Evening star., 1901-08-03
Virginia Convention Has Lively
Fight Over Report
THE RETURNS FROM COLD HARBOR
Contestant for Seat in the BODY
Asks Investigation.
MISTAKE MADE BY CLERK
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, August 3-The con-
stitutional convention met at IL o'clock
this morning and was In session just an
hour and quarter. One of the hardest
fights that has yet developed took place
shortly after the convention assembled.
Sixty-three members answered TO their
names.
feature of the day was that no resolu-
tions were presented Prayer was offered
by the Rev w. B. Beauchamp of Broad
Street Methodist Church. The reading of
the journal was dispensed with, the men,
bers intending to get away the noon
trains but they were disappointed.
Mr.. Gillispie of Tazwell, the republican
member of the committee on privileges and
elections, submitted report from the ma
jority of the committee regarding the con-
test of Trat against Gregory as follows:
THAT the clerk of the county court of
Hanover be required to bring before the
committee on privileges and elections the
returns, including the ballots, from the
Cold Harbor precinct, in Hanover county,
the same to be produced before said COM
mittee at the time and place fixed by said
committee
Chairman Harrison Explains.
Mr.. Harrison, chairman of the committee,
said that the majority of the committee had
voted to have the returns brought in order
to enlighten a solitary member Of the COM
mitttee, though 1t was not essential to the
report of the committee, only five votes
were involved. and it was clerical error.
No fraud was charged by the contestant,
and were the five votes involved given to
the contestant it would not alter the returns
sufficiently TO give him on their face right
to the seat. 1t was a useless expense.
Mr.. Gillspie stated that he was ready to
. ord h,,t <s,, 10 ot.av.
wished the information and the committee
desired that the convention should be asked
to order it.
Mr. Wysor of Pulaski moved that as the
f1ves votes would not affect the result the
votes be given Mr.. Treat and that he be
made to treat"
Mr.. Wise of Richmond demanded the pre-
vious question and on the vote of ordering
the question it developed that no quorum
was present
Mr.. Thorn of Norfolk. rising to parlia-
mentay inquiry, asked whether the major
ity Of the committee had asked for the in
Mr.. wise made the point that In the abb
sence of a quorum, no business could be
transacted.
Found q Quorum Present.
Mr.. Thorn: Then make the point that
the gentleman from Richmond cannot raise
the point against me that l am out of or
der" The president: THE sergeant-at-
arms will close the door, clear the floor
OF all but members and the clerk Will call
the roll to see IL a quorum is present"
The floor was cleared. the door shut and
the roll called. Mr.. O'Flaherty moved to
adjourn, and Mr.. Flood demanded the ayes
and noes. The motion to adjourn was de-
feated-noes, %.
The resolution was further discussed by
Messrs Flood, :Quarles Harrison, Wysor,
and was finally adopted by large major
ity.
Report on Education.
Mr.. withers, chairman of the committee
on reduction of expenses, submitted the
following report regarding the educational
department: We respectfully submit the
following recommendations with regard to
this department of government:
l. We recommend that the appropriation
of state funds to any school or institution
of learning not exclusively controlled py
the state be forbidden in the constitution
g. We further recommend that the ap.
propriations to the state institutions or
learning should be controlled in amount
by the number of state students receiving
free instruction in such institutions.
8. We respectfully further recommend the
abolition of the office of superintendent of
schools for each county and city and the
substitution therefor of district superin-
tendents.
We do not suggest any details, but leave
them to the wisdom of the committee on
education, as that committee has had the
advantage and benefit of advice and coun-
sci from the best educators of this state, Of
which this committee has not been able to
have the advantage, owing to conditions
and circumstances under which 1t was
placed at the time the gentlemen were in
attendance upon the committee on educa-
ton We suggest this recommendation
partly on the ground of economy In the
management of the school fund.- but espe-
cially do we believe that a wise substitute
for the present system will increase enor-
mously the efficiency Of our system OF
public school education.
Messrs Waddill and Tarry submitted
minority report, which concurred with the
majority except the recommendation
as to William and Mary College, so long
as that Institution shall train teachers for
the public free schools of the state.
The convention ordered the payment of a
number of small claims for clerical work,
the committee on expenses being unable to
get a quorum.
The convention at 1915 o'clock adjourned
until August %.
Suffrage Committee Meets.
The suffrage committee held a brief ses-
sion today after the convention adjourned
and decided TO meet in this city again Au-
gust 49, three days prior to the reassem-
bling of the convention. No business was
in the committee. A report will,
It Is thought, be submitted when the body
reconyenes.
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