Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-03-20
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Editor Gazette /:

|
Gently Of visiting great many OF oul
county people I have been surprised al
the general lack Ct interest manifested
| in the Constitutional Convention ques-
ton and which 1 believe is due to the
fact that he impression 10 abroad thai
the elimination of the negro vote from
our elections IS about all that will be
accomplished by the convention, and
as a rule, the people do not look upon
that % a panucea for all their political
ills, and whilst it will be generally con-
coded that certain element of both
racer, who now exercise elective fran
chise, should be eliminated, / do not
think it would be wise policy for a
convention to engage in wholesale dis.
elimination against the negro race, as
some seem to think should be done;
but, with proper safeguards, such as
will insure an intelligent expression of
the will OF the people, would, think, be
all that is desired in regard to The right
Of suffrage. An educational or property
qualification should be the paramount
considerations in obtaining an intelli-
gent expression Of the will OF the peo-
pie at the polls, if by so doing tae old
colder and others, who did not have
the advantage Of our free schools, are
not Disseminated against. But in my
humble opinion it is of far greater inn
portance that the economic side Of
the question be made the guiding star
n the convention.
The judiciary and executive depart"
ments of the government should be
carefully considered with a view to
economy without impairing the eff
cheney of either, and in so doing vast
number of Offices could be abolished
and small army of ofliceholders elm.
mated from the payrolls Of both county
and State. The criminal expenses OF
The State should be reduced to mini
mum, by each county paying its own
criminal expenses, AMI the taxpayers
would see to it that there would not be
SO many petty cases coming before the
courts, and each county would be only
responsible for the criminal acts OF it's
own citizens.
The public land belonging to the
State should be looked after, aud if
necessary provision ma lie in the new
constitution by which the State could
make such disposition Of it 10y lease or
otherwise) as would bring the greltest
amount of revenue into the State
treasury; this property belongs to thu
State, and therefore to the whole peo
pie of the State, and not few midi
viduals of the State, as at piessat;
thus, in my opinioa, several million
dollars annually could be added to the
revenues of the State and the burden
of taxation correspo 1dingly reduced.
Another matter that should be con-
sidered is tn present system OF double
taxation in use in Virginia, by which
the debtor is compelle I to Fay taxes on
property for which be owes, and the
creditor also pays taxes on the bonds
held against the same property, which
is unquestion IDLY double tax ition, but
which in many instances results in
some men worth few hun lred dollars
having to pay tax on several thousan |
dollars, and others worth several tn ou-
sand paying tax on but few hundred
dollars; thus the poor man IN many IN
stances has more than his just share of
the burden of taxation to bear, and the
matter should DO remedied 60 as to |
give us more equitable system of
taxation,
There are many other matters (amons
which are the free schools, the benefits
Of which could b. greatly improved |
that should be given consideration, and
think it would be we'll for the aspi-
ants for convention honors to lei the
people know where they stand Oh the
economic and all otuer questions likely |
10 come before the convention, so that
.he delegates to the co lnty convention
nay be instructed for the very best
men; for it Is certainly due to the peo-
Die that the question be ventilated,
md as the convention will be expected
o formulate plan of government
lnder which we may expect t, live for
he rest OF our lives, or at loist for
many years to come, we are certainly
ntitle 10 know what will be the course
# representatives in the convention, as
will affect us mors vitally than any
rdinary election has or could have
lone for the last thirty years. 1t
houli be our aim to adopt constitu-
ion, such as would redoun to the
redit OF the State and assist her in
egaiuing her former rank am ong the
tates OF the Union, from which unjust
has reduced her. 1, for
ne, will certainly vote for no man !
Indy. Let the can 1idates be heard !
'om. g. D. CLEMMER.
RockDridge Baths, Va,
March Is, 1901. y