Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-16
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

Inere was mucn spicy oeoate 10 tue
constitutional convention yesterday
over the report Of the committee on
education under consideration 10 the
committee Of the whole. The section
which provoked this debate was that
naming the Governor, Attorney.Gene-
raj. SUPERINTENDENT of Public Instruc.
ZION, chairman of the faculty OF the
university and the heads OF the Military
Institute, Female Normal School, Will
liam and Mary College and Polytech-
mic Institute as members OF the stale
Board Of Education. The report also
provides for the election OF the Super
iniendent OF Public destruction by this
central board. Numerous amendments
we're offered intended to exclude tue
heads OF these institutions OF learning
and for the election OF the Superintend-
ent by the people. DIR. Mcllwaine, the
chairman, in explaining the report, said
the committee had had the benefit OF
much expert testimony and some that
was otherwise. The report was unani-
mously signed by the committee and no
minority report would be made. He
said the efforts OF the committee bad
been to obtain an efficient free school
system, but the legislature would have
TO be trusted to carry out the law.
This was recognized throughout the
| report. lie explained that the addi-
ton Of the Ave heads of the State edu-
cational Institutions to the present
State Board OF Education was to meet
the numerous objections OF present
political or partisan control. The
change made was to secure nonparti-
san and thoroughly equipped board,
removed as far as possible from the
arena OF politics.
Mr.. O'FlAher.y criticised the entire re-
port and offered q substitute, striking out
the heads OF the State institutions and
substituting five superintendents OF
county schools, to be chosen from the
| five divisions OF the State and
elected by the people. BE claimed
that the proposed system would In
augurate ssturnalis OF ring
politics. II would put the hands of the
| heads of State institutions on the threat
| of the legislature and say. IF you do
oct give US liberal appropriations for
our colleges, we will destroy your free
schools" He disclaimed any purpose
Of attacking these inititutioDs and then
severely criticised the State University
as having no connection with any but
| the weather. classes of the State.
| There was @ spicy debate between
| Chairman McIlwsine and Senator
| Keezel, the latter asserting that the
| com mittee proposed 10 have college
presidents control the free schools,
when they should be in the hands OF q
board closer to che people. The COM
mittee rose before vote was taken.
A number Of memorials were sub
mitted, and the suffrage plan offered
oy MIR. Brsxton q few days ago was re-
| ported back from the committee on
| -lectiye franchises, with the request
tnat the committee be discharged iron
the further consideration it.
TIE finance committee last night
heard Judge Harrison 10 support oil his
| resolution providing system OF taxa
lion. The body was so impressed with
he importance OF the ordinance that IL
decided to give representatives oil
cities, railroads and liquor interes
special hearings. Railroads. will be
heard Tuesday, the 26lh, at 10 O'Clock,
aud cities and liquor men the next day
at the same hour.
Under the plan real estate is to be
taxed by counties snd cities for local
purposes, and the revenue OF the State
is 10 be derived from taxation OF fran
chises of railroads and other corpora.
tions, liquor licenses, Sc. The general
assembly is authorized 10 tax railroads
not exceeding $500 per mile and taxes
for sale OF liquor shall be from $500 to
81, 900 per anpum.
MIR. Thorn made q strong argument
in behalf OF his resolution to allow
municipalities to exempt invisible
property from tax alton. Ills proposed
that the exemption shall only be
granted when voted for by the citizens
OF the city desiring 1t. No vote was
taken.