Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-23
Plan Submitted for Consideration OF
the Virginia State Convention.
OFFICES TO Be DONE AWAY WITH
To Exempt Property of Ex-Con-
federate Soldiers From Taxation.
TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

report at today's session Of the state
constitutional convention that will create
uneasiness among many office holders in
the state. The report was submitted by
Chairman Eugene Withers and was signed
by the chairman, and it is understood that
there may be a dissenting report on one or
two of the provisions of the report, but
this is not fully determined.
In submitting the report Mr.. Withers ex-
planned that the committee has carefully
gone into the subject, and that the report
was the result Of earnest deliberations and
earnest convictions.
The essential features Of the report are:
Reducing the salary Of the governor from
$1,000 to $4,000 per year, reducing the con-
tingent fund from $4,000 to 5000 per
year. abolishing the office Of register of
the land office and imposing his duties on
the secretary of the commonwealth, aboI-
1shing the office of second auditor and i'm
posing his duties on the first clerk of the
auditors office; aboiShing the office of
railroad commissioner, declaring that the
law creating the office to be so defective
as to be utterly incapable of any benefit to
the people Of the state; that all clerks and
employees in the executive departments
shall be bonded, and that all executive Off
GERS except the superintendent of the peni-
tentiary are to be elected by the people of
the state, and they are to hold office for
four years
The Governors Salary.
The report says concerning the COVER
nors report: I'VE do this because we deem,
it sufficient. as the salary now paid In Vir-
ginia to the governor exceeds that of any
southern state except Kentucky, Louisiana
and Missouri" In addition to the salary
the governor is furnished with house. SER
waits, gas, ice, water fuel and clerical as
SiStance.
The committee recommends that all pub
lie employees shall be paid fixed salary
qUisites be abolished. The report Of the
committee abolishes the office of keeper of
rolls and imposes his duties on the secre-
tary of the commonwealth. The report
department and it rests with that commit
tee whether 1t will indorse the move to ac-
complish the purpose for which the con-
vention was called.
Delegate Blair of Wythe presented the
following: Whereas, in the war between
the states the confederate soldiers dis
played gallantry and patriotism and ex-
hibited q self-denial and fortitude such as
the world has never before seen, in many
Instances neither expecting nor receiving
any compensation except satisfaction in
their loyalty to a beloved cause. and where
as, many of those brave men We're maimed
and crippled in defense of that cause and
are at present in INDECENT circumstances,
and whereas, this state can never forget
or fail to appreciate their loyal devotion,
thereupon be 1t resolved by the good peo-
pie OF Virginia in convention assembled
that the general assembly is hereby au-
thorized and Empowered to pass a general
law eXempting from taxation all property
OF permanently disabled ex-confedcrate
soldiers not exceeding 1000 in value
The convention was called to order
shortly after noon by President Goode.
Prayer was offered by Delegate T. F.
Dunnaway Of Lancaster county. Eighty
av11ha Io1 t1,nfv
Secretary Button laid before the conven-
ton communication in reference to an
inquiry to court clerks as to property ex-
empted from taxation in the state and for
what purpose. The tabulated statement
was ordered printed for the use Of the
convention.
Mr.. Chapman offered a resolution pro-
viding that only one commissioner of the
revenue shall be elected in each county,
shall not succeed himself, and that his
list of property assessed for taxation shall
be posted in each magisterial district In
the county.
ries and are to be elected for term Of
four years.
Delegate Petit Of Fluvanna presented
the the, report rep, Of the minority on preamble
and bill Of rights, which is concurred in
by Messrs. Pedigo of Henry and Hatton
of Portsmouth. The minority report is
the Mason bill Of rights in it's entirety, OBJ
lection being made to all amendments
recommended by the majority. The re-
port was laid on the table and ordered
printed for the use of the members.
The following were presented by Mr.
BroXton of Augusta and referred:
Whereas the conditions existing in the
eastern and western portions Of this state
are so essentially different that 1t may be
impossible to prescribe any regulation of
the suffrage suitable and adequate for enc
portion that will at all fill the require
ments of the other, therefore be it
Resolved, That the committee on suf-,
frage be instructed to consider the pro-
priety of providing separate suffrage regu-
lations for said two sections.
Resolved. That it is unwise, inexpedient
and probably unconstitutional to divide the
the support Of the negro schools only the
funds raised from taxes paid by the negroes
and to the support Of the white schools
only the funds raised from taxes paid by
the whites.
Resolved, That the judiciary committee
prepare and report suitable clause to be
embodied in the constitution, providing that
In all civil cases the jury shall consist of
failure Of the jury to unanimously agree
In five hours may render a verdict
Resolved, That the committee on the
legislative department be instructed to
consider and report a suitable provision for
the constitution authorizing and enabling
the legislature to establish the Torrens sys-
tenn Of registering land titles In this state
Interesting Developments.
What will prove interesting to the people
of Virginia in connection with the oonsti-
tutional convention will come to the sur
face within the next day or two. Two re-
ports have been presented. the bill of
rights and reductions of expenses, and the
first Is expected to be called up certainly
no later than Thursday, and when that is
done the convention will resolve itself into
committee Of the whole and the debate
VIA begin. It Is not known who will
speak now, how many speeches will be
made. but opportunity will be afforded all
who desire to spread themselves.
Two or three committee meetings are
held mornings and evenings, and it would
not be surprising to see report from the
committee on executive department within
a day or two. certainly before the end of
the week. Whether the committee will in
dorse the views Of the reduction of ex-
penses committee remains to be seen.
The suffrage committee today adopted a
motion by Col. Smith OF Alexandria pro-
viding for q subcommittee-Senator Daniel
to be chairman-to prepare as soon as
practicable a franchise clause for submis-
sion to the convention. and 1t IL the gen.