The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-18
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION.
Doings Of and Sayings IN and About the
Great Virginia Body

There il determination To liX upon a
plan which will not place the voters and
the people at the mercy of election officers
or local qualifying boards.
The suffrage committee has decided
that the proposed capitation tax OF =
shall go to the public schools. The
committee. 10y vote of - To >,
defeated the proposition To require the
prepayment Of a property tax.
The proposition of Mr. Pollard to strike
the word Christian ont OF the l'lll ol
Rights has called forth general comment
The Bill of Rights committee, 10 whom
this question was referred by thcconycn
ton. have agreed To report in tRvor nl
eliminating the word.
Merchants from various sections oi the
STATE held "a conference Saturday in Rich
mnnd Ia consider a revision oi the state
collection laws and To take some action
relative Ia presenting memorial To the
convention Norfolk. Danyille. Lynch
burg. Roanoke. and Staunton were rep
resented.
Superintendent Helms. OF the pcniten-
tiary. sent to the convention. IN response
To resolution. the following iniorma
ton az to the colorcd convicts IN the
prison. Number of males. - II. can read
and write. 80: illtcrate. 392; attended
public schools. 49,. females, -, can read
and write. g: illiterate, 3}:
There * quite Il contingent OF intluen-
,ial delegates who believe that the u4ti-
mate solution of the suffrage problem
could we'll he in property qualification.
allowing no one 10 vote who has not "a
certain amount of taxable property. per
hans $500. OF course the politicians ana
those with political ambitions could not
face the popular clamor that such action
would inspire But it * quite probable
that such plan will be- proposed before
the fight ends The belief prevails that
if adopted il would not subject the state
To odinm abroad. and that II would
make an absolute basis Tor voting True,
the most uf the ncgroe swould bc dlslran
chised but all those with sufficient prop
erty could exercise the right oi franchise
unite AZ much AZ the white man. Young
white men. on the other hand. would bc
stimulated 10 acquire property
MEASURES INTRODUCED
By Mr. Willis: Toproyidc an ordinauce
Ia prohibit the increase or dimlnutt,e nl
an officers salary during his term 0lS}l
fee
By Mr.. Moore. Republican Declaring
against the principle established by the
Supreme Court in the icllow-scrvant de-
cislOns.
Mr.. Chapman. of Shenandoah.inqurns
into The adyisablity Of requiring all
state and local officers 10 give bonds oI
| guarantee companies.
By Mr.. Quarles: That the committee
| ON Education be and they are hereby
| directed to consider the adyiSability ol
authorizing the school boards OF each
| city of the first class 10 select the text
| books To be- used in its own schools.
Calling on the Auditor of Public Ac.
| counts To furnish the convention state.
ment showing the ASSESSED valued prop
| erty held hv white and cOlOred people m
| the several counties or cities OF the state
in the years 1860. 1870, 1850, lN9o ana
| 1900 Agreed to.
Providing for the printing ut a state
| ment showing the cost OF the judiciary oil
| the state: also one directing the secretary
| Of the convention To- secure from clerks
| of courts certain information wanted
| Both of these resolutions were adopted
The most radical and novel franchise
| scheme yet offered was that Of Mr. \. l.
| Thorn. of Norfolk He proposes To r.
| uuir. the ownership of $500 ~ right e.
vote. but exempts from this requirement
| all soldiers and sons Of soldiers, all pro
iessional men. skilled mechanics, ner
chants and indeed, all classes except IN
skilled laborers. which embraces the most
| of the negroes.
By same: That the Committittee on
| Finance and Taxation il directed to r.
port To this convention no clause for the
new constitution containing any limita
ton upon the taxing power Oi the legis
lature other than providing for separat
ting sources of State and local revenues
and prohibiting more revenue To he rais
ed than il necessary To pay the expense
of the Government economically admin
istered and the interest on the public
debt already created.
Mr.. Pedigo. the Republican member
from Henry To suppress lynching. Mr.
PedigO's resolution authorizes the GOV
ernor TO offer a reward Of $500 for the
capture and conviction of every person
engaged in lynching. The resolution
further provides: and it shall also b'
the duty of the Governor to pay the
lawful heirs of any person murdered 10y
a mob 81 900 out of the treasury OF the
State, and to charge the same To the city
or county in which such murder by lynch
ing shall have been pcrpetrated.
Mr. Barbour: Directing the committee
on finance to inquire into the question al
requiring each city and county To pay III
own criminal expenses.
ALABAMA's CONVENTION.
The terms OF office of Senators anG
Representatives shall he four years. com
mencing on the day alter the genera
election, except as otherwise provided II
the constitution. Whenever vacanc,
shall occur i'm either House the GOvernO
| shall issue writ of election to fill sucl
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