Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-07-31
THE STATE CONYENTION.

As stated in yesterdays Gazette the
question OF recess to escape the heat
was the subject that occupied most OF
the time in the constitutional conven.
ton. No result was arrived at.
A vote was taken on the proposition
to adjourn August Sd until the goth and
it was carried by the close vote Of 43 to
AZ. An immediate reconsideration was
asked and was carried by vote OF As
to 81. A member at once moved 10
udjourn and the matter was left open
for further debate today.
During the session President Goode
laid before the convention communi-
cation from the Virginia Association OF
Deaf, asking that no change be made IN
the system Of educating the deaf, dumb
and blind.
Mr.. Hardy presented plan for the
equalization Of the taxes which attract.
ed much attention. The resolution,
which was accompanied by preamble
setting forth the evils of unequal taxa
ton and the difficulties that beset their
correction, provides ss follows:
/. That property assessed for State
taxation be separated from property as.
sessed for local County and municipsl)
taxation.
2. That all taxes derived from real
estate and personal property be used
only for county and municipal purposes
and taxes derived from all other
sources, such as railroads, franchises,
corporations, licenses, fines, forfeitures,
and such other as may be deemed
proper, to be used for State purposes.
3. Poll taxes shall be used for sup.
port OF the public free schools OF
primary ard grammar grades, said poll
taxes to be supplemented from State
taxes, as may be directed by future
legislation.
4. That the power to tax corporations
aud corporate property, including IRAN
chises, shall not bs surrendered or sus-
pended by act of the General Assembly.
5. There shall be a State board oil
tax commissioners, consisting OF three
members, to be elected by the people,
10 hold office for such time as may by
law be prescribed. The duty OF said
board shall be to equslize and adjust
the valuation of such property as is
taxable for State purposes and 1t shall
perform such other duties as may by
law be prescribed.
6. That nothing contained In this
amendment nor in part OF il shall in
any ways be constructed to impair the
liability OF the State to meet her pres
emit, past and future obligations.
The committee on legislative depart
ment decided not to curtail the gov
ernor's salary, and to abolish the fee
system 10 the Office OF the secretary oil
the Commonwealth as far as the in
come of that official Is concerned by
providing q regular salary and requir'
ing that all fees be turned into the treas
ury. There was much talk OF the rich
ness OF the Office ADD an expressed de-
sire to know just what the annual in-
come of the Office is. Secretary Law
less will probably be asked for de-
tailed statement OF bis fees. The bal
ance OF the session was occupied 10
hearing arguments OF practical printers
against abolishing the Office of public
printer.
The suffrage committee were In eee-
sion yesterday for some time consider
ing corporate plan. 1t was lntimated
but not asserted during the discussion
on the proposition for q recess that the
committee would probably have re-
port this week. The understanding
clauses of the Mississippi constitution
and the grandfather provisions oil
Louisiana and South Carolina have
both, it is generally conceded, now
been dlscardediby Senator Daniel.
The work OF preparing an itemized
account Of the manner in which the
executive contingent funds have been
spent is going on rapidly. 1t Is seen
from the records ia the Auditors Office
that some of the Governors allowed ex.
penses of members OF their staff on &C.
cSsions of visiting expositions in other
States.