Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-06-24
THE STATE CONVENTION.

question. The resolutions favor con-
tinuation of the present suffrage for
two years and then the voters be re.
auired to read and write and after q
period OF five years every voter shall
own $500 worth OF property. They
also oppose excessive poll tax &c.
Mr.. Pollard introduced O resolution.
providing that the convention should
declare what uses may be lawfully
made OF money to secure political nomi'
nations and elections In Virginia aud
prohibiting corporations from using
money In elections on penalty OF for
letting their charters.
Rev. Richard McIlwaine presented
resolution designed to purify elections
by providing that all elections held in
Virginia, whether state or federal, shall
be by viva voce vote.
A resolution was offered by ,sMr.
Keezle instrueting the finance commit
tee to report measures to collect taxes
OF the invisible wealth of the State.
Mr.. Meredith presented q resolution
regarding suffrage, providing that the
voter shall be able to read any section
of the constitution OF the State, except
such persons as shall have bonorably
served 10 the army or navy OF the Con-
federate States or shall have served in
the army or navy of the United States
and been discharged from such service.
A State poll tax OF $500 is also provided
for as prerequisite to voting.
MIR. Meredith also offered q provision
l. 10 t.Araaatnn he off ntanau nf
the public school system. 1t provided
for applying in the support OF schools
the interest on the literary fund, two
thirds OF the State ospitation tax and
az annual tax upon the property OF the
State, the amount OF such
tax being left blank 10 the resolution.
1t is provided that there shall be sepa-
rate schools for the races, but without
injustice to either class.
He also presented plan for reform.
ing the judiciary, providing for five
Supreme Court judges, circuit courts,
justices of the peace and police justices
10 the cities. The Supreme Court is to
consist OF FIVE members, the present
Judges to fill out their terms for which
they were elected; judges to be elected
for Is years. Special court of appeal
are to be composed OF one Judge OF the
Supreme Court and three circuit
Judges. The Circuit Courts shall hold
not less than four terms yearly. The
county courts are entirely abolished.
Justices OF the peace are to be appoint
ed by the Circuit Court. The resolu-
ton provides for the appointment OF a
board of county accountants, which
shall meet monthly.
Other resolutions were presented to
reduce the number Of jurors from eight
to twelve and abolishiDg the unaDimity
rule 10 civil cases; provides for the sub
mission OF the new constitution to the
whole people Of the state; TO reform
system of taxation, and to prohibit rail.
road and steamship companies from
issuing free passes.
Mr.. Walton Moore introduced a res-
solution to appoint standing commit
tee OF eleven members on the reduc-
ton OF expenses of the government.
The convention authorized the com.
mittee on privileges and elections to
print the ties imony 10 the contest in-
sugursted by Morgan Treat against
Judge Roger Gregory, or as much OF 1t
as was deemed necessary. He said the
estimated cost OF printing the entire
testimony was between 5000 and $500.
ATTACKED BY STRIKERs.-.The South.
ern Railways shops 10 Columbia, 8. O.,
we're attacked about $3.50 o'clock yes-
terdsy morning by mob OF several
score of men. No damage to property
was attempted, except to break throu9h
the high fence surrounding the yards.
The strikers were after the non-union
lsborers, and made for Car In which
20 were sleeping. A man whose name
is said to be Myers was on guard. He
fred both barrels of his gun into the
crowd, receiving himself 8 .32-caliber
bullet In his forehead, but the skull as
not penetrated. The mob fred great
many shots into the car in which the
men were sleeping. None Of the nom
was wounded, but after they
had been dragged out OF the Car they
were pretty roughly handled. Several
OF the strikers were hurt. The nom
union men were marched up the railroad
track several miles and ordered to travel
north. Later all but one OF these men
we're brought back to The city oy force
sent out from the shops. No further
trouble is anticipated for the present, at
east az a force OF police sufficient to |
nreyept any overt act on the part of the
, rikers is guarding the railroad CON-
Dsny's property.