Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-13
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

Inc CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION yes
terday. after three hours work. nearly
completed the disposition OF the report
OF the committee on county govern
mept
Mr.. Braxton presented q new SUI
frage plan, which was referred. The
plan provides for a property quslihcs-
ton AMI poll tax, contains the grand
father clause and excludes negroes
from holding office.
Tne committee on the executive de-
partment submitted its report to the
convention.
The convention again adopted other
hours of meeting, and hereafter Will
hold a single session daily from III to z.
The report on executive department
was submitted and provides that the
Secretary of State shall be an elective
instead Of 90 sppointive office, as now,
with stated salary, and the fee sys-
tenn Is abolished, all fees to go to here
after into the State treasury. The Of
fee is also combined with that OF the
land office, now a separate otf1ce.
| Chairman Cameron, who submitted
| the report, stated that 1t was on all
matters other than those dealing d.
rectly with the office and expenditures
of the governor. He said the report
was unanimous and that It would be
followed later by q report covering the
subject which was omitted In the pres
| ent report.
The report provides for q bureau OF
agriculture and immigration, with q
bureau OF statistics. The treasurer,
auditor and second auditor are reserv-
ed for future report. The report con-
tains a new article for Article Of the
present constitution relating to the
qualifications and duties OF governor
and Acknowledgements. The most
significant change 10 these Is that 1t
permits the governor to recon mend an
amendment to a bill submitted for
bis approval. After such amendment
the legislature must pass such sec
ton OF the bill by two-thirds vote.
The lieutens0t-goVerno is also made
a IN smber OF the board OF public works.
Another change ia that requiring the
Secretary of the Commonwealth to be
elected by the people instead of by the
legislature, as at present. He Is also
required, 10 addition to his present
duties, TO perform those attaching TO
the register of the land office. His SAL
airy is to be fixed by the General AS
sembly and all fees coming into his Of
fee are to be paid 10 the treasury. a
large portion of these now goes to the
secretary. The bureau OF agriculture
remains as 1t now is, as do the offices OF
the auditor OF public accounts and the
treasurer, and the bonds for these OH
GERS, the committee says, will be treat
ed 10 another report.
President Goode, its chairman, this
morning submitted the report OF the
committee Of Ave appointed to consider
what. if any, action was necessary
touching the meeting of the legislat ure
December 5. The report recommends
that q committee be appointed to con-
fer with the legislature as to the meet
ing of the convention 10 its present hall
MIR. Goode said that during the war the
two branches OF the Confederate Con-
gress, ss we'll ss the two houses OF the
Virginia legislature, met in the build
ing 10 which the convention now assem-
; bles. TIE speaker further said that
the convention might have the power
J to postpone the meeting OF the legie'
, lature, but there were some strong
reasons Why this should not be done.
, The law requires the two bodies to
count the vote for governor and lieu
tenant-governor by January l. The
head OF the State departments, he said
are ALEC expected to be elected by the
legislature. II is true that these might
under the law hold over, but ne did
not think that would be wise. The
report of the committee was adopted
and committee Of FIVE appointed to
confer with the Legislature. There had
been some talk of recommending thai
the General Assembly adjourn until
the convention shall have completed
its work, but the committee hsc
deemed it inexpedient TO make any
such suggestion.
President Goode and Messrs. Boaz
AYERS, Keezsll and Thorn we're appoint
: ed the committee to confer with SINH
lar committee from the house OF dele
gates when the legislature meets, to se'
# both bodies may not transact bust
bess 10 the came hall ny fixing different
= hours for their respective sessions.
The convention rescinded its order o
Monday placing the power with th'
, legislature OF defer mining the duties
boards OF supervisors. The convention
: made it mandatory upon these boads t.
levy taxes.
The convention went into committed
: of the whole and resumed consideration
of the report OF the committee on or
, yanizAtion and government Of counties
The convention by vote OF % to 2
adopted az amendment requiring
] boards of supervisors to levy taxes ant
audit claims.
The question OF the tenure OF Office
of treasurer came up again and wal
pending on adjournment.
, Mr.. Withers presented petition frou
} citizens Of Danville protesting agains
, appropriation of State iuods for SEGA
rian institutions. A like petition from
citizens OF Accomac Was presented By
| Mr.. Westcott.
The suffrage committee was In se5
. sion for some time yesterday evening
{ but did practically nothing. Mr.. Brsx
ton was invited 20 appear today in sup
, port of his su6,sge plan offered yesIer
day, but be vii not do so. He left fol-
? Washington last night, and will urge
his plan before the suffrage conferences
which will be resumed tonight.
The education committee hnally
adopted its report to be presented today
3 end the committee on corporations fur
. TIER considered but did not finally dis
} pose of the corporation commission or
( diUance.