The times., 1901-06-27
PROPOSING new STATUTES
Resolutions on Lynching and Brib-
cry in the Virginia Convention.
A plan to Make Counties Liable for
Damages in Cases Of Death From
Mob VioIence-The Head Tax and
Free schooIs-A New Committee.

Damages in Cases ca De3ith Foit
,Iob VioIence-The Head Tax and
Free schooIs-A New Committee.
RICHMOND, Va, June 26-Nhen the
Constitutional Convention was called to
order by the President, john Goode, this
. afternoon. the galleries of the han Of the
House OF Delegates were hlled with spec
tators. most of whom were negroes, who
watched the proceedings with intense in
terest Prayer was offered by the Rev.
DR. WHlngham. of the Foreign Mission
Board Mr.. Goode announced the ap-
pointrnent of the following Committe on
Reduction Of Expenses as provided for in
the resolution adopted yesterday: Eugene
Withers. James w Marshall. George b.
Keezel. r. Lindsay Gordon, II. f. Girls
mnnd. E w HUBBARD. 5. p. Waddill. J. III
Willis. Joseph Stebbins George P. Tarry,
and a. l.. Pedigo.
The president laid before the convention
an invitation to attend the annual lawn
party at Lee Camp Soldiers Home, sent
by Mrs. Norman V. Randolph.
Mr. Gordon, of Richmond, introduced
the following resolutions:
Prohibiting all members of the Legis-
lature from becoming candidates Tor any
Office within one year after expiration
of terms for which they were chosen.
Resolved, That the Legislature shall
pass stringent laws for the prevention OF
lynching, and to that end shall have the
power TO provide for the recovery, by the
representative OF any person VINO Is
lynched, of exemplary damages against
the county or corporation in which the
lynching takes place.
All officers elected by the people shall.
before entering upon the discharge OF any
official duty, take and subscribe the fol-
lowing oath or affirmation, in addition 10
the one prescribed by the present con-
stitution, that is TO say: furtheT
solemnly swear (or affirm that / have
not directly or indirectly, paid, onered.
or promised to pay, or contributed o:
promised to contribute any money OF
other valuable thing as consideration or
reward for the giving or wlthholulnS OF
any vote at the primary election at wnlcn
! was nominated to said office or at the
election at which ] was elected.
Any person holding office under the
laws of this State, or under the laws OF
any political subdivision thereof, who
SHALL directly or indirectly, receive OF
consent to receive, except in payment OF
his legal remuneration, anything OF Naiue
or of personal advantage, or the promise
thereof for performing or omltunS 10
perform any official act, or with the eN-
press or implied understanding that ms
official action or omission to act is to be
in any degree influenced thereby, shaIi
be guilty of a felony.
Any person who shall offer or promise
a bribe to an officer. if it shall be re-
ceived. shall be deemed guilty of felony
ard liable to punishment, except as herein
provided No person offering a bribe
shall, upon any prosecution of the officer
for receiving such bribe, be privileged
from testifying in relation thereto, and
he shall not be liable to civil or criminal
prosecution therefor. If he shall testify
TO the giving or Offering of such bribe.
Any person who shall offer or promise
a bribe If II be rejected by the officer
to whom it was rendered, shall be deemed
guilty Of an attempt to bribe, which IS
hereby declared to be felony.
Speaking of the resolution introduced by
J. T 3. Thornton. of Prince William,
relative to taxation for schools, a friend
of the resolution said today:
Should a provision be engrafted in the
new constitution requiring a capitation
tax OF s. on every male citizen who has
attained the age of twenty-one years, to
be applied exclusively TO the support of
public free schools, and TO release all
property. real and personal, from the pay
ment of any State tax for public free
school purposes, would realize a larger
sum than now appropriated for that pur-
pose.
THE total amount appropriated by the
State in 1900 for public free school pur-
poses, in round numbers. was. after de-
Quoting the special annual appropriation
of S20o, 900. made by the General Assembly.
SdSf ~ MS lIlCiuuSS eOo-r4JO iIolu 3DilSs
which at 50 per head. as proposed, would
amount TO over 100000, and when is
added TO this the amount of school taxes
now paid by corporations, which is re-
tanned under proposed change, and the
amount from fines. etc, we viii have a
sum nearly double the present amount.
The proposed change would do away
with the necessity for the growing de-
mand to separate the school taxes be
tween the white and coIored races in pro-
portion to the amount paid by each, as
the colored viii pay as much proper
tionately as the white. Then, again. the
amount of tax for city, county, and dis
trict school purposes will be raised and
disbursed exclusively in the county in
which the levy IS made"
The following resolution was proposed
by Mr.. Dunnaway:
BE It ordained by the people of Nir-
ginia, in convention assembled. That
neither the General Assembly nor the
authorities Of any city, town, county, dis
trict. or other public corporation shall APP
Dropriate any money or other personal
property orsgrant any real estate to any
church or sectarian society, OF help TO
maintain or support any society, asSO-
citation or institution whatever which is
entirely or partly. directly or indirectly,
controlled by any church or sectarian So
ciety, or appoint any person to perform
religious services. or to make any apprO-
priation for the payment thereof"