Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-07-29
THE STATE CONVENTION.

Az stated Ia Saturdays Gazette mr.
Withers on that day 10 the Constitu-
tional Convention presented bis report
on the reorganization OF the judiciary
system. According to its provisions,
the county and circuit court systems OF
the State are entirely abolished, and
one entirely new Is recommended. The
Office OF attorney for the commonwealth
ia also abolished. The State is to be
divided into 20 circuits, and the judges
who will preside over these shall take
the place of the present county ana
circuit judges.
They are to be paid $4,000 per an
mum and $3.50 per year for expenses in
| stead Of mileage, as at present. Eacn
circuit shall have prosecuting attor-
new. whose salary shsll be $500 per
wear. There shall be not less than three
terms of court in each circuit per year.
The abolition of corporation courts 10
cities of less than 1850 inhabitants is
recommended and the duties put upon
the circuit court. The recommendation
az to Judges 90 into effect Jan. l, 1914
| Bristol. Buena Vista, Charlottesville,
Fredericksburg, Radiord aud WIZ
chester lore their corporation courts
under the provision. X Is PROVIDED
that there shall be but one clerk IN
counties where there are now two.
The report reduces the number OF court
officials as follows:
Eight corporation judges.
Eighty.Hve county judges.
One hundred and eight corporation
and county court clerks.
One hundred and eight common
wealth's attorneys, all the present cir
cult Judges, and instead there shall be
20 iudeee, 20 oommonwealth's at
torneys and 100 clerks.
Colonel Summers, the republican
member from Washington county,
presented another resolution providing
an official oath to be taken by all public
officials elected in the State. including
United States congressman and SEN
atois, setting forth that they have mol
directly or indirectly either used or
permitted to be used any money or
iiouor or other valuable things. and
have not made any promise Of appoint
ment 10 order to secure election.
Mr.. Dunaway offered petition from
members of the Dover Baptist Assoola'
ton against appropriations to sectarisn
institutions.
Other resolutions related 10 amend
menls and were not OF an interesting
character.
When Mr.. Withers presented bis re
port from the committee on reduction
OF expenses Messrs. Crismond and Will
lis stated that they had not signed IL
and would state their reasons when the
{ report came before the committee oil tht
whole. The report was laid on thu
, the table and ordered printed. Mr.
Withers went before the committee OF
executive department on Saturday
and, as chairman OF the reduction o
/ expenses committee, explained full
} the reasons for merging the offices G
register OF land Office and public
printing with that OF secretary OF th'
commonwealth, and the second audi
, tors Office with the first auditors. ID,
, gave the duties performed by each OF
, ficer az related to the committee by tn
, officers themselves, and stated that tn
, committee estimated that saving
|, s25, 900 year would oe effected direct
|, ly or Indirectly by the changes suggest
ed In all the offices.
; Il seems not impossible that rea
, estate qualification will be the chic
, feature OF the suffrage clause OF the nev
, constitution. 1t is understood that pos
, sibly seven OF the members OF the sui
Z frsge committee are committed TO thi
plan. 1t 10 further stated by one OF tn
! committeeman advocating a real estst
qualification, that more OF the mem
bers favor real estate qualification
$500 than favor any other single plan
II is not the wish OF the advocates oil
, real estate qualification that there b
sny educational requirement. This lat
ter is regarded as q mskeshift so far q
it would be effective la eliminating tb
negro vote. The negroes are rapidl
. learning to read aud write. But IL is
fact that there are few negroes who owl
land to the value OF $500.