The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-24
COMMIT NERS
OF TIE REV !. ENuE
- S.
Section Relating 10 them Discussed
intervention.
MR.. WRITER'S IS IMPATIENT
mn AK Dissaurse Of Corporation Com
mi,tec Unless II Reports on Ills
Measures shorily-Dsys
Proceedings.
in. WRITER'S IS IMPATIENT

The Constitutional Convention was in
eession only about 1870 ioars ~ terday
md most OF The time IVES aiken NJ, with
Z 4, ,..isSlnssaor OF that part ii the ra.ort
of shs a,c.nniittee on Cosinty SO, e1il-
..,nt 1t,:.tin. t.. The mode CT The ciiSsos-
ing o9 commissioners OF the revenue.
though no action was taken up9i. the
section.
Sfyfy-iivc members were in their seas
when the ron was called. and there Were
n number OF visitors, many OF wsicIn
were ladies.
Soon a.zter The journal was read. Mr..
Witheis gave notice tfat shorty after
the reocsa. IL The Committee on Corpora
tions should not bp that time bring in
reports as 10 his two ordinances relating
TO corporations. lie would move its dis
charge from their further consideration
md call The nlup in the convention Ono
provides Cor Incorporating the principle
of the employers liability hill in the new
Constitution. and the other proposes to
create a cooperative commission for the
State
Mgacn the pTelimiearies of the morning
aofir had been disposed of, Chairman
Barnes succeeded in having the body go
into Q Committee of the Whole for the
further considerat;5n Of the report of the
County Government Committee, and Mr..
Wise of Richmond. was called to the
chair
The section relating To commissioners
of the Ire.cnue consu7ne,i the remainder
OF the sessi'sa, the committee rising and
the convention adjourri.t:s at l2:l0 p. NJ.
until 10 O'Clock to-day.
THE DAY IN DETAIL.
The convention was called to order b"
President Goode at 10 O'Clock. Dr. Jour-
away offered prayer Fifty-nlae mem
bers responded to the roil-cali.
The usual number of .neIoarials con-
corning the liquor traffic were presented.
Several leaves CT absence were granted.
On the call for reports from con nit
tees, Mr.. Withers asked for Information
as to why the Committee Oh Corpora
TONS did not report on the employers liza
bility bill and the railroad commissioners
bill. The President stated that the chair
man of the committee WAS absent ard he
could give no Information. MIR. S-ithers
then gave notice that il after recess there
was no action taken in a few days he
should move TO discharge the committee
from further consideration of these 1eso-
1utions
me convention ti1en went into Commit
Tee OF the Whole to- consider the coun-
ty government report. Chairmaa Barnes
stated that five members of The commit
tee We're absent and he fclt-, :ieiica2y IN
calling up the report in their absence.
I or. Mcllwaine-..Thc convention is here
and is competent to manage tla: -esort."
DIR. M'lLWAlNE obJbS
The committee then took Up The 'e-
port. The first subject was The consid-
Grafton of an amendment renting to
treasurcrs. Chairman Barnes state;
HAT Mr. W3fS ia
amendment, was sick and he hoped Il is
would not be passed until Mr. Watson
could be present.
DR.. McIlwaine objected. saying trat
the matter could be well consile-a1 with
out Mr.. Watson. chairman Barnes re-
1orted that he haG no doubt in the world
DIR. Mcllwaine could ably manage it by
himself, but it was matter of courte-
sy to a sick member that his resolution
should be passed.
AT this point Mr. keezell maze a speech
in favor of adjournment He declared
that the convention was in no condition
to attend to business, and could not prop
erly or permanently settle any of the
matters now before it With a bare quo
rum present.
Mr. Watson at this point appeared on
the door and stated that he was too un-
well TO properly present his substitute.
On motion of DIR. Mcllwaine. the con-
sideration of the Amendment was unani-
mously postponed.
The majority report provided for the
election of Commissioners Of the Revenue
l,v the people.
Mr.. Stebbins offered to amend by pro-
siding that this officer be appointed by
the circuit judge.
BoAz AND THoM.
Mr.. Thorn spoke in opposition 70 the
He said Of all officers WHO
ought to be elected by the people, those
Who levied and imposed or assessed
taxes should be. 1t was a fundamental
of free government.
Mr.. Boaz supported the amendment.
lie read from the Auditors report to
show that Commissioners of Revenue
who Were elected by the people over
looked or undervalued so much property
that the Legislature had to provide for
an assessor. who was appointed TO see
that property was properly assessed and
He said the Commissioner of
Revenue was the weak point in the coun-.
ty-government system.
In reply to Mr.. Thoms statement that
the appointment of these officers was a
of fundamental principle. Mr.
l5oaZ called his attention 10 the fact that /,
for great many years Virginia had APP
piled that principle in connection with !
its revenue. He said whatever might |
ne the theory. practice and experience !
had shown that Commissioners Of the |
Revenue. who We're dependent on the !
votes of their ncighhors for reelection. |
we're totally Indifferent to the principle |
u uniformity or equality Of assessment. |
de said some members seemed to place |
more value on money and property than |
N life and liberty. They did not mind |
a fundamental principle III pre-