Evening star., 1901-07-22
Propositions That Have Been Refer
red to the Virginia Committee.
CLASSIFICATION OF TOWNS
Right to Vote in incorporated
Places Confined to Freehotders.
REF SION TODAY

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, July 22.-The conven-
tion met at noon today, President Goode
presiding. Prayer was offered by the Rev.
DR.. Richard McIlwaine. Sixty-four mem
bers were present.
Senator Daniel announced that his COL
league, Mr.. Glass of Lynchburg, was still
indisposed. and he requested an indefinite
leave of absence for that gentleman.
Delegate Hubbard of Buckingham offered
a resolution directing the suffrage commit
tee to inquire into and report on the prop
osition allowing the wives and descendants
of confederate soldiers to exercise the
right of suffrage
The session lasted only forty minutes
and the attendance of members and Wis
itors was correspondingly small
suffrage clause was presented by Judge
George K. Anderson of Rockbridge. The
plan contains new features among them
the following alternative provisions:
property qualification Of not less than $500,
held by some immediate member of the
family, requiring that some member of the
family shall own $1,000 in manufacturing or
business enterprise. or whose salary or in
come shall be not less than $500; or who
has served a juror within two years pre-
ced1ng; or who is a member OF regular or
volunteer company or who has rendered
military service to the state or United
states. The voter Is to appear before the
circuit court of his district or city and sub
NIT to an examination before the court,
ana read, interpret and understand one
provision of the Constitution, and no per-
son shall vote until after such examination.
Inc patron of this measure claims it will
nave the effect of dsfranchising about 10
per cent of the white and 80 per cent of the
negro vote The measure went to the suf-
rage committee.
A suffrage proposition was also sub
mltted by Mr.. Bouldin of Halifax 1t
exempts men of sixty years from poll-tax
provision and allows only voters to serve
as Jurors and prohibits any man who has
fought a duel or carried a challenge from
voting or holding office, and providing that
voters shall not be molested by civil pro-
cess while going to or from voting pre-
c1ncts; voters are to be registered by reg
lstratfon boards of three members, who
snail apply the educational test; refusal
to register shall be subject to appeal to
the circuit court.
Cities Into Classes.
Delegate Brooke of Norfolk, chairman of
the committee on government of cities and
towns, today presented an elaborate plan
for dividing the cities of the state into
four classes and defining the powers ana
duties of councils and mayors-incorporate ted
places of 5000 population or less are to be
called towns places of 10000 population or
more are to be known as cities of the first
class. 10000 to 5000 are to be cities Of the
second class, 500 to 5000 third class
and less than 1900 to be fourth class For
cities of the first class the general assem-
bly, is to elect corporation Judge a Judge
or Judges for the court of probate and rec
ord, whose term shall be eight wears: clerks
are to be chosen for eight years elected Nv
the people, and where additional court
Except circuiD is provided he shall be clerk
of both courts authorized by the legisla-
ture.
The city sergeant commemorative attor-
Heys and treaSurers are to be elected for
four years.
Commissioners of the revenue are to serve
for - years and shall not be eligible as
successors.
Mayors are to hold for four years and
they are to be vested with veto power a
ride their veto. Che cities are to have two
branches of the council, the members of
one branch to be composed exclusively OF
fIeeholders. The same applies to second
class cities, except that only one branch of
the council is provided for. No franchises
granted by the legislatures shall be opera
tive in any city unless such city shall con-
sent by a majority vote
Delegate Richmond Of Scott presented a
resolution requiring all males sixteen years
OF age or over up to sixty years, to work
three to hve days en- the public roads and
authorizing boards Of supervisors to levy
a tax of 10 cenis the 500 for road
purposes. Delegate Hubbard of Bucking-
prepared by Capt. Cannon Patteson of
buckingham, which was referred to com
mittee on preamble and bill of rights and
ordered printed
The convention adjourned at 12:4O
o'clock