Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-27
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.


time. The main feature Of the report
was the recommendations 10 regard TO
the penitentisry. Messrs. Flood, Wise
Carter and Hunton opposed the report
on the ground that the matters with
which it deals are legislative rather
than constitutional. They made vigor-
GUS assaults upon it in its entirety.
and Mr.. Garter gave notice that be
would, ct the proper time, move to
strike ont the entire contents of the re-
port.
Chairman Ayers defended the COM
mittee's report. He was supported by
Judge Portlock, Mr.. Wsddill and
Others OF his colleagues on the commit.
tee. An amendment was offered and
adopted. providing that the matter OF
having the peni entiary 10 Richmond
city shall be left to the legislature. A
number OF other amendments ere pend
ing, but that was the only important
one adopted.
Chairman Ayers, 10 presenting the
report, said that for several years there
had been disposition 10 the legislature
not to appropriate any funds for en-
lsreing the penitertiary on account OF
sentiment that the penitentisry
should be removed from Richmond.
The committee bad investigated the
question, and found ii would entail
such an enormous expense to move the
peniteutisry that they thought it wise
that section /, locating the penitentisry
at Richmond, should be adopted.
Section required the enlargement
Of cells, together with additional build
ings, for the purpose OF more cells. he
found convicts occupying cells with not
half the air space required by law oil
sanitation, and to provide funds for the
additional space the committee had
drafted section 4, authorizing the legis'
lature to borrow not more than $3.50, OOO
and place the profits Of the prison work
as sinking fund to pay of the obllga'
ton.
Section was adopted without debate,
and other sections we're under consider
alton when DR.. Dnnaway moved to re-
consider section l and to strike out
Richmond as being the location OF the
state prison. He said it might be that
In the course of time the people OF Vir'
giDia might desire to move the peniteu'
tiary from Richmond, aud he wished
to leave it to the Legislature to act with 9
free hand, as conditions might arise.
Mr.. Flood said that the peniten;isry
was now nearly 10 the heart of the city
OF Richmond, and the demand might
soon come from Richmond itself to dis
mantle the penitentiary and put 1t some
where else. The ground is now Of
enormous value, and might some day
10 the near future be sold for enough Ia
build a half dozen penitentiaries. He
said the present constitution contained
no mention OF a penitentiary, and il
would be just 40 we'll to strike out the
whole report relating thereto and leave
the whole matter to to the legislature.
DR.. McIlwaine defended the report
and said.
"Mr. Chairman, my experience with
members OF this convention has been
that when something comes up TO
which they are opposed they declare
that it has no place 10 the constitution,
but should be left to the legislature. /
have found that my friend from Apo
msttox (Mr. Flood) is no exception to
the rule"
Mr.. Hancock offered an amendment
requiring a two-tbirds vote of the legis-
lature 10 order to move the penitentiary
from Richmond.
Mr.. Hunton spoke briefly for the
amendment, and IL was adopted.
Mr.. Carter then took the floor
and moved to strike out the whole re.
port, from the first line OF the first sec
ton to the last line of the last section.
Chairman Barbour ruled the motion
out of order, and Mr.. Carter gave notice
that be would move to strike them ell
out, section by section. He accordingly
moved to amend by striking out all Of
section l.
Under the gauntlet thrown down by
Mr.. Carter the issue was joined, and q
great battle was opened in dead earnest.
General Ayers, the chairman OF the
replied to MIR. Carter. He
ssid he recognized in Mr.. Csrter's mo-
zion the beginning Of a great battle,
and he gave notice that be and his col.
leagues would fight to the end for his
report. The battle was then waged TO
the end OF the Tour hours session and
will be heard from again.
There were several matters OF inter-
est 10 the business of the morning
hour.
The convention, by a vote of SO to
81, agreed to take recess from Wed.
nesdsy until Friday on account OF
Day.
Secretary Button presented q state
ment from clerks OF courts giving
certain statistics asked for by the con-
vention. The clerk of Dickinson coun-
~ was the only one from whom no
reply had been received.
Chairman Fairfax, of the finance
offered resolution, which
was adopted, calling Oh county and
city officers for Information as to
sources OF revenue.
There was DO suffrage conference
last night, as Senator Glass, who was
10 have spoken 10 advocacy OF his plan,
was not we'll enough to do 80. 1t is
not thought any material progress will
be- made with the suffrage matter
before the holidays.
The corporation committee yester.
lay evening decided to report the en-
oloyeIs' liability bill, after adopting
Mr.. Wysor's amendment to strike out
liability of employees engaged on differ
mt pieces of work. As amended, the
resolution was unanimously adopted,
,ut another vote will be taken today
10 had been agreed.
The education committee was I'M
lble to get q meeting last night to con-