The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-18
DAYS pROCEEDINGs

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The convention met at ten O'CLOCK
prayer being Offered by DR.. Mcllwalne-
Sixty-eight members We're present.
Mr.. Thom presented a resolution in
viting Governor Montague Lieutenant
Governor Willard and Attorney General
Anderson to take the oath of office be
fore the convention on January !, 1eo2-
1t was unanimously adopted.
Mr. Marshall presented a resolution
that on January g. 1902, the convention
take up the report of the Committee
on Franchise and Qualifications of Eiiec-
tors and that it be made special and
continuing order from that date.
Mr.. Boaz moved that the resolution be
indefinitely postponed. 1t was adopted
by a large majority but on d point of
order being raised, the chair ruled the
motion to postpone out of order. and
the resolution was ordered to lie on the
table for thee days.
Mr.. w. \. Anderson moved that the
pending and previous questions could be
called il Committee of the Whole by d
two-thrGs vote. 1t was referred to the
Committee on Rules.
The convention went into Committee
of the Whole to further consider the re-
port of the Judiciary Committee (Mr.
Boaz presiding).
SUPREME COURT
Section 2, relating to the jurisdiction
of the Supreme Court, was taken up.
Mr.. Summers moved to amend, so that
an appeal would be allowed in any civil
case involving not less than $500. The
report fixes the amount at not less than
$500.
NJ. Turnbul moved to amend by in
serting S1G0, and spoke in support of his
amendment, on the ground that man
having only a small amount of money
involved should AVE right of appeal
equally with 4 man having millions.
a DOUBLE TRIAL.
Chairman Hunton, opposing the amend
ments, explained that the present limit of
$500 had been fixed in 1874 and had worked
well in Virginia To reduce the amount
to 800 would mean that every case tried
before the lower court would be tried
again in the Supreme Court
Mr. O'Flaherty, speaking to an amend
ment OF $3.50, declared that the limit Of
500 practically denied Il poor man the
right of an appeal.
Mr.. Eggleston supported the commit
tee report in a strong speech.
Mr. Summers accepted the amendment
of $3.50 and spoke in support of it.
The $3.50 amendment was rcjectad-ayes,
q; noes, 81.
a $500 amendment was rejected.
THE $500 AMENDMENT.
A $500 amendment was adoptad-ayes,
SO; noes, 30.
This gives the right of appeal to the
Supreme Court in civil cases where the
matter in controversy is not less than
$500.
Mr.. Eggleston then moved to strike out
the whole of section as reported by
and substituting there
fol, the section Of the present Constitu-
ton
Chairman Hunton offerc: to amend the
report OF the committee requiring the
assent Of three judges OF the Supreme
Court to determine that any law is or is
not repugnant to the Constitution of the
United States or to the Constitution of
Virginia. He moved to strike out the
words "or is not
There were not more than dozen yeas
for the amendment, but before the nays
were put by the Chair, Mr.. BraXton
made an earnest speech in opposition TO
it. Mr.. Petit then spoke for the amend
nent. It was rejected-ayes, q; noes, &c
Section two was then adopted as re-
ported by the committee, the only amend
ment being to strike out $500 and insert
$500 as the amount of an appea!abie case.
Returning to section Q. Mr.. Turnoull
moved to amend so that the judicial CIR
cult should not be rearranged or iIcreas-
ed until eight years after their ADOPTION,
and every eight years thereafter. and
that no new district should be created
that contained less chan ov,000 inhabitants.
Mr.. Turnbulrs amendment was adopt
ed-ayes, Is; noes, 16. The committee rose
at 2 O'Clock.
a communication from the Chamber Of
Commerce rendering its building FOR the
Convention to hold sessions in was read.
The president appointed MeSsr;. Thorn,
Hunton Greene Stewart and Allen as a
Committee on Inauguration Ceremonies.
January / 1902. The Convention then ad-
journed to meet to-day at 1 o'clock.