The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-09-14
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
poings Of and Sayings in and About the
Great Virginia Body.

: ION general principals, am iniavor OF
having the people choose their officials,
! but | most alphabetically draw the line
at the Judges of our courts of justice.
think it would be most deplorable to
! have them 80 chosen, says Eppa Hun
/ ton, Jr
The deliberations of the constitutional
| Convention are likely To result III sue
cession of compromises This might nave
been anticipated by those iamlliar WIN
the character and power OF that mighty
| influence vaguely termed 'pohtlcal pres,
sure" - The new Constitution VIII
he a compromise, rs whole ana II VIII
be proclaimed Newport News fress.
The Committee on Finance and Taxa
tion has under consideration PROPOSE
ton TO embrace all the mining and simi-
| lar CORPORATIONS in one general system of
taxation. Some of the great coal and
other mining companies OF Virginia,
| whose output amounts To millions an
| nuallv. pay only on the real property
| owned in this state. The capital invest
ed and profits, il il claimed, escape all
taxation. rs the owners are non-resi-
| dents.
The Committee ON Education decided
To elect school trustees by the people and
to retain county superintendent who
are to be elected 10y the State Board OF
Education. rs now. with the advice of
| the Senate. Their terms of office shall be
1 Il. l.. o.,t...aI fhuf 9bn
| State Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
ton shall be elected by the state Board
of Education. This state board shall be
composed of the Governor, Attorney
General. superintendent of Education,
and the heads of the following institu-
lions. Virginia Military Institute, Uni
versity of Virginia. William and Mary
| College. the Polytechnic Institute and the
state Normal of Farmyille.
4 majority of the Suffrage Commit
tee have agreed upon a franchise plar.
| The scheme OF the majority, which has
the support of l3 OF the - members of
| the committee. is that Offered by MIR.
| Thorn. of Norfolk. Ii was adopted a.
| a substitute for the one offered by Senator
| Daniel This scheme requires the prepay
ment of : 30 capitatiOn tax and pay
ment of at least 81 tax on property. II
eXempts from these requirements all
persons who have rendered military
service. all who have had three months
| regular employment previous To the time
| of registration and caneXplain the duties
of the office for which he offers To vote
after january | 1903 All except those
previously registered shall be able to
prepare his own ballot without aid. \
| subcommittee was appointed, including
Senator Daniel. to endeavor To reconcile
| the differences between the Daniel and
the Thorn plans.
Ii seems practically settled that the
| contest of United States Marshall Nor
| gan Treat for the seat in the conven-
| ton occupied by Roger Gregory, of King
| William. will have to be settled upon
| the floor of that body. There will he
four reports from the Elections commit
| tee To which was referred the contest
| The committee is composed OF ii mem.
| bers, four of whom are Republicans
| Three Democrats, and possibly four. will
sign report continuing Gregory in his
seat. Two of the same party will make
a report in favor of Treat Another
Democrat will sign a report declaring
| that the result OF the election was tie
| The four Republicans will sign n report
saving that Treat is entitled 10 the seat
| This division of the committee will leave
| the members of the convention to deter
| mine the merits of the case for themselves
4 letter from Eugene G. Massie was
submitted, presenting the report OF the
| committee appointed by Virginia Bar
| Association. at its recent meeting, TO
consider the resolution offered to the as
ISOLATION by John iOOde for the adoption
| by the convention of a provision To en-
| able the legislature To establish the Tor
rens System of Land Registration in this
| state. in case the Legislature shall deem
| il wise to establish such system The
| Bar Association committee suggested
| the following. The Legislature shall
have power to establish such other court
or courts as it may deem proper for the
administration OF any law it may adopt
| for the purpose of settlement. registra-
ton, transfer, or assurance Of titles to
land in the Commonwealth, or any part
thereof.
"The rumpus kicked by the resolution
calling for information a. to the purpose
in which the contingent fund OF the
Governor was used will he a. mole hill
to Spion Kop.' said a member of the
Constitutional Convention. "tO one that
is contemplated by a member of the con
vention. The resolution is one that will
bring forth the information ~ to the
number ofrelatives that have been placed
on the payroll Of the State by State Off
cers-the Governor. State Treasurer, Au-
ditor and other officials. The resolution
is designed to get this information, but
whether there is any means by which it
can be obtained remains to be seen. "