The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-15

Y A. EI1lDAY Z. I.EBRU
self-respecting men competent to repre-
sent the people i'll such a body, woulo !
be willing TO be members of an emascu-
lated convention. OF course any liIll-
tation on the powers of the convention
which the Legislature may attempt TO
inpose would be of no more effect than
an expression of the opinion OF so many
intelligent and patriotic citizens; and 1t
would be the right and obligation OF the
members Of the convention to disregard
any such limitations or restrictions as
conflicted with their duty to the people,
whom alone they would represent. Still.
it will be exceedingly unfortunate for
the Legislature to attempt to thus anti
cinate the action of the convention, 20
1lslrp its functions, or to attempt to tie
its hands.
1T will make unnecessary issues, tend
to produce confusion in the minds of
the people, and Implications which are
unnecessary and should be avoided. In
other particulars, u seems 70 me the
scheme of the majority of the Senate
would be unfortunate
In view of the fact that the writer of
the letter will almost certainly be a mem
ber of the convention, his view that the
members will not feel themselves bound
by any legislative enactment is interest
ing and significant. He concludes:
'.I have talked with a number of our
most intelligent citizens, and without eX-
ception the views here express are in
accord with theirs. Some of them ex-
press themselves much more strongly
than have done, and resent as rehec-
ton upon the people any attempt on the
part of the Legislature 10 limit or de-
fine the powers and duties of the con-
vention. This they consider as unwar-
ranted intrusion between the people and
the delegates whom they will select, to
whom they will confide their will and
whom the people alone are competent to
instruct iE the exercise OF their powers.
The bill to incorporate the tobacco
trade of Richmond may die in the Com
lnittee on General Laws of the House,
to which Mr.. Cardwell had it committed
several days ago. The bill passed the
House, Mr. Patteson failed to get it
through, though he made a hard fight
for it.
Members of the Legislature receive a
gleat many UNUSUAL requests from their
constituents, but in the mail of a distin-
Sl:ished mountain statesman yesterday WAS
one that bears the palm alone" and lays
over anything yet received in that line.
1t was n large batch of letters and Deti-
tons praying the immediate removal for
alleged good cause, of d fourth-class post
master and the appointment of another,
whose name was highly recommended, in
his place.
The papers assume that the LEGISLATURE
has charge of the United States Post
Office Department and that the appoint
ment and removal OF the officers are on
the same footing with county judges,
and that the House permits the local
member, out of courtesy, to name the
man. One of the letters says: I'VE
most respectfully request your Honor to
remove Mr.. - at once and aq,pot,t
Mr. - in his place
While the statesman to whom the
unusual request is addressed is ever ready
to serve his constituents, ne finds himself
poWerless to act, for two reaIsons-fir.st
that the mauter is under the control of
the United States Government; and sec
ond, that the powers that be are Repub-
licans and would not listen long to a
Democratic legislator on the subject
Hon. Edmund ". Hubbard, OF Bucking-
ham, who returned last night from his
nome, was glad the conference committee
had reached conclusion on the conven-
ton bills. and thought their report wotlld
be adopted by the House without objec-
ton.
On account of the long and weary ses-
sOns of both houses of the Legislature
yesterday, Senator William Stands was
the only member who availed himself
of the invitation to go out to the Soldiers
Home and inspect that institution.
Several members of the commission
composed Of Messrs Lupton, Walker,
Boaz, Bowles and Pollock, appointed by
the Legislature to formulate a better
system of check and balance between
the several State Departments visited
the penitentiary yesterday afternoon and
examined the financial methods of that
institution. They had nothl.s to give
out, and will reserve their report for the
regular session next winter.
1t is probable that Speaker f. W.
Saunders OF the House of Delegates will
be to-day elected judge OF the Second
judicial Circuit to succeed Judge S. G.
Whittle, resigned to accept a position
upon the bench of the Court of Appeals.
Mr.. Saunders has no opposition, and it
has been decided that there shall be no
caucus of the Democratic members called
to go through the formality of making a
nomination.
A number of legislators have already
gone home in anticipation of adjournment
Hon. w. p. Dupuy, Of Roanoke, Were
among those who left last night.
Captain Jacob C. Gent, of Russell, who
is one OF the ablest lawyers in the House.
is much Disconnected because some of
the papers in their reports OF the House
proceedings credit all his bills and
speeches to Mr.. AIcClung the able member
from Washington. Captain Gent said
yesterday that he cared nothing about the
matter, except that his constituents were
plying him with letters, telling him they
supposed he must be i'll, or absent from
the sessions Of the House. inasmuch as
he was getting Mr.. AeClung to look after
all his bills
SAVED HIS LIFE.
Holl Int I,a Inf Mon