The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-27

Mr.. d. c. O'Flaherty received permis.
sion To withdraw his resolution offered
Friday inviting W. J. Bryan tn address
| the convention.
The convention adopted the resolution
| for special retrenchment and reform
| committee Ofeleven. The resolution was
| introduce by Delegate X. Walton Moore
IL begins to look as though the new
| Constitution would contain clause pro-
yiding for viva yOce voting. \ large
number ofmembers have declared In favor
of the change.
4 number OF resolution were presented
from cOlored people in various parts of
| the State protesting against the disiran
chisement of their race. or in any way
curtaling the present school privileges.
Mr. Goode received letter from the IL
| brarian Of Congress at Washington yes
terday asking that a copy of each day =
proceedings of the convention be sent to
the library to be placed among the re
cords there.
The Legislative committee of the State
Federation of Labor, representing the
various associations and trades, will
meet in Richmond the last OF this week
or the first of next to formulate certain
matters of legislation which the commit
tee desires To bring before the convention.
Mr.. Egeleston. of Charlotte, will offer
in the convention plan looking to
radical change in the system of manage
ment Of the State hospitals. His idea Is
to have salaried commissioner appoint
ed to look after the financial affairs of
all these institutions. The plan in view
contemplate the appointment OF an ad-
yisory board of two or three members.
One measure on elective franchise pro-
vides for en- educational qualification
that il. that the voter shall be able to
read any section Of the Constitution OF
the State, except such persons as shall
have ho7Orably served in the army or
navy of the Confederate States or shall
have served in the army or navy OF
the United States and been hon
orally discharged from such service. \
State poll tax of 81 is also provided for
as a prerequisite of voting. 4 resolution
to reform the judiciary by providing for
five supreme Court Judges, Circuit courts,
Justices of peace, and Police justices in
cities. The Supreme Court is to consist
of five members. the present judges to fill
out the terms for which they were elected.
Judges to he elected for | = years, except
that the first chosen under the new COEsti-
tuition shall serve for only eight years No
one shall be eligible for office unless law
yer of ten years standing. The judges
are to be chosen from the five districts
to be designated by the General Assem-
bly,. Special courts of appeal is to he
composed of one Judge of the Supreme
Court and three Circuit judges. TheCir-
cuit courts shall hold not less than four
terms yearly. The county courts are en-.
tirely abolished Justices OF the peace
are to be appointed by the Circuit court.
The resolution provides for the appoint
ment of board of county accounts, who
shall meet monthly, not to be in session
more than five days, unless the legisla
ture shall confer criminal jurisdiction up
on said board The sessions shall be
open. and the board shall have power to
examine and revise assessmentsfOrt taxes.
The convention has not yet disposed
Of its members taking the oath. The
most notable feature likely To be injected
into this debate If the subject is permitted
to be considered on its merits, is az to
whether Congress by its act of 1867 has
not prohibited Virginia from altering the
franchise clause of the present COnstitu-
ton. Those who favor the Thorn reso-
luton have been looking up this act,
which was passed when Virginia was re-
admitted into the Union. They contend
that the States readmissiOn was cOndl-
toned upon the fact that the franchise
should not he abridged nor the system
for the education of the negroes interior
&c with. The directors assert that Con-
gress has no legal power to make such
conditions. 1t may be that an attempt
will be made to limit the debate to the
naked proposition of taking the Thorn
resolution from the table and afterward
dismissing it, This is favored by Presi-
dent Goode and many other able leaders,
who think the people OF the State will be
satisfied with this disposition OF the
whole subject. A new and highly inter
esting proposition on the line OF limiting
suffrage is under consideration by some
able lawyers. This. in effect, is to have
a local board in each county, which shall
decide upon the rights OF each individual
to exercise the right of suffrage. This
idea was brought out in the debate on
the suffrage question in the convention
of 1S29-30. Ex-AttOrney-General Ayers
will probably propose to adopt pro-
vision allowing damage suits 20 be
brought against persons charged with
lynching in the county in which such out
law may occur.
MEASURES INTRODUCED.
Mr.. Pollard presented resolution re-
quiring the judges to submit TO the Gov
ernor changes which the Legislature
should make in the laws of the Sta5e.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Turn
bull, directing the Committee on Educa-
ton to report n clause of the Constitu-
ton for separate schools for the races,
and that appropriations shall be applied
to each in proportion to the amount OF
taxes paid.
Resolution by Mr.. Pollard. prohibits
any member OF the Legislature who Is an |
attorney or interested in any corporation |
from voting upon any question in which |
such company may be interested. Mr.
Petit, presented an ordinance excluding |
this class from being members OF the |
Assembly.
Among other resolutions submitted
were these Mr.. BraxtOn, to require
counties and cities to bear a part of the
criminal expenses; Mr.. Hubbard, provid-
ing that nine hours shall constitute
whole days work for all laborers except
farm hands; Mr.. Francis l.. Smith, Missis-
sippi suffrage clause; Mr.. Braxton, a
tonnage tax on the output OF ore mines.
Mr.. Anderson. that cities and towns be
divided into four classes, 30 that char
ters can be provided for under a general
law. A resolution was introduced to
persons caught carrying con-
cealed weapons.
A communication was presented from
colored citizens of Culpeper and Accomac
counties, relating to suffrage. 1t was
referred to Committee on Suffrage.
Mr.. Walter, of Orange: To provide