Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-23
Investigation Of Virginia's Contingent
Fund is Completed.
RUM0RS OF UGLY DEVELOPMENTS
Chairman Glass Of Committee
Guarded in His Remarks.
CONVENTIONS WORK TODAY
pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, August 23.-The con-
sttutional convention began it's session to-
day promptly at noon, President Goode
presiding. Prayer was offered by Delegate
McIlwaine Eighty-two members were
present.
Delegate Orr of Lee county, by request,
presented a memorial from the teachers
institute of that county protesting against
a division of the school fund.
President Goode laid before the conven-
tion five communications from Auditor
Marye, containing information relative to
the amount Of the taxes on real estate and
polls paid by whites and blacks, and the
amount returned delinquent by treasurers;
the number of liquor licenses granted in
each county and city; the assessed value of
all private corporations; population and
value of holdings by counties and cities
and the contingent fund report.
A yOluminous Report.
The contingent report is quite volumi-
nous, covering between $50 and 200 pages
of legal cap paper. The letter transmit
ting the report was brief and was formal.
When the letter was read, Mr.. O'Flaherty
moved that the report be referred to the
committee on executive department of
The seal of the report was not broken and
the paper was so referred.
Immediately after the reference of the re-
port Colonel Cameron, on motion of Mr..
Hamilton, was granted leave of absence
for one day. The committee will meet to-
| morrow morning to take up the matter.
Senator Glass of Lynchburg is second on
the committee, and he will preside over the
deliberations of the committee tomorrow
morning
President Goode was requested to be al
lowed by the press to examine the report.
He replied by saying that it was now in the
control of the committee though he had
no objection to the paper being made pub
lie.
Colonel Cameron, the chairman, was next
asked. and his reply was that it was the
province of the committee to say whether
it should be given to the papers, and he
declined to allow an examination.
Report Kept IL Secret.
Senator Glass, who will preside over the
committee tomorrow morning, said he was
not prepared to authorize making the re-
port public, whatever may be contained
in the report is a state secret, with the
chances favoring it's consideration in ex-
ecutive session. There are whisperings
that the report contains extraordinary ex-
penditureS, one of the items being for
about $40 by governor, who went to
Washington to secure the appointment Of
relative to lucrative position.
Committee on Education.
The committee on education met at 0
o'clock this morning in executive session,
remaining behind closed doors until noon.
The questions before the committee were
whether county school superintendent
were necessary and the mode of their
lection The committee has decided prac-
tically that no appropriations shall be
made for any institution that is not wholly
under state control, an exception being
made as to William and Mary College,
and providing for carrying out existing
contracts.
The meeting on Wednesday next is for
the consideration Of the question of the
composition of the state board of educa-
tiOn and the advisabilty of allowing couu-
ties and cities to elect superintendents of
schools
The judiciary committee was scheduled
to meet this morning at 10 o'clock in the
senate chamber, but Chairman Hunton,
after waiting nearly an hour, could not
muster quorum.
In Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Petit of F1uvanna moved that the
convention resolve itself into committee of
the whole which was agreed to, and Mr..
Turnbull of Brunswick was called to the
chair. The preamble and bill of rights was
taken up for consideration.
Mr.. O'Flaherty of Warren was recognized
and he began a speech in support of the
Wysor amendment to the committee report
providing for submitting the work of the
convention to the full unabridged cleo
torate supporting the amendment. 1t ap-
peared to him some of the newspapers were
endeavoring to force sentiment in favor of
proclaiming the constitution. 'If the peo-
pie are not allowed the right" declared Mr.
OFlaherty. Ito vote upon the ratification
Of the constitution the democratic party
will transfer the reins of government to
the republicans" He urged the convention
to propose" not proclaim" the constitu-
ton.
| Capt. Parks of Page supported the ma
jOrity report of the preamble committee,
which had struck out the long recital of
the misdeeds of George III.