Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-07-12
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

CONSTITUTI0NAL CONVENTION.
On Wednesday of last week the
delegates voted TO take recess till
the following Tuesday.
The Constitutional Convention re-
sumed its sessions Tuesday With 63
members present after recess of a
week. The session lasted fifty
minutes.
The Republican members are
etandIpg close together. IL has been
noted that upon nearly every ques-
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 if submitted to
the people.
There is great fight being made
against combining the offices of treas
urer and sheriff. One of the mem
bers of the committee that has to
deal with this subject said last night
that an outsider had no idea of the
pressure brought to bear upon the
delegates to keep up these two offices.
The appeals of some of the Office
holders" he SAID, "are almost heart
iending. 1 feel sorry for them, but
my plain duty is TO regard first the
interests of the whole people, and, if
IN the end, j shall be convinced that
one official can discharge the duties
of both offices as at present created.
| shall vote to consolidate these
Offices"
A member has prepared and may
INTRODUCE suffrage clause that
would be an entirely new and unique
one. Persons born in certain coun-
tries or their descendants are not to
be entitled to vote or to hold office.
Said the member who has written
the resolution ave might say in
our organic law that people born in
Asia and Africa and certain Islands
of the sea aud the descendants of
such persons should not be per-
mitted to vote. In this way we
could rid of the negro, Chinese,
japanese and Filipino vote, and | see
nothing In the Federal Constitution
to prevent us from adopting such a
provision"
It is likely that Mr.. Glass will
offer this week or next a resolution
instructing the Suffrage Committee
not to frame suffrage clause, which
IL is contemplated shall be submitted
20 the people for ratification. There
is pronounced sentiment in the
convention in favor of proclaiming
the suffrage clause of the Constitu-
tion, and submitting the remainder
of the completed instrument to the
abridged electorate. 1t may be said
that there is not the slightest danger
that the convention will take any
action which will have the effect of
depriving any white man of his vote.
1t seems to be the sentiment of the
members that it will propose suf-
frage plan which will have for one of
its chief features the prepayment of
Il poll tax of probably So as the pre-
requisite of voting. Whether there
will be an educational qualification
imposed remains to be seen, and is
the subject of much speculation.
DoINGs IN COMMITTEES.
Judge Marshall, acting Chairman
OF the Committee on Reduction of
Expenses, at recent meeting said !:
eff the members of the committee
done attend any better than this,
am in favor of a recess"
The committee on retrenchment
seem to think it would be good
plan to begin retrencbment of ex-
penses at the top aud lop off some
thing from the governors salary of
$4,000 annually, making it $4,000.
SOME RESOLUTIONS OFFERED.
a capitation tax, an educational
test, aud property qualification of
$500 OF real estate as prerequisite
for suffrage, and to exempt from the
operation of these al! who or whose
ancestors rendered civil or military
service.
Prohibiting the sale of liquor
within two miles of churches or
school-houses unless by consent of
three-fourths of the white residents
of such church or school-house.
Empowering boards of supervisors
to levy poll tax of so cents on each
poll for road purposes.
A resolution providing that those
dealing in intoxicating liquors must
have a license. granted on approval
Of a majority of the white people in
the precinct, and that saloon keepers
must give bond sufficient to cover
any fines Or penalties that might be
imposed. Rooms for the sale of
liquor shall have only one door, and
that opening on the public thorough
fare. No chairs or benches shall be
allowed within. Sales must be by
haif-pint or pint bottles, and no per-
son shall be allowed to purchase
more than pint a day. Dealers are
not allowed to give away liquors in
excess of pint day. Violation of
the provisions is made a felony, to
be severely punished.
w. F. DUNAWAY. JR., ORDAINED.