Evening star., 1901-08-26
Delegates to Virginia Convention in
Committee of Whole
SUBMISSION QUESTION AGAIN
Speeches For and Against Its Going
to the People.
THE WORK OF TODAY
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, August 26.-Eighty-
one members were present at roll call when
the constitutional convention was called to
order today. The continuation Of the de-
bate on the preamble and bill of rights was
sufficient to draw large audience, the gal
lery on the east being filed. while outside
the rail people were literally packed
President Goode called the body to order
at noon. prayer being offered by Delegate
Dunaway.
Delegate Lincoln presented a memorial
from the business men of Marion in supp
port OF q reduction of homestead exemp-
tion to $1,000.
President Goode presented similar me-
mortal from the business men of Berford
county.
Delegate Stebbins presented a resolution
providing for the recording of the names,
capital and character of all corporations
doing business in the state.
Mr.. Barham Of Sussex offered the follow
ing, which was refused:
Whereas this convention is seeking
every method to curtail expenses Of the
state government and to eliminate or abol-
ish all unnecessary and super1uous offices;
and
Whereas 1t has been the cutom hereto
fore for the legislature to create new Of
fees by bare majority of said body;
therefore. be It
Resolved, that after the adoption Of this
constitution no new Office shall be created
or established by the legislature Of this
state except by vote Of not less than
sixty-seven in the house and twenty-seven
in the senate
In Committee Of the Whole.
At 1920 O'Clock the convention. on mo-
ton Of Chairman Green of the committee
on preamble and bin Of rights. resolved
itself into committee of the whole and re-
sumed consideration Of the two PROPOSE
uons, an amendment to the report by Mr.
Wysor being the pending question.
Delegate Dunaway Of Lancaster was the
first speaker. He repudiated the idea that
the Norfolk convention had right to
pledge submission of the work to the
present electorate. He regretted that the
subject of submitting the matter to the
people had not been deferred until after
the constitution had been framed The
pledge made at Norfolk was in the way of
the best work of which the convention was
capable. He contended that the 10000 ne
groes who were notortously incapable Of
self-government should not be permitted
to frame the organic law of the state under
which the whites were to live. The con-
stitution should be framed, the conven-
ton take recess for thirty days, go home
let the delegates feel the pulse of the peo-
pie and then to come back and determine
whether 1t should be submitted and to
whom or proclaimed. He was not pre-
pared to say how he should vote until the
constitution should be framed
Opposes a Long Preamble.
Delegate Carter of Hanover followed Mr..
Dunaway. He opposed the long recital Of
events in the preamble pointing to the fact
that the new constitution of New York has
a preamble Of less than half dozen lines
Taking up the argument made by Mr..
Wysor that the convention could only
frame a constitution and that the people
must ratify; that of Mr.. Harrison that the
convention was held as a result of pledge
to the people. and that of Mr.. O'Flaherty
in favor of submitting the question to the
people for ratification, Mr.. Carter con-
tended that when the legislature went be-
yond providing for holding the convention
1t exceeded its authority; the convention
was supreme, and was not and could not
be bound by any utterance Of the legisla-
ture. The legislature was the creature of
the convention and certainly no well bal
was or could be superior to the Creator.
Had Fun With MIR. Carter.
Mr.. Carter argued that the convention
was competent to determine whether the
work of the body should be reviewed by the
people. part of the people, or 1t should be
proclaimed.
Mr.. Carter was interrupted several times
by Messrs. Wysor, Harrison and O'Fla-
herty. his replies evoking laughter Mr..
Carter, In illustrating a point. said, '''If
you authorize me to buy horse"
Mr.. WysOr-"From your argument. I
would rather have you buy horse for me
than to have you make a constitution
This was greeted with shout of laugh
ter, in which Mr.. Carter Joined.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Carter's speech
the committee rose. and the convention, at
2:1O clock, adjourned.