The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-23
CONSTITUTIONAL
WV CONVENTION.
Doirgs Of and Sayings In and About tho
Great Virginia Body.

few changes from the Mason Bill oil
Rights.
The record in the contested election
case of Treat W. Gregory has been re-
ccived from the printer. The case VIII be
taken up 10y the committee IA soon az
counsel have had time TO examine the
| record.
The nrescnt electorate will not pass ON
the new Constitution. The prepayment
of a poll tax of s. six months before elec-
tion day, il one Of the features OF the sui
frage qualifications agreed upon by the
| Suffrage committee.
Clerk !. y. Rrenaman has added up
the figures received showing the amounts
of the city. county and district levies for
| school purposes. With some seventeen
| counties missing the aggregate amount
| i in round numbers about SIcO,OOO.
Some of the most influential Republic
| cans in Virginia are heartily in iavor OF
| the convention adopting measures 10
| eliminate the negro vote Judge Lewis
is quoted rs saying " would rather he
disl 'anchised myself than not TO see some
measure adopted which will give assur-
ancc ofpure election methods in Virginia.
81 would guess there will be a thousand
speeches made before the Constitution IL
finally adopted" said n delegate who
admit led he would want To express his
views on nearly every important question
that will come before the convention.
I'VE will be- here until Christmas unless
the committees hurry up and bring some
thing before the convention 10 open the
| food gates OF OratOry.
Many of the state officials are stirred
up over the report that the Committee
on reduction OF Expenses willrccommend
| the abolition OF several positions. The
committee will report in favor OF doing
| away with the offices of l.ieutenant-Gov-
ernor. auditor. railroad commission and
| register OF the land Office and will
| recommend that the clerks OF the Senate
| and House of Representatives be paid
salp- lies only for the time the Legislature
| j. in : ssion.
Mr.. Delarnette. of Caroline, former
| Assistant District Attorney, was one OF "A
| parry which included several Democrats
in the Senate chamber last night. Mr..
| DeJarne. e declared he favored having
| the convention proclaim the Constitution
| without submitting il to the people. Il
! am aux to say he said, that If YOU
| put the Constitution 10 popular vote,
| there is danger of these tIic"-grabb'ng
| Republicans and Other uniting To defeat
| it. | want the negro eliminated from the
| electorate | will vote for any decent
Cons citation you may submit. - Rich.
Dispatch.
| Senator Daniel submitted his suffrage
| clause to the Committee on Suffrage Sa'
| urlay. The resolution imposes poll tax
| and property or educational qualitca-
| tons. The voter must have been a resi-
| dent of the Stat two years; of the county
or city one year and Of the precint thirty
| davs. He must hold $500 worth of prop
,r,v. or be the son or husband OF the
| owner Of that much From these re-
uui ements are exempted e'l who served
| in war and their sons, except those draw
| ing pensions or receiving salaries or sti-
| ponds 'Om official persons. Persons now
| go years oiage are also exempted. PrOyis-
| ion is made for local boards, who shall
exempt from the property qualification
all persons who can establish high char
acter in their community, and are pos
sessed OF sufficient education to read and
write The plan seems to meet with
general favor.
The word Christian will remain in
| the Virginia Bin of Rights. This was the
decision Of the committee by vote OF
| to f. No subject which has been brought
TO the attention of the convention. or
any other legislative body in this State
| for the past quarter of a century, has M
| tracted so much attention. From the
| time Mr.. Garland Pollard introduced
| his resolution in the convention, provid-
| inc for striking ont this word there has
| been a perfect storm Of protests coming
| from all parts of the Commonwealth.
| Hon. John GOOde, the president, made
| an eloquent speech in which he warned
| the committee against taking the word
out of the constitution. "lf you do,
said he. you might as well adjourn and
| 90 home. The Constitution which will
| be framed will be overwhelmingly defeat
ed at the polls" Mr.. GoOde said he had
received protests from all par ) OF Viz
ginia against striking blow at the Bill
| of Rights, which had stood the test for
more than 125 years without word be-
ing said against the religious rights OF
anyone or of any sect.
MEASURES INTRODUCED.
Rev. DR.. McIlwane offered n resolution
W it'll view to me ling divorce lawsmore
| stringent
Mr.. Wise: Authorizing any city to ap-
prOpriate funds for nOn-sectarian schools
of technology or schools OF Industrial
training.
| That no church orreligiOus association
shall have power TO hold property, real
or personal except as a place for public
| worship, residence of minister, bishop
or other officer of the church, or furniture
therefor. or e. a burial ground or for lit
erary or educational purposes.
| That no teacher, State, county, town
| ship, or district school officer shall be in
terested in the sale, proceeds, or profits
f, of any book, apparatus, or furniture, or
material or supplies of any kind, used, or
| to be used, in any school in the State,
| with which such officer or teacher may
| be connected, under such penalties as may
be provided 10y he.General Assembly.
| Mr.. Alex. Hamilton: To amend Article
| Y Section of the Constitution, so in ef-
feet to prohibit the taxing of bonds OF
| cor pOration where the capital stock OF
such concern is assessed for such purpose.
| The amendment also seeks to prohibit
double taxation in any foim by the State,
| local governments, or by corporations.
The Governor shall az soon as practi-
cable appoint three suitable persons,
learned in the law, as commissioners,
whose duty it shall be to prepare: and
draft such general laws as ore contem-
plated in this Constitution, and such
other laws as shall be necessary and
proper to put in operation the provisions
| thereof, and as may be appropriate to
| confirm the general statutes of the State
| to this Constitution; and said commits
i e. Oh r,rr aanf tho aama W hon uPp-