Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-20
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

Ine county superintendent Oh scnoois
was the subject Of warm debate In the
constitutional convention yesterday.
Amendments we're made to the report
OF the ommittee on education, placing
the control of the superintendent OF
public instruction 10 the hands OF the
board OF education aud providing that
after the first term the superintendent
should be elected at the same time as
the governor.
When the section relating to the
power of the board to elect city and
county superintendsnts and to re-
move them for cause came IN, Mr..
Bosz moved to strike out county super
inteudents. He said he thought that
| the Office should be sbolished, or at
least be Left subject to the action OF the
legislature, and not iphexibly fixed In
the constitution. he said that IL was
a notorious fact that county superin.
tendents, under the present system, did
not perform any satisfactory duties.
This amendment created stirring
discussion and Chairman Mcllwaine
said be could give notice that the COM
mittee would not recommend the
abolishmest of county superintendeots.
The advocates of that idea bad just as
we'll get 10 their work right now. He
then proceeded to show that every
effective educational system OF free
schools In the Union had local super
iotendents, and the Uniform opinion OF
expert educators was agreeable to this
view. To abolish the Office would be q
mistake.
DR.. DunaWay said he came to the
convention with hali-formed opinion
that the superintendent OF the county
schools should be abolished. He had
changed his mind after understanding
more ebout it. On examination he lad
found that the trouble was 10 the officer
more than the Office. The present OBJ
lection TO the Office, he thought, would
be largely removed after the new sys-
tenn of selecting the officer was put
into operation.
Mr.. Barbour offered substitute, re-
curing that the State be divided into
districts and superintendent Of these
districts be selected by the State board
OF education. This, be said, would
leave it IN the discretion Of the board to
have large or small districts. Tneee
districts should be the size of county,
or 3 dozen counties, as the board saw
| fit.
DR.. McIlwsiDe said he thought Mr..
Barbour's substitute was decided i'm
provement on ell amendments, and
even on the recommendation OF the
committee.
Mr.. Bosz withdrew bis amendment
sbolishing the Office of county super
Intendent aud accepted the substitute
of Mr.. Barbour.
Mr.. Petit, of Fluvanns, submitted
an amendment providing for the cleo
ZION OF county superintendent by the
people. The subject went over without
| finsl &C ion.
After speech by Mr.. Glass 10 behalf
# the committees report, and reply
by Mr.. Pettitt, the convention adjourn
ed until today.
Delegate Joseph @. Wysor, OF Pulaski,
concluded bis argument In favor OF his
plan on the suffrsRe question before the
conference last night. The convention
adjourned until tonight, when Mr..
Rrsxton will present and advocate bis
plan.
1t leaked QUO last night that the signers Of
| the m jority suffrage report will hold con.
| ference this afternoon, with view OF
modifying their plan. II Is said that when the
agreement was reashed 1t was understood
thst some OF the members were not satisfied
i L 49, -. -. I'D ruadf ha
| right to advocate changes later on.
The judiciary committee Is again at sea.
| There was three hours' conference yester-
day evening to shape up the plan which had
| been drafted, but an agreement was not
reached. Another effort will be made today
| 10 reconcile differences so that report may
| be made. Elk Gov. Cameron secured the
| adoption OF an amendment with reference TO
| the jurisdiction Of the supreme Court. and
this encouraged Mr. Thorn to renew his eight
TO omit the section requiring the Supreme
Court to give brief reason In writing for re-
fusiDg to grant an appeal. After 9 long de-
bate the amendment was lost. Several men,
bers, including Chairman Hunton, indicated
sections that they would oppose on the noor.
Mr.. Meredith made an earnest and effective
plea for one more sessions to Try and reach an
harmonious agreement.
The oyster question engaged the attention
of the fnsnce committee for three hours
without decisive acton, and the date for
bearing railrosd people with reference to
Judge Hsrrison's taxation ordinance was
changed to Tuesday, December 10, at 4 p. m.
The committee on cities and towns spout
some time considering Judge Brookes's
scheme Of organization. The section relating
to the veto power OF mayors WAS sdopte1;
the term OF Office Of city seIgeants was fixed at
four years, aud tia tenure Of office OF city
treasurers was uLder discussion ct adjourn