Evening star., 1901-06-22
MUCH WORK AHEAD
Virginia Constitutional Conventions
Sitting Likely to Be Long.
SOME CHANGES WHICH MAY Be MADE
Mr.. r. Walton Moore Discusses
the General Plan.
THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY

committee to finally revise the constitu-
tiOn. who has been giving thought and at
tention to the plan and scope of work of
the convention. in an interview with The
Star correspondent said:
1T is not likely that the convention will
sit so long the one which assembled in
october, 1880 and did not finally adjourn
until August. 1851. / think however, 1t
will be in session several months. Public
attention has been largely directed to a
few subjects, which have come to be re-
garded as of paramount Importance. but
the prospect is that multitude Of ques-
tinns independent of those which relate to
restrictions upon the suffrage and the APP
pOrtionment of the school fund will de-
nand consideration.
- The number and variety OF these ques-
tions is to some extent indicated by the
many ordinances and resolutions which
were introduced Friday Immediately after
the appointment of the standing commit
tees. Every member will advance propo-
stiOns. the result of study and observa-
tion. The convention calendar from this
time will show in what varied lines it's
members have been pursuing their investi-
cations.
The existing constitution from busi-
ness point of view. is by means an up
to-date instrument. and will assuredly re-
= celve a very thorough overhauling. The
debates on comparatively immaterial mat
ters that have already taken place are
some Indication of the rigid scrutiny and
discussion TO which every suggestion pre-
sented will be subjected.
Many Changes Expected.
When the convention is through with its
work the organic law of the state will prob
ably wear very different aspect. All sorts
of amendments are being talked about by
the members of the convention and the
public Without undertaking to offer any
personal views, l may mention some fea-
lures Of the existing constitution that may
be amended II the talk which one hears
should maIerialiZe.
The venerable bill of rights which has
mot been materially altered since 1t came
from the pen of George Mason of Gunston.
in 1II6 except in some particulars by the
Underwood convention. will not escape
challenge 1t provides for the old-fashion-
Cd common law jury system which involves
the service OF twelve men in every case.
Many members of the convention have al
ready signifed their approval of arrang-
ing the jury system to give every per-
son charged with crime the right to elect
10 be tried by the Judge alone or by a
jury; to dispense with the services of the
jury in trivial cases and to reduce the num-
Der of jurors in all cases.
'NirgintdDS apparently less fond of
politics than In days gone by, Judging from
the general expression IN favor of curtail-
ing the number of elections 1t is urged
that their number should be materially re-
duCed: that there is sufficient reason for
the annual May election. and that a bien-
NAL election in November would suffice
Officials Not Elected by the People.
AT this time many Virginia officials are
not elected by the people. The legislature
elects the auditor. treasurer, secretary of
the commonwealth. superintendent Of pub
lie instruction. judges Of all the courts and
many others County school superinten-
dents, and some other officials are appoint
ed by boards or by the governor There is
an inclination to make all officers elective
though doubtless there will be the most ac-
program.
This inclination is perhaps accelerated
by the prevalent criticism Of what Is term
ed machine rae. Men are saying that the
sures. preventive of control and domination
by a few is to trust the people with the
Choice OF those who are to serve and rule
them, They say this without regard to the
side they take In the gubernatorial contest
Others hope that the office OF Justice of the
peace. which In the country is one of the
most important TO the people. will he sur
rounded with something Of its ancient dig
nifty by being made appointive
y century and half ago in nv own
county. the governor Of the colony and
aft"rWard the state governor, appointed rha
justices upOn the recommendation OF tho
local court, and The services of the most
eminent men Were occurred. Some members
Of the convention believe 1t would be wei
10 restore I" the governor the appointment
OF Justices, allowing some local authority
I" nominate the individuals
For "A Uniform Primary Plan
In the estimation of many the pending
campaign for the governorship nomination
has shown to an extent beyond any pre-
vious campaign The desirabiIity of a uni
form party primary plan. and they con-
tend that a mandate should be laid on
the Legislature to formulate and put I'm
operation such a plan There are some,
too who think it might be possible to pro-
vide for United States senatorial primaries
along the line suggested by Senator Bur
rows of Michigan, and printed in The Star
few days ago. Ii will be remembered
that the senatorial primary principle caused
vigorous fight In the Roanoke demo-
cratic convention four years ago and that
1t VIII he promulgated subsequently in the
platform OF the May conference which
was presided over by Mr.. Goode now
president Of the constitutional convention
1T may be urged that the membership
of the general assembly should be enlarged
or that Il might very properly be cut
down; that the sessions should begin after
the holidays instead of In December; that
the opportunity tor passing bills without
due deltberatfOn should be diminished; that
special legislation. such as granting rail-
road charters. should be forbidden; that
members OF the legislature should be incl
igible for other offices during the period
for which they elected and that re-
lieyed of many of its present functions the
legislature should be required to devote
Itself to business IN which the entire public
IS interested.
Too Much Law Making
In former times. and no so very far
back. thin volume sufficed to contain the
the result of a session of legislative work
Now, the biennial volume turned out by
the Virginia general assembly not uncom-
monty runs up toward 900 pages
1T is asserted that the changes in the
judicial system will be of the most radical
nature. Some leading lawyers In the con-
ventiOn are convinced that the county and
circuit courts should be abolished and the
district court substituted, with full crimi-
nal and civil Jurisdiction. and without any
courts intermediate between IL and the su-
preme court OF appeals.
The government of cities. towns and
counties in all of it's details will be debated
and marked alterations are not improbable.
There is strong and earnest desire to
trench expenditures.
= THE homestead exemption will be at
tackled by those who believe Il Q detriment