federal Constitution on that
subject. The committee reported in favor
of striking out the amendment added to
the language of Mason because it was
surplusage and did not strengthen the
other section. But final action has not
y,.- been taken upon the matter.
while the alarm was excited by a
false report aid was therefore unneces-
sary, it is gratifying to have .rumor
set at rest and to know that Virginia,
ha nf &c firm na
was in defense Of the doctrine of free,
speech"
The Committee on Education adopted
MI. Walter Watsons very important res
olution allowing local taxes for school
purposes 20 be distributed to the race
especially calling and voting for the local
tax, the States taxes to be divided as at
present, equally among white and col
ored. McSSrS. NIcIlwaine, Pollard and
Earman were the only members voting
no.
The committee also voted to recon-
mend that the State Board of Education
shall elect q board of five directors to
manage the State Library and elect the
librarian; this board to be subject to
rules and regulations provided by the
General Assembly.
There were no other meetings OF COM
mittees yesterday or last night.
The Bill Of Rights was practically COM
pleted by the convention yesterday.
That is to say, the last section over
which there will probably be any fight
was disposed of, and those yet pending
will most likely be uncontested SO the re-
port that came from the Committee of the
Whole will likely be disposed OF finally
by the convention to-day.
how haa far, ,.;-I
adopted to the report since
it started on its long and weary course
from the Bill Of Rights Committee many
weeks ago, and it will be finally adopted
in almost the identical form in which it
was reported
Judge Green, who has managed the 1e-
port in all it's stages with great deal
Of ability and deNterity, feels greatly re-
lieved that his labors ID this .iae are
over, and he will now take u
back seat for a while, and let some other
committee chairman assume the floor
leadership.
Judge Green is well satisfied with the
report, and is glad that it has not been
amended since it left the
committee. Judge Green has done his
work Wen, and has beeo highly compii-
mented by his, colleagues,
Delegate A. c. Braxt,n Of Augusta,
has fine record in attending sessions of
he Constitutional Convention up to this
time he has never missed but one roll
call, and yesterday was the first time he
ever asked a leave of absence, and that
was on account of the burning of his
barn. The day on which he was absent
he was attending to some convention dr.
ties, so it may be said that he has never
missed attending to his public duty a
single day since the convention met. Per
haps there is not another member of the
convention who can boast Of such re-
cord.
Delegate z. H. Lowell, Of Madison, is
the Democratic whip of the conVs.fi-