Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-11
THE CONVENTION

Important action was taken in the
convention working as q committee OF
the whole, on the report Of the execu-
tive committee on the clause relating to
"eminent domain" By this sction
the new constitution OF Virginia will
contain a clause providing that where
private property is injured, even though
not touched, ss a result OF public i'm
provements, compensation shall be
made for the actual damage sustained.
The committee of the whole adopted
this section OF the legislative committee
report that afternoon, after warm
fight, which had extended over three or
four days. Under the present consli-
tuition corporations and municipalities
are only liable for damages where they
take private property for public uses.
The committee, after hearing many
speeches reported a new clause, with
the words Tor damaged" inserted after
the word taken" The report OF the
committee was, by consent, amended
80 as to strike out the words "but be-
yond compensation for property &C.
tuslly taken, damages allowed shall be
eubiect to abatement by allowing for
benefits conferred, and was then adopt
ed. AS amended it reads as follows:
"The general assembly shall not pass
any bill OF sttainder or any ex-post fac
TO law, or any law impariDg the obliga-
| ton OF contracts, or any law abridging
the freedom OF speech or OF the press. Il
shall not enact any law whereby pri-
vate properly shall be taken or damaged
for public uses without just compensa-
tion."
The committee on bill of rights de.
cided to report favorably an amend
ment to the constitution which will re-
quire every man applying for license
to sell liquor to accompany the ap-
plicston with a petition signed by q
majority of the registered voters Of the
precinct 10 which he proposes to do
business. This action has caused con-
sterDation among the liquor dealers,
who say that it will be impossible for
large msjority OF them to secure the
required names.
The vote was a tie, Messrs. Petit,
Carter, Westcott and Parks voting no,
and Messrs. Green, Barbour, Pedigo
and Epes voting yea.
Absent members will be allowed to
vote. Those absent were Messrs.
Eggleston, P. w. Campbell and Hatton.
Messrs. Eggleslon and Campbell will
vote yea, and Mr.. Hatton no. This will
make majority Of one in favor OF the
resolution.
The bill of rights committee has con-
oluded the consideration OF the home
stead provisions, and with one more
session will draft Its report TO the con.
vention and conclude it's lAbors. The
ordinance provides that every house
holder or head OF a family shall be en-
titled, in addition to the articles now
exempt from levy or distress for rent,
to hold exempt from any debt hereto
fore or hereafter contracted, real and
personal property, or either, including
money and debts due him, whether
heretofore or hereafter acquired or
contracted, to the value OF not exceed
ing 50, 900, to be- selected by him.
The right of ecclesiastical bodies 10
and to church property conveyed to
them by regular deeds OF conveyance
shall not be affected by the late civil
war. nor by any antecedent or subse.
quent event, nor by any act OF the
Legislature purporting to govern the
same, but all such property shall pass
to and be held by the parties set forth
in the original deeds OF conveyance, OF
the legal sssiguees OF such original
parties holding through or by convey
ance. and any act or acts Of tue legisla-
ture In opposition thereto be null aud
void. The children of parents, one or
both OF whom were slaves at and dur
ing the period OF cohabitation, the |
woman being recognized by such father
as his wife, and cohabted with as
such, shall be as capable OF inheriting |
any estate whereof such father may
have seized or possessed as though |
they bad beef born in lawful wedlock. |
Certain restrictions are embodied,
including services rendered by labor
ing person or a mechanic, taxes or
and rent. The general
assembly shall prescribe 10 what mao
Der and on what conditions house
holder shall set apart and hold for
himself and family homestead out OF
any property exempted. The home.
stead provisions OF the former constitu-
ton shall hold good.