The Washington times., 1901-07-12
POLL TAX And EDUCATION.
Further Plans at Richmond TO
Restrict the Suffrage.

One Names the Payment of n Capita
ton Fee and Ability 10 Read and
write as Requirements for Voting
Other Matters Under Discussion
RICHMOND. Va, July 11.-Several i'm
portant resolutions were introduced in the
constitutional Convention today. One is
to require all voters TO pay poll tax and
be able to read and write. Every citizen
over twenty-one years old Will, of course,
have to pay the poll tax after the adop-
tion of the new constitution.
Mr. Meredith. of Richmond, presented
the following resolutions:
AT every election of Governor an
Attorney General shall be elected by the
qualified voters OF this Commonwealth.
He shall be commissioned by the Gov
ernor, shall receive such compensation as
may be prescribed by law, and shall be
removable in the manner prescribed for
the removal Of Judges. In addition to the
duties herein prescribed. he shall perform
such other duties as may be imposed by
law.
He shall, when requested by any Com
monwealths attorney, consult with and
advise him in matters pertaining to his
Office. or as to the preparation Of any
case in which the death penalty may be
inflicted. Whenever in any case in which
capital punishment may be inflicted the
Commonwealth attorney prosecuting the
same shall request the Governor for the
assistance of the Attorney General upon
the trial Of the cause and accompany such
request with his reasons therefor, the
Governor may, in his discretion, require
the attorney General to assist IN Sucn
prosecution The Legislature shall pro
vide fer the expenses of the Attorney
General when rendering such assistance.
~ 10 Les a.
ture shall have reached its third reading
in the house in which II shall have been
introduced, II shall. before any vote Is
taken on its final passage, be submitted
TO the Attorney General, or in his alb
sence or occupation with other duties or
his Office. to some counsel to be selected
by the Governor. The attorney General,
or the counsel 50 selected, shall examine
said bill, and forward to the house in
which said bill shall be pending written
statement as TO the effect and scope Of
said bill, its changes, if any, of the then
existing laws, and any recommendation OF
cha lge in its phraseOlogy- The said state
meut shall be read by the clerk of said
house upon receipt thereof, and shall be
printed for the use OF the members of the
Legislature. before the final vote shall be
taken on said bill. The said bill, after
being sent TO the Attorney General or
said counsel, shall not be amended eN-
cept as recommended in said statement,
unless II shall, after il shall have been so
amended in matters other than those rec
cnmended il said statement, be recon-
rnitted before its final passage to the At
jGrneE General. or some counsel for
similar report The Legislature may. if
II shall deem II necessary, authorize the
Attorney General to employ during the
session Of the Legislature two attorneys
TO assist him in the above work at such
compensation as the Legislature may pre-
scribe"
no tax. State or local. shall be charged
against any debt or any bond. note or
other evidence CT the same, for any
money hereafter loaned TO any individual,
partnership OF corporation at a rate OF
interest not in excess Of per cent in any
city. or at a rate OF interest not in excess
Of Per cent in any county. town or VII
lage Whenever the money borrowed is
to be used for the payment OF any debt
due upon property within a city, or
partly within and partly without the
same. or in any Improvement. business,
or enterprise within 2 city, it shall be
deemed to have been loaned within a
city; and when to be used slSeW here
within the State, il shall be deemed to
nave been loaned within q county. town
or village. This exemption shall con-
tinue for fifteen years from the day this
constitution shall 90 into effect. The
Legislature may continue such exemption
for a further period or periods OF time,
or may, il il shall see fit. lower the rates
OF interest. or either Of them. for such
further period or periods Of exemption
There shall be in each city a Board Of
Public Interests, which shall be composed
of as many members as there shall be
wards IN such city. There shall be one
member from each of said wards. who
shall be elected by the voters thereof.
The terms o. Office shall be fixed by the
Legislature. Their duties in addition to
those given in this constitution. shall be
such as shah be prescribed by the Legis- !
laJure.
..Thenever the council of any city Of
this Commonwealth shall propose TO !
grant any privilege or franchise, as 10 !
the use Of its streets. upons over or under !
the same, II shall nrst pepars an orai-
nance SDecifYing the terms the reOs. with !
out inserting therein any name OF the l
grautee. and shall submit the same 70
the mayor for his approval
Delegate Gillespie presented a resolution !
providing for the forfeiture of title to land (
for non-entry on land books for five years.
and the sale by public auction Of such
such failure. and when lands are bought
by the State for failure 10 pay t. aNes- The
paper was referred
5 meeting Of the Suffrage Committee
was held today, at which the following
propositions were fully discussed:
J. To divide the tax between the public
school fund and the needy Confederate
2. To divide the fund equally between
the public schools. needy Confederate sol I
diers. and the county roads Of the State
3 To devote the entire fund to the sup |
port Of the public schools.
Delegate George y. Wise, of Richmond. |
in commenting on the disposition to be
made of the poll tax, said:
'-Ey1-y citizen of Virginia should be re-
CURED 10 pay poll tax Of not less than |
3. and every cent Of this should go 10 the |
support Of the public schools. do not be- !
lieVe that the State Of Virginia will ever
allow those who fought her battles 10 |
suffer The old soldier viii be taken care |
Of without the use Of the poll tax. This 1
the rising generation. In this way the /
money paid by the voters Of the State I
will go toward building up a more intelli- /
gent class of citizens.