Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-22
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.


The judiciary committee made its re-
port to the constitutional convention
yesterday recommending single sys-
TEN of courts. This report was some.
what msrred by the statement that the
members OF the the committee reserved
the right in signing the report of objec.
ton to such sections az personally did
not suit their views. Toe committe rec
comends that there should be a
single system OF courts between the
Justice of the peace and the court
OF Appeals, aud that the county courts
should be abolished. They have divided
the state into "a circuits. Outside oil
the cities these courts will have orig
ina jurisdiction of all matters except
thoss cognizsble by justice ofthe peace
or the clerk OF the court.
The state has been divided Into o
sufficient number of circuits to permit
each county of the state to have at least
ak terms OF the circuit court each year.
Other circuits, when business, especially
criminal business, Is large, are 30 ar
ranged as TO permit monthly terms. II
Is believed that this will greatly expe'
dite the determination Of civil cases In
the counties and give a speedy and effi'
clent administration OF criminal justice
Il ia anticipated that the General Assem-
bly, will give precedence to criminal bust.
ness at certain OF these terms, to civil
business at others, or authorizs the
Judge OF the circuit TO do 30, but at each
term both criminal and civil business
may be heard and determined. 10 cities
containing more than 10, 900 inhsbitaots
there Ia no change made 10 the courts
In cities containing less than 10000 In
habitants no change is made 10 the
courts, except that such city may abol'
ish It's corporation or hustings court by
a vote OF its people at two successive
elections not less than II months apart.
In other cities conditions were differ
emit, and strong demand was made
by their representatives and by delega-
tions for their preservation. They in
dicated perfect Willingness that each
such city should pay the entire salary
of the Judge. Under such circum-
stances it was determined to preserve
the corporation or Hastings Court iD
these cities, require them to pay the
salaries OF the judges, and give them
no separate circuit court 80 long ss
their city court continues to exist and
give to each city the power TO abolish
It's court. 1t is the opinion of the COM
nittee that these courts will survive
where needed aud will soon cease TO
exist in other such cities. Detailed re-
ports OF the cost OF the present and the
proposed systems are appended to the
report, and they show that the iDcress-
ed cost TO the State would be 81, 285,
add with the expectation OF its steady
decrease. and nat the counties would
save 500 244 16 by the plan and the
cities 1856, making q saving 10 the pro
posed plan over the old plan OF Slo,
444.I6.
The report OF the committee on edu
cation was again taken up 10 the COM
mittee OF the whole. Many amend
ments we're made to the report, but all
we're defeated, and much progress was
msde toward the adoption OF the CON-
miltee's report before the close OF the
four hours session. A section was
adopted giving the State board the con-
troll over the selection of school books
10 the cities the central board is gwen
supervision over the selection OF these
books. A long debate took place Oh
the proposition to give the cities entire
control over this subject, but the report
OF the committee was adhered to.
The finance committee yesterday at
ternoon received and adopted report
OF the subcommittee on oyster reve-
nues, and they recommended that the
oyster rocks of Virginia be held 10
Il ust for the people of Virginia forever.
The resolution to exempt new manu-
featuring enterprises from taxation was
discussed, tut no conclusion reached
A hearing will be given next Tuesday
evening to those interested In the mat.
ter.
The committee on bill Of rights took
fiusl vote yesterday afternoon on the
carbohydrates liquor resolution and
adopted it by the former vote OF 8 to b.
An amendment was adopted, however,
which defeats the object OF the temper
ance people, In exempting from the
provisions OF the ordinance all towns
aud cities of over 5000 inhabitants.
The " hole matter will be bitterly fought
In the convention. The resolution pro-
vides that no license to sell liquor 10
quantities of less than one gallon shall
Do authorized or granted without the
written request OF majority OF the
legally qualified and registered voters
actually resident 10 the precinct 10
which the liquors are to be sold.