The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-08

and that of 1851, We must be impressed by
the similarity of the provisions in both of
these instruments.
If possible the General Assembly, 1t is
urged, should be relieved from the burden
of private legislation especially the grant
ing of charters to private corporations II
has been relieved Of much special legiSla-
ton in other directions, why not in thiS2
1t is also suggested that the time of hold
ing its sessions should be changed In
this respect It might follow the example
of North Carolina and change that time
from late in November to some day dur
ing the first week in January and limit the
session to sixty days instead of ninety
uaYS. with the power OF extending II a
further period. not exceeding thirty days.
with the concurrence of two-thiTdS of the
members Of each house.
There remain four other articles OF
the present constitution of Virginia to
consider The judicial department.
which Is Article 81, is the next to be com
neDted upon The agitation for a refor-
nation Of the judicial system has been
most pToJTacted and persistent 1t Is con-
coded neither the organization nor Juris-
uctlon OF the Supreme Court of Appeals
should be inteTfeTed with.
The other tribunals are the circuit
court the corporation court. and the
county court There are twenty circuit
courts including the chancery court and
the court of law and equity Of Richmond,
and the court of law and chancey of Nor
1oik- each having 4 Judge There are
about eighteen corporation courts and
Judges and nearly 100 county courts aad
judges There Is Commonwealth < at
torney for each county and city. There
IS no uniformity OF suggestion a $ to what
changes should be made in these courts
County ORGANIZATIONS is the subject
OF Article VII. This Is topic that has
caused much discussion and difference of
opinion. 1t is claimed there is a multi
Jude OF petty officials IL Virginia with
which North Carolina Is not afflicted. The
truth is that, with the exception of the
corporation and county judges and Com
mo- 0-n-r.4 "a r.
can give her Roland for NirEinia's every
/ oliver II is further Contended that Viz
gina 5 county taxes are more than twice
as great as those of North Carolina. The
fact IS that If eliminate from these taxes
the amount Virginia pays in excess Of
what North Carolina does for her public
schools: for her bridges and roads. for
the maintenance of her poor and for sal
aries and allowances To the county court
Judges and Commonwealth : attorneys
the county expenses of Virginia are less
than those of North Carolina.
For stat. purposes our constitution
creates no more officials than that Of
NoTJh carolina and fixes the salary OF
but one. the Governor. If we have more,
than are necessary or if those who have
are paid too much. the General Assembly
Is responsible, and not the constitution
- Education Is the title Of Article VIII
me constitution OF lc5l has no such arti-
I Gle It was left TO tie General Assembly
exclusively TO legislate upon this sub
5ect- to establish free schools under such
At'tN7 anu AFzs t4itltl'ElS dS II might from
time 10 time prescribe for their Tqainte7-
3Dce and government.
w hile those clamOTinE for reform have
expressed great dissatisfaction with our
/ free school system, they have failed to
specify IN what respect it should be re-
modelled They viii hardly champion a
smaller levy for its maintenance It can
! not be supposed they viii favor a GiviS-
/ ION of the school fund between the races
/ IN proportion TO the amount each coHtri-
! butes thereto The only remedy that has
( as Yet been suggested IS 10 abolish the
| Office OF county superintendent of schools
Taxation and Finance is the sub
/ Jet of Article Y At the session Of 1909
I 1900 of IT, General Assembly an amend
ment striking out section of this article.
imposing tax for the privilege Of taking
and catching oysters. was proposed for
| submission to the people This oyster
question has been a much vcxed CF.e in
Virginia for many years It viii doubt
less engage the attention OF the Ceuven-
ton other methods OF taxation are also
complained Of It is claimed that too
much property is exempted and that pri-
vate corporations are subjected To double
tax It IS also recognized that our sys-
tenn Of assessing property fails to secure
the benefit Of the fundamental principle
Of taxation that 1t shall be equal and uni