The Washington times., 1901-08-01
MANY SUFFRAGE PLANS.
Additional Schemes Presented to the
Constitutional Convention.

|
| RICHMOND. Va. July 3l.-A very len
lent suffrage plan was presented in the
constitutional Convention today by d. c.
| o 'Flaherty, which provides that every cit
izen who is sui juris and twenty-one years
old shall have the right of suffrage and
! may vote for the members of the State
Legislature, President of the United
States, and members of the House of
Representatives of Congress, provided he
shall have the following additional quail
| fications: 80
Il. That he shall have resided two
years within the State and three months
within The county. city, or town, and
thirty days in the election precinct in
which he shall offer to vote.
- That he shall have been registered
as a voter ten days before any election at
which he offers to vote.
''3. That he shall have paid a capitation
tax of 81, which shall have been due six
months before the election at which he
offers to vote.
Il. That he shall be able. unless physi-
cally disabled, to mark and prepare his
OWE ballot unasssted, and the ballot so
marked shall be the evidence of his quail
itication under this section; provided,
however, this section shall not apply to
person who is now a voter and pays taxes
on 500 worth of property in any town,
county, or city in the Commonwealth;
/ but he shall have the privilege of select
ing one of the judges of election to pre-
pare his ballot.
Resolved further That all national,
State, county, and city elections shall be
by ballot and in secret
Mr. Biistow presented a resolution
which provides that every qualified voter
! who cannot read and write may select
some one to prepare his ballot for him,
and that each voter shall put his ballot
/ in the ballot box.
Mr.. Bristow also presented a resolution
at the request of the Rev. E. j. Richard
son. of Saluda, Va, which provides that
the revenue officers and tax list officials
4 Of the State shall have the full power TO
examine into cases where dealers OF
J spirituous and malt liquors are violating
! the law by selling to minors or keeping
their places open on Sunday and report
l any violation of the law 70 the grand
Z jury of the county where the offence may
| have been committed
Mr.. Fairfax offered a resolution, which
| was adopted. asking for statistics regard
ing rairUad property.
! The information was asked for use by
the Committee on Taxation and Finance
Of which Mr. Fairfax is chairman.
! Mr.. Withers offered an ordinance on
| the subject of regulating freight rates
/ by common carriers, and relating to pas
/ SengerS> as WELL
! II also creates corporate commission
| er. to be elected by the people.
The most rigid proposition considered
by the convention today was the resolu-
ton presented by Mr.. Anderson, of Rock
/ bridge, providing for purity in elections.
/ The resolution makes il a high lnisGe-
I meanor for person to aid in the false
I registration of a voter or in any iy aid
+ in making a false account of the "a ction
I by fraudulently altering or ins any way
/ changing 4 ballot. Upon conviction, the
guilty person shall be punished for each
offence by confinement in Jail not less
than sly nor more than twelve months
and by a fine of not less than $500.
Mr. Eggleston offered resolution pro-
viding that the office of sheriff and treas
urer of county may be held by the
same person.
The report of the Commits on Redac-
tion Of Expenses was submitted, which
recommends that section is be so amend
ed as to provide that in cities or towns
of loss than 12,500 inhabitants the General
I Assembly may prescribe whether or not
Z there shall be circuit court for such city
I or town. in which case clerk for such
court woIld have TO be elected. and in
cities or towns Of more than L. 800 inhab-
I itants the corporation court, or any other
court created by law. should have each
its separate clerk. and in any city of more
| than 5000 inhabitants there should like
wise be elected circuit court clerk. The
amendments limit the terms of all clerks
to four years and are intended to pro-
vide for the election of a clerk for every
lCUlrt every