Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-24
THE CONVENTION.

days, was further complicated yester-
day by a proposition offered by Judge
Harrison, of Winchester, that there be
biennial sessions OF the legislature OF
As days. with the privilege OF extend.
log it Is days without pay. He said
be thought IL should be first settled
whether or not there be biennial ses.
sions before it shall be determined
whether the members OF the General
Assembly shall be elected bieunially or
qusdrennislly. Mr.. O'Flaherty was
the first speaker after the convention
had got out of parliamentary tangie.
He spoke 10 favor OF biennial sessions.
He said be was in much doubt how TO
vots until he learned that the chairman
DIR. Moore mad admitted that qusdren-
oial sessions would not save any money,
aud then he felt 10 duty bound to
oppose the report OF the committee.
He then called attention to the speech
OF Mr.. Richmond, who said the people
OF Scott county wanted the Legislature
to quit spending the peoples money,
and he was not surprised at the people
OF Scott not wanting any legislature al
all.
An examination OF the auditors re-
port showed that Scott county already
drew nearly $1,000 more money out OF
the State treasury than 1t paid in,
Mr.. O'Flaherty was followed by Mr..
Hamilton in favor OF biennial sessions.
Mr.. Meredith then made an address
for quadrennial elections and biennial
sessions. Re declared while biennial
sessions were not Objectionable. that so
many elections were, and II there were
uuadrennial elections better class oil
men would offer for the Legislature.
The convention adjourned without
having taken vote.
rhe judiciary committee hal liked
yesterday morning as the time TO vote
on tbs report OF the subcommittee on
redistrictlng the judicial districts OF the
State. Owing to the absence OF the
sub-committee, the matter was post
poned until Wednesday.
Mr.. Braxton asked that further con-
sIderstion OF the motion TO prohibit
Judges from holding other positions oil
trust or emolumeot. He said the mem
bers from the smaller towns having cor
poratiou courts had had conference
and desired the committee to hear ar
gument.
Tomorrow was set to hear delegations
from Winchester. Stanton and Other
towns in opposition to the resolution.
Col. Summers gave notice OF a mo-
ton to reconsider the vote prohibiting
Judges from practicing law In othel
States. There was considerable discus
sion as to the section regarding remova
of Judges by concurrent vote OF botf
branches OF the general assembly, bu
no conclusion was reached.
The burden OF the lobby talk abou
the convention yesterday was on the
subject ola conference ofthe democratic
memb ers to discuss the suffrage plans tt
be submitted.
It's conceded that the reports will b'
ready on Wednesday, and the question
is. Will the conference be held prior (
the filling OF the reports or afterward
There will be majority add minority
report.
A great many OF the members, es
pecially those who are looking aftel
| the political aspect OF the situation, arr
urging that a conference be held befor'
the two reports are given to the con
vention and thereby made public, II
order that whatever discussion is to fol
low may be done behind the conference
doors, and nothing be presented to thu
convention until the democrats agree
on plan.
The majority of the convention, how
ever, appear to favor the bringing 10 o
the two reports on Wednesday and put
Jog them directly in the hands OF the
convention. They have become very
restless over the delay, and what they
want now is action OF some sort and nc
more committee or conference talking
A great many members desire Il
speak on the suffrage question thai
| their constituents may know where
they stand, and these want all the talk
ing done before the official stenographel
and not 10 recesses of q conference
Several are opposed to any conference
under any circumstances and want the
| fight made 10 open session.
Just how the conference move will
end ia now speculation, but there IL
little doubt that the reports will come
| Wednesday.
1t Is understood that Senator Daniel
has completed his report OF the minori-
w members OF the suffrage committee,
whose views be ref scts.
Mr.. Thorn has prepared the report OF
the majority, and Mr.. Wysor. 1t is un'
derstood, will present one OF bis own,
These will probably be submitted dur
ing the week to the convention. The
talk yesterday was in favor OF sending
the reports of the democratic members
to a conference of the members oil
that party before they are permitted to
90 to the convention. The idea is for
all of the party secrets about doubtful
election methods, which have been 30
fully discussed in committee Ia the
presence of two republican members,
being heard behind closed doors.
Chairman Ellyson, OF the State COM
mittee, who is almost daily at the con-
yention, favors this course. There are,
however, some democratic members
who declare they will not 60 into a
conference. Their idea seems to be
that members want to discuss this
whole question 10 open convention, SO
that their constituents may be daily in-
formed how their representatives stand
on the various suffrage plans.
The attention which the proposed
omission by the Virginia convention
from the Bill OF Rights OF the Ian
gusge guaranteeing freedom OF speech
has attracted all over the country is
commented upon by many members
of that bod. Indoa Rarryman