Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-25
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The constitutional convention on
Saturday 10 committee ofthe whole dis
posed o. the report Of the Committee on
Education except two sections. These
related to allowing local authorities en-
larged power 10 disposing OF the school
fund, the division OF school funds de.
rived from local taxation among the
races, If deemed wise by the local au-
thorities, and to appropriations made
to State educational institutions. Both
OF these went over until today, when the
discussion on the section allowing the
local boards power to determine how
the funds shall be distributed was taken
| up.
The only material amendment adopt
ed to the report was that offered by
Mr.. Withers, allowing counties and
cities to make appropriations to educa.
tional institutions not wholly owned
by such city or county. This amend
ment was offered largely in the interest
OF the Virginian Mechanics Institute
of Richmond but some other institutions
will profit by the break in the rule.
The question OF compulsory education
was fully discussed, but as compulsory
education was provided for In the old
Constitution the measure was not re-
gsrded as important. Slight changes
were made and the section as amended
reads: "The General Assembly may
provide for the compulsory education
OF children between the ages OF and IL
years, except such as are weak Ia body
or mind, or can read and write, or are
attending private schools, or are excused
for cause by the district school trustees"
A section providing for separate
schools for whites and blacks was unan.
imously agreed to.
Section 8, authorizing the establish
ment of normal, manual training, tech
nicsl agricultural schools, and such
others as shall be for the public good,
was adopted.
The committee on education, 1t is
stated on excellent authority, will SUBJ
NIT a new plan for constituting the
State Board OF Education. That adop.
ted by the convention In committee OF
the whole provides that this board shall
be composed of the Governor, Attorney
General, Superintendent Of Public To-
struction and the heads OF the State
educational nstitutions-the terms OF
the latter to be indefoite. The commit
tee will, 1t Is believed, recommend the
substitution OF new section. This will
constitute the board OF the Governor,
Attorney General, Superintendent Of
| Public instruction, one city and one county su-
| perintondent to be selected by the Governor,
aud one member OF the faculty from each Of
| the State educational Institutions to be chosen
| by the Executive All Of these members,
except the State officers. are to be confirmed
| By the Senate. Their terms, except for the
1 two school suporintendeLts, will be for four
years. The lstter's terms will be for one or
| two years,
Those who oppose the Thorn and all other
suffrage plans containing permanent uuder
standing clause will have conference cary
this week. Those who are not in sympathy
with the permanent understanding clause ale
certsinly In the minority. The coming con-
ference is for the purpose OF endesvoring TO
reach q n understanding as to the suffrage
| plan. The grandfather clause seems 10 be
the one that it most fsvors
The outlook for the adoption Of . suffrage
clause is regarded as dismal The Leaders
from the eastern end Of the State will not en-
terrain the grandfather clause and those in
the valley and southwest will not hear to an
understanding clause
60 these powerful forces seem to stand In
dismetric opposition to each other, and 1t
does not appear that either will yield to the
other. Ali the leaders appeal for compromise
in their speeches, bat whom it comes TO yield
Ing it locks as IL they want ''the other fell
low" to do it,