Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-01
THE STATE CONVENTION.


decided against recess By tie vote
Al to fl, and though the question Is SET
tied for the present, 1t is likely to come
up again should the hot weather be
renewed.
A resolution to appoint corporation
commission to provide against dis
elimination In freight and passenger
rates was presented By Mr.. Withers,
and attracted more than usual atten'
ton. The paper at great length goes
into details of the relations between the
railroad and the people. Ii adopted
the commission will supefsede sne
present railroad commissioner. Inc
measure Is said to have originated with
leading business and railroad men at
Norfolk.
Mr. O'FIaherty presented a suffrage
clause embodying many OF the features
Of the Australian ballot.
Judge Bristow offered the following
resolution.
Whereas, the State is being deprived
OF it revenue under the law by the sale
of spirits and malt liquors and admir-
lures thereof, both under real or hcti-
tious names, and this In almost every
case under the Uoited States revenue
license; and
Whereas, by this system liquor Is
liz discriminatory sold to minors. in
temperate persons and on Sunday, by
reason OF which the peaceful and law
abiding citizens OF the State ore greatly
disturbed; and
Whereas, by reason OF the immoral
character OF those persons frequenting
and patronizlng these 'speak-easies"
evidence for the conviction OF the Of
tenders Is almost absolutely impossible
to be obtained. very many OF them
committing perjury rather than give
evidence against the guilty ones; there
fore be It.
Resolved, That the possession OF a
United States revenue license to sell
spurious and malt liquors, or admix-
lures thereof, real or fictitious, shall be
deemed prima facie evidence OF the
violation OF the State liquor laws, and
such violation shall be punished as now
or hereafter prescribed by statute.
2. That revenue officers or tax listers
shall have full power to examine into
all such cases and report any violation
of the law to the grand jury OF said
county where the offense is committed.
Mr.. Anderson offered an amendment
to tho constitution providing for purity
In elections and imposing Jail punish.
ment for fraudulent or false count OF
votes, manipulation Of the registration
| lists and other election frauds.
| The committee on reduction OF ex-
penses made the following further re-
port to the convention: We recon-
mend that Section IA, OF Article vi. OF
the constitution be amended by Insert
sertiDg instead Of the words five
thousand" 10 the first and second lines
the words "twelve thousand FIVE hun
dred," 80 as TO conform to our recon-
mendation on the judiciary system, by
which we recommended the abolition
| of corporation courts 10 cities or towns
of less than II, 500 Inhabitants. We
recommend that Section Is be so
amended to provide that In cities or
towns of less than 1880 inhabitants
the General Assembly may prescribe
whether or not there shall be circuit
court for such city or town, Ia which
case O clerk for such court would have
to be elected and in cities or towns oil
more than II 500 Inhabitants the cor.
poraticn court or any other court created
by law should have each its separate
clerk, and in any city OF more than
| As. 900 Inhabitants there should likewise
be elected q Circuit Court clerk ; and
we further recon- mend that the word
"slx" in the last line OF this section
should be eliminated and the word
flour" substituted 10 its stead.
These amendments limit the terms oil
ell clerks to four years and are intended
| to provide for the election OF clerk
for every court of every city. We
recommend that section 16 be amended
by inserting the word -four" In the
place of the word "two" 10 the last line
so that the commonwealth attorneys
term OF Cffice shall be four instead Of
two years. We recommend that
section II shall be likewise amended
so that the sergeant's term of Of
fee shall be four instead OF two years
and this additional amendment (which
officer In cities aud less than 1850 in
hsbitants shall be vested with the du'
| ties now imposed the treasurer of such
| city or town. We recommend that
section 10 be 80 amended as to provide
that the term OF Office OF the commits
sioner of the revenue shall be
| fnu~ uaaea IUa raaann pnanA that
section 81 shall be 30 amend
ed az to provide for the election
OF all city or town officers at the time
and in the manner provided for election
OF members of the General Assem-
bly, In this constitution, which
amendment would do away with
all spring elections in cities or
towns. We wonld respectfully re-
port that We cannot 90 further into
these provisions OF the constitution and
the laws passed in pursuance there
of for the reason that nearly every city
and town 10 the State have charters
totally or greatly dissimilar, and 1t is
practically impossible for the commit.
tee 10 the time at its disposal to examine
and report these separate charters.
Delegate John 8. Barbour, OF Culpep-
err, at the request OF the Social Safety
League, offered new plan for licensing
the sale OF intoxicants. 1t provides that
county and circuit courts be invested
with authority to grant licenses for the
sale of Intoxicating liquors only beyond
the limits OF cities and incorporated
towns and then only upon petition Of
q mel ority of the legally registered vol
ers Of the magisterial district In which
the proposed saloon would be located.
Delegate Fairfax proposed a resolu-