Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-04
THE CONVENTION.

| submission oil the constitution. Clhr-
ence J. Campbell, Of Amherst, made q
strong speech 10 favor OF the submission
OF the constitution to the present cleo.
torste, and ex-Congressma James w.
Marshall followed 10 a speech Of only o
few sentences, 10 which he said he, too,
was 10 favor OF submission.
Mr.. Campbell declared that the life
Of the democratic party depended on
submitting the new constitution to the
vote of the whole body of voters 10 VIZ
GINA. He said that unless the party
pledge made at Norfolk was religiously
kept they could not carry Amherst for
lhe newly nominated democratic ticket,
and that the party would 90 down 10
defeat In the State.
Mr.. Campbell's speech was entirely
from party standpoint. He opposed
voting on the question of suffrage at
all until the constitution was framed.
He closed bis speech by telling the dele.
gates not to imperil the democratic par
ty by these open violations OF q sacred
pledge.
Judge Marshall was the next speak
err, but owing to indispositlon delivered
only small portion of his address. He
said he did not take stock iD predictions
Of disaster to the democratic party and
did not believe that proclamation oil
the constitution would imperil the
chances OF Montague, Willard and An
derson. He could not help taking Q
whack at Col. Summers In passing, and
referred to him as that political accident
who sits behind bin.
AS to the political acrobat who kept
saying here the other day Keep quie' (;
there Ia funeral going on can only
say that on next November he will be
the chief victim OF one Of the biggest
and most imposing political funerals
that this commonwealth ever witnessed
If be is still above ground on that event
full day"
Mr.. Wysor arose and secured the
floor 10 order to conclude the debate 10
favor of his resolution, but yielded for
a motion for committee to rise.
The usual flow of memorials on sub
jects OF the liquor traffic, appropriations
TO sectarian institutions and homestead
exemptions were presented and re-
ferred,
The committee on reduction OF ex.
penses made the following report: We
respectfully commend to the commit
tee on taxation aud finance that IL pre-
pare an ordinance requiring the board
OF sinking fund commissioners to retire
or refund all bonds OF the Stlte bearing
interest at the rates of 6 and 4 per
cent. before said board retires any ad.
ditional bonds of the State bearing q
less rate OF interest, except In such
cases where any contract or agreement
may prevent the retiring or funding oil
said 6 or 4 per cent. bonds.
The committee on reduction OF ex-
penses respectfully recommend that,
should the convention adopt the pro-
posed plan Of selecting different sub
| jecis of taxation for State and county
and city purposes, the criminal
expense should be borne by the
respective counties aud cities of the
State, but should the convention fail to
adopt such a system OF taxation, We
respectfully recommend that the ex-
penses OF oil misdemeanor trials be
borne by the respective counties and
cities, and that the expenses OF all
felony trials be borne by the State.
The committee on reduction OF ex-
penses Is DOW graphing with the prob
lem OF how to reduce the expenses of
the State hospitals and institutions for
the deaf, dumb, and blind. Figures
submitted showed that there were
some 300 inmates 10 these institutions
last year, and that the total cost to the
State was $4,000. Mtsrs. Withers,
Crsmond, and Garnet were made q
subcommittee TO secure Information as
10 the cost per capita OF inmates of such
Institutions in other States.
The number OF terms and manner of
selection Of district officers engaged the
attention OF the committee on the
county government, but the subject
Was not concluded.
The auditor OF public accounts, treas
urer, anti secretary OF the Common
wealth will continue to be elected by
the legislature, unless the committee
on executive department reconsiders
its action OF yesterday, or is reversed
by the convention. The committee
yesterday refused by the vote OF FIVE
to two to recommend the change to
election by the people. Only Messrs.
Fairfax and Marshall favored the
change, while Messrs. Cameron. Han
cock, Flood, Hooker, and Blair voted
against IL.
Mr.. Blair voted to elect the secretary
OF The Commonwealth by the people,
but not either OF the other officers.
Messrs, Glass, Bsrhsm, Walker and
Lowell, who were absent, will be al.
lowed to vote on Saturday, but this will
not change the result. The committee
will probably not make any recommeu-
dation as TO public printer, that not be-
ing constitutional Office, The subject
was informally discussed 10 executive
session, but no action was taken.
Tue committee on public institutions
and prisons yesterday further discussed
the amount OF the appropriation to be
made for the enlargement OF the peni- |
tertiary. Several members, led by Mr.. |
Hardy, seemed to desire reconsidera.
ton of the limit being fixed as high as
1850, 900. No vote was taken. This |
committee left yesterday afternoon for |
StaunIon to inspect the State institu.
tons there.
The finance committee spent nearly |
four hours last night hearing repr essn-
tsiives OF benevolent and fraternal or.
ders in opposition to the plan to tax
the property of such organic atoms.
Strong addresses we're made by Grand |
Master Northern, OF the Old Fellows;
Mr.. J. B. Blanks, Of Petersburg. ana
Messrs. ID. G. Richardson. E. Wiley |