The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15
MAY APPOINT
A COMMISSION
One Suggested to Adjust Statutes 10
New Constitution.
A VERY HEAVY WEEKS WORK
Appropriation Bills TO Go Over Till After
Rccess-Views OF Prominent Lead
ers-Live Legislative
Gossip.
A VERY HEAVY WEEKS WORK

When the Legislature reconvenes on the
18th or FEBRUARY there will be resolli-
ton offered looking to the appointment
OF d commission. to consist of not more
than seven persons, to draft such bills
as may be necessary to carry into effect
tho new organic law
The gentleman who will introduce this,
resolution thinks that a commission could
90 the work of preparing the necessary
acts TO carry the Constitution into effect
better than he General Assembly
HIS idea is to have the Legisla ture adj
Journed soon after it is reconvencd. ana
to meet again some time next fall to
receive and to consider the report of the
commission. The commission would sit
during the recess and prepare its report
to be made TO the Legislature next fall.
There being a question raised to the
exact language used by Senator Nell
waine Friday. when he spoke about the
Constitution not being adopted, he was
requested to give for publication that
portion of his speech Here it is:
If the varied and divergent views
pressed by the members of the Consti-
tutlonal Convention in almost every ques-
ton fairly represent the views of their
several constituencies. then there is no
Constitution which the present conven-
ton may frame. regardless of the cleo
torate to which the Constitution may
be REFERRED, said q, prominent member
of the convention last night. The call
ing Of a Constitutional Convention was
made a party question. but ITS adoption
was not, and any Democrat is at liberty
to vote on the question as ne pleases.
Unless. therefore, the new Constitution
f,a 1,,l cole TO
the Democratic people of tie State, then
even a respectable minority OF them
may unite with the Republican party
and defeat it. This they Will have the
right to do party fealty is not in
volved. and I am fast reaching the con-
clusion that no Constitution which may
come from the hands Of the present con-
vention will be ratified by the people.
because of the want of harmony in the
various conclusions reached by so many
of its members on so many important
matters.
1T seems to ne that there Is no hope
of a new Constitution in the near future
unless the one to be framed by the pres
enJ convention shall be proclaimed. and
| am afraid that there is not a sut1lcl~-it
number of the members of the conVen-
ton in line with each other to make
this disposition possible.
II am speaking of conditions as they
exist to-day. but | trust they VIII i'm
prove before the Legislature shall meet
after the recess. II they do not. how
ever. l shall then insist that the Leg
jslature go ahead with the business for
which, it was convened. regardless OF the
fact that the convention Is still in ses-
sion'
Both the Constitutional Convention
no I acjS will reCONNpQp TO-
morrow and take up afresh their work,
left off Yesterday The former body will
meet at noon instead of 10 O'Clock A
NJ. and will take up the lurthar con-
siGeration of the report of the Commit
tee on Education and Public instruction.
the judiciary report, with the exception
of section ., having been disposed Of ~
Committee of the Whole. Both branches
of The Legislature will meet at 8 O'CLOCK
P. NJ, and will begin the work OF the
final week of the short session.
One of the greatest battles to take
place before the committees will be that
over the jamestown Exposition pill
which has been made a special ano con-
tinlling order for 1890 O'Clock tomorrow
before the House Committee on General
Laws.
Other House and Senate committees
have their calendars crowded with spc-
cjal orders for this week. most of them
relating to matters concerning Norfolk
CITY and the Underwater section OF the
State.
Chairman W. H. Boaz. of the Il 'us7
Finance Committee and leading mem
Der of the Constitutional convention. IS
one of those who believe that the SEES
sion of the Legislature from fehruarS
10 1902. will last only until the follow
ro,
pire by limitation on that day, and 1t
REQUIRES a three-fifths majority OF both
hra inches to extend the session of thlr-
ty days without pay. and MI Boaz Goes
MOT believe that can be secured. he
does not think the House will pass the
appropriation bills for the next hscal
YEAR until after the recess. Beyond this,
Mr. Boaz does not think much VIII be
done at the session III T. cbruary.
a great many of the members OF the
House. Senate and convention left Tor
their homes yesterday. and Will not re-
;urn before tomorrow.
On Friday next both bodies VIII take
their Christmas recess The Legislative
will not return until February 18Th. while
the convention vii! come back On Jan
uary I'd.
The House Committee on Roads me.
yesterday and heard argument for al1s'
against the bill offered by Hon . =.
Kelley. of this city. incorporating !ne
Citizens Rapid Transit Company. ha'tlS
for one OF its objects the building anu
opera ting of viaduct from f,ourteeh''i'
Street to Church Hill.
The bill was ordered 20 be favorably
reported.
The pa tron of the bill in the outse.
accepted all the amendments susSesteu
by Hon H. r. Pollard, City Attoriies'
looking to the protection OF the city
interest. and then the battle over the OIL
opened up in earnest. CAPTAIN A. 3. Gu'-
eon. counsel for the Richmond Passen-
GER and Power Company. was the frst
sneaker and he ably argued against the
Granting of the charter. advancing all the
usual arguments produced in such cases,
among them that the scope asked was
too broad. and therefore dangerous.
AIR. Kelley replied on behalf Of the bill
and took up the arguments advanced by
Cantain Gugon, and answered them with
characteristic force and eloquence. His