The Washington times., 1901-09-26
SUFFRAGE REPORTS TODAY
Two and Possibly Three to BE
Presented at Richmond.
A Majority and n Minority Report
to he Submitted to constitutional
ConventiOn-Judge Harrison May
Have n Document of His own.


to he Submitted to constitutional
ConventiOn-Judge Harrison May
Have IA Document of His own.
RICHMOND, Va, Sept 25.-Eighty
members responded to their names today
at noon. when Secretary Button, of the
Constitutional Convention. called the roll.
Prayer was offered by Rabbi E. n. Cal
isch. of Beth Ahaba Synagogue.
Only two memorials were presented,
both in favor of the Barbour resolution to
regulate the liquor traffic in the State.
The memorials were referred to the Com
mittee on Preamble and Bill of Rights.
Mr.. Dunaway, from the majority of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
offered motion TO fix the hearing of the
case of Treat VS.. Gregory for THURSDAY,
October T. owing to the absence of MEM
ber of the committee from the city. AT
tention was called to the fact that the
chairman of the committee, Delegate Har-
rison. of Frederick. was absent, ana the
matter was passed by until the chairman
should be present
on motion of Mr.. Moore. of Fairfax,
the convention resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole and resumed con-
sidoration of the second section of the
report Of the Legislative Committee
report, providing for quadrennial ses-
sions.
Delegate Hancock, of Chesterfield, was
the first speaker. He was unalterably
opposed to quadrennial sessions of the
General Assembly Of Virginia 1t was
an innovation that would prove unfair
to the people of Virginia, whose wishes
had not been consulted. Mr.. Hancock
do in "a N-a
of quadrennial sessions, replying TO them
at considerable length He was opposed
to the general reduction of expenses
without being thoroughly familiar with
the duties of the officers affected He
was in favor of economy. but he ques-
toned the right of any men to proclaim
themselves apostles of reduction.
Mr.. Withers-Will you name any one
department on which you are willing to
begin?
Mr. Harrison said he would not, as he
had not investigated any question suf-
ficiently to warrant him in saying that
this or that office should be reduced.
Delegate Brown, of Bedford. followed
Mr. Hancock. making brief explanation
of his views in favor of biennial sessions,
his remarks eliciting applause when he
concluded
Mr. Stebbins, OF Halifax, was recognized
at this point He was a business man,
unused to public speaking, but as a bust
ness man he would say that the interests
of the business men would be satisfied
with quadrennial sessions. believing that
economy dictated that the number of
elections should also be reduced
Mr.. Hatton, of Portsmouth, added to
the proceedings by criticising the speech
f.1,
the latter said the business interests of
the Stata- would best be subserved by
quadrennial sessions of the General AS
sembly. He had little patience with the
business men or any other class who
would hold aloof from politics and from
their retreats criticise the actions of the
Legislature. Tney should participate in
the affairs of state. He was opposed
to any restriction of the right of the peo-
pie to legislate on matters of Importance
that arose from time to time He favor
ed. the hold-over system, as at present.
being unwilling to elect all the Senators
at one and the same time.
Il thought So" said Mr. Moore, chair
man of the committee.
For once you thought right" replied
Mr.. Hatton.
A running debate followed between
Messrs. Newton. Hatton, and Ioore, dur
ing which Mr. Newton said that the
United States Senate had grown SO great
that a great popular clamor had arisen
for the election of Senators by the people.
Mr.. Eggleston. of Charlotte, doubted
whether the theory of economy as adj
vanced by the committee would be real
lied were the the report adopted.
The suffrage plan representing the views
t..A
mittee this morning, and tomorrow morn
ing Walter A Watson, of Nottoway, will
present it TO the convention.
When the committee met this morning
there We're three members absent, Judge
Harrison is in Winchester and Mr.. Moore
is in Montgomery Judge ID. w. Bolen
was also absent.
The plan which has been evolved by the
majority was offered In committee and
received twelve votes out of the nineteen
cast Those voting for the majority re-
port were: Messrs. Thorn, Barnes. Wise.
r. L. Gordon, Ingram, Z. b. Jones, Ken
and Watson-12.
Those voting against it were: Messrs.
Daniel Wysor. Smith, Bouldin. Stuart,
Anderson and Gillespie.
Judge Harrison will not vote for the
ma jority nor will he support the minority
report and it is just barely possible that
he may offer plan of his own. but this
is not known to be certain
Mr.. Wysor will present a separate plan,
and the two Republican members, Messrs
and Moore. may also present a
plan of their own
The plan adopted by the majority is not
that originally offered by Mr.. Thorn. of
whose classification provisions
were not accepted, but Ii is a compro-
mise scheme between the property quail
ficatiOn supporters and the advocates of
the educational tests.
Mr. Thorn will have charge of the ma
jority plan on the tioor of the conven-
ton but the plan itself is the product
OF The members of the committee.
The minority plan is also to be handed
in tomorrow morning. and Senator Dan
lei will have charge of il.
The report of the committee begins with
the declaration that all voters should
have q permanent and substantial identi-
ncation with the State. and this may be
manifested in three ways:
Firstly conspicuous and deserving
public service.
Secondly participation in the public
burdens through property interests, sub
ject to taxation, and third, by substantial
contribution, not based on the
ownership of property, to the industry.
development. and welfare of the State.
The requirements for voters are as fol-
lows: All soldiers of the United States
Confederate States. any State in the
Union.
Any person who. or whose wife, paid as
much as 81 in State taxes the year pre-
This requires $50 worth of property. This
property requirement.. the committee says.
disqualifes no one and coufers suffrage on
an additional number.
The third clause is. Those persons not
embraced in the foregoing enumeration
who. when they offer to register, shall be
a bic to give a reasonable explanation of |
he n af ha