Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-09-21
Constitutional Convention.

The Convention was represented
at the funeral of President McKinle.
by a committee composed OF Messrs
John Goode, John W. Daniel, Georg'
Id. Wise, Thos. Moore and Rober
| Blair. The last two are Republicans
The Convention devoted nearly
hours of it's time Monday to discus
sion of the amendment to the bill
of rights offered by Mr.. Anderson
which provides that majority o
moi less than three-fourths OF an,
siy33ll ipFSS lts aSt three hours Of deliber
alton.
The Democratic members of tn,
Committee on Suffrage have agar
Endorsed what is known as the Thon
plan. The vote was 10 to 5, tire,
members not being present. Its mos
significant feature is the clause pro
viding that the applicant for regis
trstion shall understand the duties o.
the officer to be voted for. There II
permanent and temporary plar
provided for.
DR.. Joseph W. Southall, Superin.
tendent of Public Instruction, in re.
spouse to request from the con
vention, has submitted a report
showing the cost of the white and
colored schools, as follows: White
schools, 81 1888, $50. is; colored schools,
$3.50, $40 Sc; a grand total Of $1,819,-
1901. This does not include the pay
Of superintendent and support of
Department of Public Instruction.
The Convention In the committee
of the whole Tuesday adopted the
Bill OF Rights which is to form such
an important part Of the new organ
ic law of the State. The body, how
ever by vote of % to %, refused to
reinsert the language Of the twelfth
section,in favor OF freedom of speech.
The committees report eliminated
that portion of the present Constitu-
ton which is in the words "any citi-
zen may speak, write and publish his
sentiments on all subjects, being re-
sponsible for the abuse of that liber-
ty."
One of the most interesting SUBJ
jects now before any Of the conven.
ton committees Is that seeking to
regulate the liquor traffic. The Com
mittee on the Bill of Rights has be-
fore it q proposition to incorporate
in the new Constitutional Conven-
ton the declaration that before any
liquor license shall be issued the per-
son interested shall obtain the sigma
tnres of majority OF all the voters
in the precinct Thousands of names
have been signed to petitions that
have been sent to the convention
this plan.
The convention has adopted res
olution directing the Auditor of
Public Accounts to furnish informa-
ton as to the amount of shares of
stocks and bonds now listed in Vir-
yinia by the corporations for taxa
ion. The same resolution also calls
'or the amount of license tax imposed
upon these interests by the various
titles in the Commonwealth. This in |
is wanted for the use of |
he Committee on Finance and taxa
ion. 1t is TO be used In considering
he proposition for giving the State |
absolute control of all taxation on
These are now taxed |
oy the State, cities, counties and |
chool districts. The single system
places this whole subject in the |
lands of the State. 1t is stated upon |
high authority that the railroads may
lot oppose the proposition to in
.rease their tax burdens by $500, 900 |
'r 100000 annually. II they make
his concession 1t will be with the |
dea of placating the people and pre-
renting other and more annoying |
egislation.