The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-10-22

persons now qualified to vote are pre-
served in the electorate if they can read
and understand or reasonably explain
any section OF the Constitution, while
only those who come on as voters after
that time must be able to write and pre-
pare and deposit their own ballots.
The minority report agrees with the
committee report in the following par
ticulars:
|. In requiring the prepayment OF
capitation tax after January ], 1903,
six month before the election with the
exception that in the minority report
the prepayment OF all poll-taxes in sub
sequent years is required.
, In fixing the residence Of the voter
in this State two years, in the county or
city one year, and the precinct thirty
days.
3. In requiring the registration of
voters.
4. In exempting those who have served
in the military or naval forces from the
capitation tax as prerequisite to vote,
and from other qualifications, save those
of age and residence.
}. And including those who have paid
81 in taxes on property owned by and
assessed against them for the previous
year whether they be eliterate orilliterate;
the minority report placing them on the
same footing as Others, if they do not
register prior to 1904.
The clause of the minority report rec
ommending that up to January !, 1904,
the voter shall be liable to read any sec
tion of the Constitution OF the State, or
to understand the same when read to
him, or to give a reasonable explanation
thereof" has these advantages:
/. 1t is simple and definite.
=. Ii removes from administrative OPP
GRAFTON 334 ,242 citizens of the State who
can read, of whom 265,0 900 are white
men. and leaves less than fourth of the
voters to show that they can understand
or reasonably explain any section OF the
Constitution when read to them.
3. 1t has passed under the adjudication
of the Supreme Court of the United States
and been held to be constitutional by
that tribunal.
4. 1t is temporary, aud will disappear
from our election laws on the Both day
of December, 1903.
The minority recommend as the per-
manent requirements OF suffrage for those
who are registered after 1904, educa-
tional qualifications, coupled with two
years residence in the State, one in the
city or county, and thirty days in the
precinct. and the prepayment OF all capi-
tation taxes accrued under this Constltu-
ton at least six months before any
election.
The minority also provides for the ap-
pointment of board of three commits
sioners of registration, to be appointed
by the Judge of the Circuit court, who
shall pass on the qualifications OF elec-
tors, and for an appeal at the instance oi
any person claiming to he Improperly
excluded
The minority submit with their report
an independent section, proyidingtor the
appointment of boards of commissioners
of registration, and defining their duties,
which may be embraced in the text OF the
Constitution or in an ordinance OF the
Convention.
The property feature Of the minority
plan is designed, and will operate to en-
large, not to restrict the right to vote.
1t will preserve the right of suffrage to
the uneducated voter, for the reason that
in many cases, without any fault OF his,
he has not had the advantages OF the
public schools, and that it is right
that he who has a substantial stake in
the property of the State, which bears its
share of the burden OF taxation, should
have a voice in the government to the
support of which he contributes.
Ii is an alternative provision in lieu OF
the voter being able toread. 1t will prob
ably embrace 5000 to 1000 worthy
white men who are unable to read.