Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-09
UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

The constitutional convention held
its first business session yesterday since
its post election recess.
The anti-liquor people made good use
of the recess, and yesterday the BODY
was fairly flooded with petitions asking
for favorable report on the Barbour.
Quarles resolution.
The chamber of commerce OF Rich
mond sent up petition, asking the
passage OF the Withers railroad COM
mission ordinance providing for the
creation of the Virginia corporation
commission, which Is 10 have control oil
the common carriers, express, tele'
graph aud telephone companies OF the
State.
The resignation OF Delegate Newton
was received and accepted, and the
president issued a writ fixing Novem-
Der 81 10 the time for holding an elec'
ton TO fill the vacancy. Mr.. Z. Walton
Moore was appointed to fill the vacancy
on the finance committee and Mr.. Hen
~ Fairfax became chairman by preee-
dence.
Then the convention went into the
committee of the whole on the question
on the amendment offered by Mr.. Egg
lesion, providing that the mode OF APP
pointment of commissioners OF the
revenue be left to the legislature. The
amendment was adopted by vote OF
| 81 10 20. The committee then rose.
The eligibility of the County Treas
urer 10 a second and third term occupied
the discussion at the afternoon session.
The committee recommended four
year term, the incumbent to be ineligl-
| bic after q second term. Several amend
ments were offered, and the convention
adjourned witt out decisive action.
The suffrage question was the matter
OF prime interest, and was much die
cussed bstween members. The demo
cratic conferences on the suffrage plan
| will likely be resumed next Wednesday
by which time 1t is expected all new
plans will be ready for presentation
and the now absent members will o.
present.
The president of the convention wal
authorized to appoint a committee o
five, with himself as chairman. to con
slider what action, II any, should d.
taken in regard to the meeting OF the
legislature on the first Wednesday II
December. The chair has no, yet nance
this committee. The Legislature will
It is stated, meet at the usual time. be
sides other work OF importance, thu
House is required under the law t
count the vote for Governor and Lieu
tenant-Governor on January l. Ibis
and the fact that appropriations have t
be mode for the conduct OF the govern
ment, make it imperative for the legis
Isture to assemble at the regular time
Otherwise, the convention might pro
vide that it should not meet until th
former body had disposed OF its worl
aud adjourned. .,
The draft of the education committee
report was placed in Chairman Mel
waine's hands last night, and 1t Will D
submitted to the convention aoou
Tuesday next. Many important change
re recommended. The board OF educs
ten is 10 be campnssd- Of lhs goysGQQl
attorney general, chairman OF faculty
the University OF Virginia, and pres
dents of William and Mary, Polytech
mic Institute, State Female Norms
School, and superintendent OF the VII
sinia Military Institute. This boar
shall elect the State superintendent an
the county and city superintendent
mspage and invest school funds; uak
rules for the schools; select single lii
of books and educational appliances
except 10 cities OF 5000, and have cor
troll of the State library, through cou
mission OF FIVE, and shall appoint ID
/ librarian. The Legislature is authorize
TO establish agricultural, normal, manr
al training, and technical schools, sD
/ also to make laws to prevent parent
and guardians from allowing childre
to grow up in ignorance. II is provide
that white and colored children sha
not be taught in the same schools. Fac
magisterial district shall be separa'
school district. No appropriation sha
be made to any school not owned e.
clusively and controlled by the Stat
but this shall not affect the contrat
with William aud Mary. The uniye
sity is to be maintained with an apprf
priation not less than that now pre-
vided. The school sge is fixed at froi
! seven TO twenty wears.