The Washington times., 1901-07-25
AN INVESTIGATION ASKED.
A Virginia Delegates Enquiry as
to Past Expenditures.
To Go Over the Civil Contingent
Fund Accounts for the Last Twen-
ty Years-A New Suffrage Bill En-
bodying Many Previous Features.


ty Year.-A New Suffrage Bill EN-
bodying Many Previous Features.
| RICHMOND, July PA resolution in
troduced by Delegate O'Flaherty today
| precipitated a little debate and gave in
| terest to TIE proceedings of the Constitu-
| tional Convention. 1t was to require a
| statement of the expenditures of the civil
| contingent fund of $4,000 a year by the
| Governors for the last twenty years. The
| resolution was as follows:
| Resolved, That the Auditor of Public
| Accounts be instructed to furnish the
| convention, as soon as possible, state
ments showing the amount OF money APP
propriated annually to what is known as
| the civil contingent fund for the last
| twenty years; and also an itemized state
| ment showing the. disbursement of the
| same during The same period. and for
what purposes. also a statement showing
what appropriations have been made by
| the Legislature for the same period for
| the repair. Improvement. or maintenance
! of the executive mansion. or for furnish
ing the same, or for any other purpose
connected with the maintenance of the
Governors mansion or grounds
Mr.. OF1aherty asked immediate con-
agreed to, and. the resolution was adopt
e1. Then Mr.. Hancock of Chesterfield,
asked for a reconsideration, Mr.. Thorn. of
Norfolk, desiring to hear the resolution
reported.
Mr.. O'Flaherty made the point that it
could not be reconsidered, as no division
had been asked on announcement of the
decision by the President. The point was
sustained and formal motion was made
to reconsider by Mr.. Hancock, which was
agreed to on roll calI-i4 to 3S.
Mr.. O'Flaherty was recognized. He Of
fcred the resolution for the purpose of
securing information to enable him to vote
on the question of the contingent fund.
He did not desire to impugn the actions
of anyone. The people had a right to
know for what purpose their money had
been spent He was not seeking to dig up
the past with a sinister motive. We had
no Anarchists or nihilists to be watched
nor crowned heads to defend.
Mr.. Cameron had voted no, but he de-
sired TO change his vote. He saw no
reason why the acts of the public ser
wants of Virginia should not be investi-
gated.
Mr.. Meredith, of Richmond, was opposed
to the resolution. He was not disposed
to cover up wrongdoing. II there was
any. If the resolution were proper he
would vote for it, but some of the Gov
ernors during the past twenty years We're
dead, and it would be hard for any per-
son to recollect all transactions for that
period. The resolution was unfair. He
moved to refer 1t to the Committee on
the Executive Department.
Mr.. Cameron: Il hope not. / am on
that committee, and may be investi-
gated
Mr. Meredith: MY object was to de-
feat the resolution. 1 withdraw the mo-
ton
The vote was then taken on the resolu-
ton, and it was agreed ro-ayes, A; noes,
The convention was called to order at
was offered by the Rev Dr. w. Il. L.
Smith. of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Hancock presented resolution
empowering the Privileges and Elections
districts that every county and city
should be represented.
MIR. Hancock also presented two reso-
lrtlons-one fixing the poll-tax at 81 80
an the other to instruct the Suffrage
ConlElittee not to report property quail
bc zion as prerequisite to voting.
NJ " atson, OF Nottoway, presented a
suffrage bill. the features of which are:
Two years residence in the State, one in
the county; poll-taX and all taxes to be
paid by April /: ownership of $3.50 worth
%
property; treasurers are to afford tax
payers an opportunity to pay taxes by
visiting precincts prior to election Ex-
emptions are made of all persons who
have done military service and their sons
and persons over sixty years of age at
time of adoption Of present constitution.
MI. Cameron introduced resolution
empowering the Governor to exercise the
right of veto of any feature of law or
bill without impairing the validity of
other portions of d measure.
Mr.. Hatton presented a resolution pro- |
viding for the indexing and codifying of
the laws of the General Assembly once
every twelve years.
Mr.. Hubbard presented resolution re-
citing the fact that property was not
properly returned for taxation and pro-
viding for escheating to Commonwealth
in case of death of owner of property NOT
listed for taxation.
Mr.. Withers from the Committee on
Reduction OF Expenses. submitted his re-
port, explaining the contents.
Cnalrnan Nithers. of the Committee on |
deduction of Expenses, today submitted
a second report, this time paying atten-
tion to the Legislature and the legislative
department. The report recommends |
many reductions. Chairman Withers. |
without going into details. explained the |
nature OF the report. and under the rules |
II went to the Committee on Legislative
Department. for consideration and en- |
dorsement.
The Judiciary Committee today decided |
that the places for holding terms of the |
supreme Court OF Appeals should not be |
changed.
The convention adjourned at 12:5o |
o'clock.
Col: Joseph Button this afternoon ten |
dered his resignation to Governor Tyler |
TO take effect at once. In his letter Colo |
mel Button states that his duties as sec |
retary of the Constitutional Convention |
VIII preclude the possibility of his at |
tending the Buffalo Exposition with the 1
stan, and he therefore resigns in order
that the ranks may be full on that oc-
casion.
The resignation will be accepted by
Tyler. but as yet no selection Of |
his successor has been made