The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-13
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION.
DOings Of and Sayings in and About the
Great Virginia Body.

4 movement is in progress To make the
| school ace between and IL years.
| TWAS recommended that theGOvernor'
salary remain at $1,000 and that he be-
I ineligible tn succeed himself.
| Some exchanges are afraid that the
| convention will give us too much constl-
| tuition by putting into il special legisla-
ton that properly belongs To the General
Assembly.
The convention adopted resolution
asking AuditOrOi Public Accounts Mayre
for information in connection with EN-
bezzIements and other losses sustained
| by the Commonwealth.
At meeting of the committee on bill ot
rights and preamble II was agreed To
strike out of the bill of rights, IA incor-
porated in the new Constitution, the
clause containing the word christian.
The franchise committee OF the conven-
ton, it is said, will make report to the
convention within the next week or ten
DAYS Ii il said that majority have
agreed that n poll tax of not less than
| - will bc required of all voters.
An interesting incident of the day was
a letter from Col John ). MOsby, now IN
Washington city. to Delegate Albert
| Fletcher. of WarrentOn, inclOsing n check
un Washington bank for $40 for the
benefit of Walter Moncure, the barefoot
boy who was elected page last week.
The committee seems inclined to adopt
Rev. DR.. Runaway y resolution prohibit
ing the granting of any appropriations
to schools or institutions not owned by
the state. Judge Robertson said he was
sure some parties would like to be heard
ON the measure. and further action was
postponed until subsequent meeting.
Chairman Newto from the committee
on taxation and finance, submitted re-
port recommending the adoption of a
resolution calling on the Auditor Tor in
formation as To the amount Of taxes paid
bv whites and blacks for the past five
wears. whether real or personal, the
amount due the State, and all shortages
by defalcation. embezzlement or other
causes. The report was adopted.
1t is pretty well decided that the con
vention will require a poll tax as pre-
requisite to the right to vote. The Sui
irage committee reported this conclusion
by practically unanimous vote. The
only opponents were the two Republi-
can members The question now on that
point is to how the money derived from
the tax shall be applied. Three PROPOSE
tions were made One was TO turn the
whole amount over to the schools, an
other to give it 10 the schools and pen
sions for COniederates and the last was
To divide il between these two objects
and public roads This matter went
over. Notable features were the prOpO-
siti0n of Senator Glass To submit the SUI
frage clause of the new Constitution to
an abridged electorate and that OF Mr..
Meredith for giving expressions for the
choice Of L. =. Senator Mr. Glass, resO-
luton directs the Suffrage committee to
report measure of franchise revision
which shall contemplate submitting the
work OF this convention to restricted
electorate.
MEASURES INTRODUCED.
Mr.. Meredith also presented an Ordi-
nance by which it is hoped to prevent
corrupt granting of franchises Ii re-
quires that before the sale or grant of
any franchise by n city or town it shall
be approved by the Judge Of the Circuit
court
The most drastic corporation PROPOSE
ton yet offered in the Constitutional
Convention. was that presented by Mr..
Lindsay. OF Albemarle. This plan is com
prehensive enough to include all corpora.
tiOns. 1t provides for the election by the
people of three commissioners of public
corporations. who are TO be chosen from
separate districts of the State. The plan
then provides that this commission is re-
duired to regulate freight and passenger
rates and telegraph and express tolls.
This commission il also required to regu-
late hours of labor Of train dispatchers
and movement of trains. In small
trials for damages the rate fixed by the
commission is to be accepted as cOnclu-
sive. The Legislature is empowered to
enforce this article by forfeiture of char
ter or otherwise. \ separate section
gives the Legislature power TO extend the
authority of this commission to all cor
porations doing business of public ma
ture. Delegate Moore, of Montgomery, Re
publican. proposed a resolution exempt
ing from taxation county, city, and State
bonds; also a resolution that what is
technically known to insurance men as
the three-fOurths clause, affecting settle
ments of fire losses, shall not be tOlera-
ted in the State of Virginia. Delegate
Ayers, proposed that the committee on
finance should levy tax upon the value
at the time or place of severance from
the land, less the cost of production, of
all.products OF the forest, mines, quar-
ries. oil wells. salt wells, gas wells, min
eral springs, pOtteries, brickyards, tile
works. and all other products emanating
from land, except agricultural products.
The tax, however, shall not be in excess
of the rate upon other personal property.
DO NOT EXPECT OFFICE.
A number OF prominent colored men
have appeared before the suffrage COM
mittee to protest against the disfran-
chising OF their race. One OF the most
eloquent was II. C.. Carter, OF Halifax
county, who, in the course OF his speech,
delivered himself of the following: " do
not come before men as an African, but
as a native-born Virginian, as much at
home as McGreggor on his native heath.
One of my race was asked if he was in
favor of negro suffrage. lie replied: NO |
| ism t; nigger dun suffered enuff already
Some people talk as il we had no bust |
ness in this State and should take up our
beds and walk off. For $50 years we
wanted to walk and you would not let |
us. Now we wish to stay with you and |
let your people be our people, and your
God be our God. We are not willing to |
admit that ignorance should work a
misfortune to a negro and an advantage |
to a white man. We should not be made |
to feel that we are innOcently disgraced |
before Che world-fOr even dog will not |
lcE tho hand that omitps him