Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-12
THE CONVENTION.

I
tiopal convention memorial on the
subject OF suffrage. The memorial
however, goes outside the suffrage
question, and embodies all the clsimi
10 the plans of the labor party for law
10 their favor, includiog an sbridgemen
OF executive power 10 the use OF The
military; calls for compulsory educa
ton, labor lien law, income tax snt
many other features. That part OF The
memorial referring to the suffrage is 81
follows:
"Opposing the destruction OF man
hood outrage by the enactment OF 9
property qualification for voters.as de
structive of the citizenship Of the prop
ertyless class, debasing them to the con
dition OF subjects to the property own
ers, and oondemning such action a.
oligsrchic In nature and monsrchic II
aim.
Requiring that all amendments tC
the constitution and general laws, BY
elimination, addition or otherwise, be
submitted to the people OF the State fol
acceptance or rejection"
Mr.. Robertson yesterday submitted
the following minority report OF the
committee on the legislative depart
ment, which was ordered printed:
tine undersigned members of the
committee on the legislative depart
ment beg leave 10 report that they are
unable to agree with the report of that
committee so far as it provides that
section II. article ", OF the present con.
stitution shall remain as it now stands,
ss section q, article ", OF the new
constitution.
This provision reads as follows:
Section II. The General Assembly
shall not grant a charter of incorpora.
ton to any church or religious denomi-
nation, but may secure the title to
church property to an extent to be
limited by law
'In our opinion this provision should
be omitted entirely from the new Con-
stitutioD, aud thus leave it to the dis
erection Of the legislature 10 deal
with religious organizations in the
same manner that il deals with sll
other organizations.
"It would take too much time to
here enter into the various reasons
which have led us to differ with the
ms ority of the committee on this point.
We only desire here to report that we
differ from them, and ask that this
report be considered by the convention
when this question shall come under
discussion" The report was signed by
William Gordon Robinson, N. B. Wes-
colt and Robert w. Blair.
The president laid before the oonven-
lion the motion of Mr.. Keezsll, to re
consider the vote by which the resolu-
ton OF Mr.. Moore, of Fairfax, was
adopted, the effect OF which was TO
abolish the committee OF the whole.
Mr.. Keezell moved to pass by again,
aud the resolution was adopted. The
convention then, on motion OF Mr..
Greene, went into committee OF the
whole for the further consideration Of
the report on the bill OF rights.
The convention for three hours dis
cussed amendments TO the section
treating OF trial by juries and adjourned
Without vote.
The committee on education decided
definitely yesterday to elect school
trustees by the people and to
retain county eupeTinIendenIs. They
are to be elected by the State
board oil education by aud with the
advice and consent of the Senate.
Their term OF Office shall be for four
years. 1t was also agreed that the State
superintendent OF education shall be
elected by the State Board OF Educa-
ton.
This State board shall be composed
OF the governor, attorney general, SUI
perintendent OF education and the
Deads OF the following Institutions
Ghe State Normal School, Of Farmville;
Virginia Military Institute, University
of Virginia. William and Mary College
and the Polytechnic Institute.
The suggestion made by superinten-
dents Of city SCHOOLS end county super
intendents TO add representatives OF
city schools and county superintendent
to this board was rejected by large
majority.
The judiciary committee held long
session yesterday morning. The only
matter determined was the adoption OF
a resolution offered by Colonel Smith
that the legislature be authorized to
give the clerks OF the new circuit courts
aud Of the corporation courts jurisdio.
ton over the matters OF probate OF
wills, appointments OF administrators,
appraisers OF estates and committees OF
lunacy under such regulations as it may
provide.
Messrs. Thorn, Meredith, and Robert
son, the subcommittee appointed to
draft the ordinance defining the juris-
diciion OF the Supreme Court OF AD.
peals, in consequence with the principle
decided upon by the committee re-
ported. Mr.. Thorn submitted a mi.
nority report. There was considerable |
discussion Of the reports by Messrs. |
Robertson and Thom relative to the |
question OF appeals by the State In cases |
Of revenue. Pending this discussion /
he committee arose to meet Friday |
morning.
The committee on finance aud tax.
ltion of the Constitutional Convention |!
las under consideration a proposition
o embrace all the mining aud similar
corporations 10 one general system Of
sxstion. The plan is modified some
What after the tax laws ofPennsylvaDia
elating TO similar subjects. Indeed,
he committee has the details OF the
operations OF mining laws of Pennsyl-
'snis, with view Of Supplying them to
his State. Many OF the mines of the
outhwest and the valley are largely
wned By capitalists OF Pennsylvania.
iome OF the great coal and other mining
owpsnies OF Virginia, whose output
mounts TO millions annually, pay only
n the real property owned in this
tale The ca nifal in vnsfad and nrnfifa |