Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-07-06
Constitutional Convention.

The Legislative Committee has de-
cided to recommend that no man
who holds city or county office
shall be eligible to membership in
the Legislature. The recommendation
was agreed to by majority of one,
and there is doubt of it's being adopt
ed by the convention.
The retrenchment and reform com
mittee Wednesday decided to reduce
expenses considerably in the execu-
tive departments of the State, and
the work of preparing specifications
will begin at once. 1t is likely that
some of the offices will be consoli
dated, and the salaries of those who
hold others reduced.
The Republican members are
standing close together. 1t has been
noted that upon nearly every cues
ton that has come up they have
voted as a unit. This causes the
Democratic members to think that
the Republicans of the State will
vote solidly against the ratification
of the constitution when 1t Is subs
mitted to the people.
The Convention decided by vote
of go to IA that its members will not
take any oath. This is final and the
matter cannot again be brought up.
The vote was reached after a brill
liant debate The speech OF the
whole convention, was that OF ex-
Gov. William L Cameron, of Peters
burg, in opposition to the PROPOSE
ton. He held that this convention
was the supreme power in the Com
monwealth and that no preceding
body of the kind or of any other
kind could have bound its hands by
requiring an oath to be taken by its
members
The suffrage committee of the con-
vention will have agreed upon re-
port, or partial report, within ten
DAYS or two weeks unless the uneX-
pected happens. There is reason to
believe that the recommendations
of the committee will be much more
radical than had been expected. In
other words, the qualifications for
voting as recommended will result In
the elimination of large class OF
voters. 1t is said that the feature OF
the suffrage provision will be an
educational qualification. 1t is be.
lieved that the prepayment of a poll
tax will also have place in the suf-
frage clause. But it is not now
thought that it will be as prominent
as was once expected.
The statement Is made that Sena-
tor Garter Glass will offer resolu-
ton providing for the submission OF
the Constitution to be adopted to
such persons as, under the new in
strument, will enjoy the right of suf-
frage. If this is adopted suffrage
clause will be at once submitted to
the convention for immediate adop-
ton and PRONUNCIATION. The new
suffrage clause, it is understood, will
include taxable property qualitica-
ton of not less than $40, modified by
something like the famous grand
father clause" the general effect
being to allow all white men to vote
and such negroes as pay taxes on
specified amounts of property.
The jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court of Appeals was the subject
considered by the Judiciary Com
mittee Monday. There was only an
exchange of views, and nothing de-
cisive was agreed upon. 1t is much
bigger question than was thought
when the committee took it up. 1t
has been about decided that there
shall be no change in the number of
Judges, nor in the name of the court,
but it is likely that the committee
will recommend that the terms OF
the judges be made longer. 1t will
also recommend most probably that
the present judges hold Office until
their terms expire, and that here
after only the term Of one member
expire at time. The committee
has not yet taken up consideration
of the subordinate courts. This Will
be the great feature Of their work.
1t is believed that it will result in
many changes in the present court
system.