Evening star., 1901-07-26
VIRGINIA SUFFRAGE PLANS
COMMITTEE IN CHARGE WILL NOW
HOLD DAILY MEETINGS.
Brief Session of the constitutional
Convec ion Was Held TOdny-Lft-
tie Business Of Importance.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

daisy EgSleStOn Cnarl0Ile
over the session of the convention for a
short while today, discharging the duties
with becoming dignity. The session lasted
only half an hour and was of little gen.
eral interest.
Shortly after the roll call Senator Dan
iel, chairman Of the suffrage committee.
called In and replied that the members OF
the subcommittee had been In conference
today and for that reason were not pres
ent at roll call. He said that the commit
tee was actively at work on a suffrage
law and requested permission for the mem
bers to sit during the sessions of the con-
vention until 1t should have finished Its
labors The permission was granted and
the committee will hold daily sessions until
an agreement is reached. The members Of
the subcommittee decline absolutely to dis
cuss any matters which they are consider
ing. their deliberations being regarded as
a g ate secret
Pr sident Goode called the convention to
order at noon; prayer was offered by Rev.
W. V. Tudor of the Methodist Church. The
} roll call showed ninety members present.
Mr.. Pedigo (rep.) of Henry submitted a
resolution providing for submitting to Vot-
erS only such parts of the constitution as
have been materially altered, and that such
provisions shall be submitted separately in
order that the voters may reject or ap-
prove such as they desire.
luton looking to the securing of informa-
tion that will be Of incalculable benefit to
the state. 1t is to require the general as
sembly to make provisions for securing an
accurate Typographical survey and map OF
the state which shall contain delineation
of geological formation mineral resources
and soils, extent and quality of forests, the
domain of fisheries, it's water power, rivers
and harbors, it's climate and general infor-
nation concerning the resources of the
state. Mr.. Goode says he believes that the
federal government will assist in the work
and that the cost would be infinitesimally
small as compared with the benefits.
Delegate Turnbull of Brunswick today
presented a resolution looking to reforma-
ton Of the clerical force Of the legislature
1t provides for placing the duties of keeper
of the rolls on the secretary OF the com
monwealth. TIE clerks OF the house and
senate to dsfver to him all records at the
end of the session.
The house Of delegates Is to have clerk,
one assistant. one enrolling clerk, two COM
mittee clerks, one sergeant-at-arms, one
doorkeeper. one janitor. five pages. one OF
whom is to be postmaster. The senate IS
to have the same. except that the pages
are to be limited to four. The clerks are TO
be paid only for the time in which they are
actually engaged. Mr.. Turnbull is con-
vinced that this will affect a saving of not
less than $4,000 per year
To Become Laws.
Mr.. Hancock of Chesterfield submitted a
proposition providing that all measures en-
acted by the general assembly shall receive
the governors approval within ten days
after presentation, and IL not approved In
that time shall become valid unless vetoed.
He also presented resolution providing
that at extra sessions of the legislature no
measures shall be considered not embraced
In the governors proclamation or set forth
in the call of members for such extra ses-
sion.
poff Of
an amendment which he would offer to the
bill of rights when 1t was taken up for con-
sideration.
Mr.. Braxton of Staunton offered a pro-
vision for the classifying of civil cases and
for juries in such cases of from three to
seven, a majority verdict after six hours
deliberation to be valid.
Trial Of Criminal Cases.
Mr.. Moore Of Fairfax gave notice that he
would offer amendment providing for
trial of criminal cases in which the punish
ment is neither Imprisonment in the peni-
tcntiary death by courts with juries.
Mr. Lincoln republican) of Smythe pre-
sented petition from the Marion Summer
Normal School praying for the election of
state superintendent of public instruction
and of school superintendent by the peo-
pie of the state.
On motion of Mr. Ayres Of the committee
on public institutions a warrant was drawn
for s4S.21 for expenses of committee on the
investigation tour 10 Williamsburg.
Mr.. Green of Daniel, chairman Of the
committee on preamble and bill of rights
gave notice that he would call up the re-
port of that committee on Monday.
He expressed regret that the illness Of
Col. w. B. Petit who had presented a
minority report, had precluded the refer
ence of the report to committee Of the
whole. The convention adjourned at 1870.
No Suffrage subcommittee.
There Is trouble in the suffrage commit
tee growing out of the naming Of the SUBJ
committee to frame the suffrage clause for
the new constitution. The motion to ap-
point a subcommittee was only adopted af-
ter three efforts and when the committee
was named the members who were not
chosen entered protest, Messrs Wise of
Richmond and Wysor of Pulaski leading
committee Will hold no more sessions af-
ter today. the matter of suffrage being
committed to the full committee
White and CoIored Schools.
The committee on education met today
and heard Mrs Green of Culpeper on the
proposition to establish Industrial home
schools throughout the state. 1t was de-
cided that the white and colored schools
should be kept separate and distinct
Delegate Lincoln of Smythe made a
speech in opposition to the division Of the
School IunuS on the basis or taxation as
between white and blacks. This PROPOSE
tion was passed by.
DR.. McIlwaine, chairman, favored chang
ing the school age by raising it TO begin at
seven years and to close at eighteen years.
He was opposed to the support of high
schools In any county or city at the ex-
pense of the public school fund If such
school was to be maintained it was the
duty of city to support such schools
claiming it to be the object of the school
system to provide only for the primary
hn,, .,.tin