The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-03

The suffrage committee agreed to drop
for the present the understanding
clause. and considered n 5000 property
provision, with exemption on account al
military service. The poll-tax require
ment was passed for the present, hut
there is very decided opposition to it.
The convention decided not to take n
recess Many OF the most prominent
members Of the convention believe that
the heat is not the only reason OF the
proposed recess. There's politics in it.
they contend. Gov. Tyler thinks il will
be better for the convention TO remain in
session. This, he believes, will be less
hurtful To the Democrats in this cam
paign than to leave matters in suspense.
The argument in the contest by Mr..
Morgan Treat for the seat of Judge Roger
| Gregory was resumed before the commit
tee on privileges. Mr.. st. John Coalter,
attorney for Judge Gregory, concluded
his argument. His associate, Mr.. Hor-
ace Buchanan. occupied considerable
time. EX-Representatiye X. I. Thorp
closed in a strong review of the case,
claiming from legal standpoint that
| there was no way out of the case but 10
award the seat to Mr.. Treat
The report presented by the suffrage
committee. and which seems to meet with
favor among the greatest number OF its
| members. was given out. The features
are the prepayment OF capitatiOn tax
OF 81 30. and all capitatiOn taxes assess
ed against the voter Those who I'M
derstand and cah reasonablyexplain any
section of the Constitution OF the nited
States or the State of Virginia can vote
In lieu of this qualification, the voter
must pay taxes on $500 OF real or per
sOnal property. The only certainty seems
| to be upon small capitatiOn tax and
an understanding clause Of some nature,
most likely after .he South Carolina law.
The more thoughtful of the members
| are beginning now to think of the result
OF the election at which the result OF the
convention is voted upon by the people.
| One OF them said that he was not az GER
| tain as were some of his colleagues that
| the new Constitution would be ratified
| at the polls. 1--WE must proceed with the
| utmost care" he said. 81 believe that a
hastily prepared suffrage clause would be
| sufficient to defeat the Constitution. !
can think OF many things, which if done
improperly. would cause the people
| to turn down the Constitution.
| And do not think the Constitu-
| ton will be submitted to the electorate
as at present qualified" 1t is thought
that a majority of the members believe
that the convention has the power to
| proclaim the Constitution without sub
mission At present the majority OF the
| convention seems to favor submitting the
| Constitution 10 the new electorate.
| The proposition for recess from the
Sd to the Doth Of August, with one
| week. pay. was rejected by vote OF 80
| to 80. 1t is not believed that the strug
gle over adjournment is yet at an end.
| The advocates of adjournment seem de-
| termined to win, and il they gain new
recruits will promptly renew the fight.
Whether the convention takes a recess
or not. it appears to be generally CON
| coded that its work will not be submitted
| to the people at the GubernatOrial cleo
| ton in November. Some OF the ablest
| men in the State insist that with 100
candidates for the Legislature, Governoi
| Lieutenant-Governor and AttOrney-Gen
| eral TO be elected in November that is the
| best time for the submission of the Con-
| stitution. On the other hand, it is point
| I'd out that if many of the radical meas
ures prepared be embodied in the instru-
ment, not only may the Constitution be
| jeopardized, but possibly the Democratic
| ticket Some few of the most prominent
men in the convention favor adopting
| franchise measure and adiourning.
MEASURES INTRODUCED.
Providing for purity in elections. 1t
inhicts heavy penalty for ballot-bo1
stufiing, altering poll-books, etc.
MIR. Withers presented the most impor
| tant anti-corporate proposition yet sub
mitted to the convention. 1t provides
( for corporation commission OF three, to
be elected by the people. This body is
given a general supervision of all COM
mon carriers and the regulation OF trail
| fic. 1t is permitted to have access to the
| books of such common carriers and other
| corporations
By Mr.. BristOw: |. That each qualified
| voter in this State, who cannot read and
| write or is otherwise disqualified for be
| ing able to read and properly mark his
ballot intelligently, is hereby invested
with full power to select some one to do
| this for him.
2. Each voter shall deposit his ballot
| i'm the ballot-bOx in person and no other
person shall be allowed 10 touch said bal
| lot in its passage from the voters hands
into the bollot-box.
Mr.. Bristow also offered resolution
on the liquor question, by request OF Rev.
+. J. Richardson, pastor of the First Bap-
/ fist church, of Saluda, Middlesex county.
Mr.. Barbour of Culpeper, offered the
| following. by request, which was re-
| ferred:
"Whereas the present system Of licens-
| ing the sale of intoxicating liquors has
been found to be defective; and whereas
the principle of local self-gOyernment
| should be recognized as operative in each
and every civil division of the Common
wealth; therefore, in order to mitigate
and, as far as possible, remove the de-
fects of the present licensing system and
| the evils accruing therefrOm, and to Sc
cure to the people the fullest measure OF
autonomy in this matter.
Resolved, First-That the county and
circuit courts be invested with authority
to grant licenses for the sale OF intoxicat-
ing liquors only beyond the limits ofcities
| and Incorporated towns, and then only
upon petition of a majority of the legally
registered voters of the magisterial dis
trict in which the applicant for such IL
cense shall propose to carry on the sale
of such liquors.
Second-That the governing body OF
cities and incorporated towns beinyested
with authority to grant license for the
sale of Intoxicating liquorslonly upon pc
tition of a majority of the legally quail
! fed voters of the precinct, ward or town
in which applicant for such license shall
propose to carry on the sale OF such