The Washington times., 1901-08-02
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OPPOSED TO ADJOURNMENT.
The virginia Convention StiII Dis
cussing the Bill of Rights.

{
| Constitutional Convention were offered
today and defeated by overwhelming odds.
MIR. Petit. in opposing adjournment aud
referring to the work of the Committee
on Preamble and Bill of Rights, said
that that committee had seen fit to
omit the historical preamble, in which
was a recital of the wrongs at the
hands of George III. He contended that
the Bill of Rights was a declaration of
independence. He was earnest in his op-
position to reducing the number of jurors
below twelve in any case. He urged the
convention to retain all of the preamble,
which was a part of the history of the
State
Mr.. Petit spoke for nearly an hour,
and at the close he received hearty ap-
pla.use. -,- 90.
Delegate Hatton. of Portsmouth. who
presented an amundment to the pre-
amble, followed Mr.. Petit. His amend
ment was in the main similar TO the mi
nority report of Mr. Petit The preamble
had been embodied in all the constttut-
tiOns of the State. The people of Virginia
saw in it the. greatest and strongest politi-
cal Indictment ever drawn: they saw in
it the handiwork of Thomas jefferson.
The committee had taken all of this away
in return even a mess OF pottage. The
preamble was brief, and we were told
| that New York and other States had set
| the precedent. Let Virginia live or die
by her own acts" He argued eloquently
for a retention of f--atf that was honored
in the traditions of the Old Dominion.
He wanted to see all the historical facts
connected with the foundation of the
State placed at the disposal of every
plowboy in Virginia. Mr.. Hatton went on
the review all the preceding conventions
held in Virginia since 1Il6.
At the conclusion of Mr. Hatton's re-
marks, which were vigorously applauded.
the committee rose, reported progress.
and the convention resumed business.
Delegate Richmond, of Scott County,
presented a resolution providing that
when the convention adjourns on the Sd
of August it be to meet again on August
q, the mennbers to, receive pay for one
week.
The pending question was ordered and
on rolleaI the vote. stood: Ayes, SO; noes.
SO, and the conventicn again refused to
adjourn.
The .comIpjttee op. Suffrage. at its ses-
sion this morning, took a decided step,
and one that no doubt will find approval
among a majority of the convention. 1t
decided to eliminate the understanding
clause" and substitute in its place the
simple proposition of paying taxes on 500
worth of real estate or personal property.
The three planks under consideration are:
First-A poll tax of Sl.50.
Second-A voter must be able to under
stand the constitution or as an alterna-
uEe- pay taxes on $500 worth of real or
personal property.
Third-The exemption OF all soldiers who
have served in defence of the State or
United States, and their descendants
tNns
nittee was at work, and out of which it
seems that a report will soon be made.
The committee has agreed in u general
way on d poll tax but no fixed amount
has been finally agreed upon, and it may
or may not remain al Sl.50.
There was much opposition to the ''un-
derstanding clause" on the ground that
IL left in the hands of election officers
the determination of the fitness of the
voter. and the action Of the committee
in cutting it out today will be generally
Judge Tucker Brooke, of Norfolk. was
much opposed TO the understanding
clause" and a number Of other promi-
nent members would have fought it on
the floor of the convention
The $500 properly qualification is the
same as ADVOCATED by y. u. Food at the
convening of the coz ltion, and meets
with the approval of the most of the
members. -- ~---
The greatest interest in the convention
centres in the suffrage report and many
of the convention delegates are growing
restless on the subject. Many of them
consider that any report that is made
will be but a basis for general debate
and subject to some changes by the con-
vention They, therefore, are of the opin-
ion that the committee should vote on
the propositions without further argu-
menL and bring in what a majority favors
and then let the. convention do the rest.
: There is one Thing reasonably certain
about the Constitutional Convention, and
that is that its work will not be passed
upon by the people at the election in No
vember, nor Will any constitution be de-
clared before that time.
The constitution" said President John
Goode this morning, should not be mix
ed with other things and should be con-
sidered on its own merits"
Eppa Hunton. 1r., is also of the opin-
ion that the convention will be in session
long afte; the fall elections. There are
a great many things he said, Ito be de-
bated .ind considered, and / would not
be surprised if the work did not occupy
more time than lies between this and the
election"
There is every indication that the num-
Der of school superintendents will be
duced by the Constitutional Convention
from III, as at present. to about CO. The
area--of superAisioR-Hill be extended so
that in some cases several counties win
be under one superintendent