Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-02
THE CONVENTION.

both by Mr.. Withers. One PROVIDES
for reduction OF the clerical force and
was adopted. The committee on &C
counts and expenditures was instructed
to report how many OF the present force
of clerks and pages could be dispensed
with by October 8. The other pro.
vded for two daily zessioDs, from 1880
a. 10. to 1:30 D. N, and from to p
IN. Mr.. Witbers said the committee
would soon have ell Its reports 10, and
fve-hour sessions were better now tnan
eight-hour sessions in the winter.
which would be inevitable unlees
doubleday sessions were begun now.
Mr.. Watson said, except ss 10 one or
two committees, Mr.. Withers was very
much mistaken 10 saying there were
others ready to report. He said the
educational committee and the cities aud
towns and suffrage committee had
great deal of work before them, and
the passage OF the resolution would
seriously embarrass the work OF the
committees The resolution was then
defeated. TIE convention then went
into the committee OF the whole and
made excellent progress on the report
of the legislative department.
The first question under considera'
ton was an amendment to subsection
5 of section "a of the legislative COM
mittee's report, excepting animals that
are Injurious 10 farmers interests from
the clause forbddiug the Legislature to
pass any special or local law relative to
the assessment and collection OF taxes.
After debate the amendment Except
animals dangerous TO the farming ID
terests" was adopted-ayes, 80; noes,
2S.
Subsection 6, forbidding extending
time for assessment or collection oil
taxes. was adopted.
Subsection Z, preventing the ex-
emption Of property from taxation, was
adopted.
Sub section s, remitting, releasing,
posiponiDg, or diminishing any ooliga'
ton or liability OF any person, corpora
ton, or association to this State. or to
anv political subdivision thereof, was
the subject of considerable discussion,
but it was finally adopted. The follow
ing sub.seclions were agreed to without
debate
9. Reiunding money lawfully paid
into the treasury OF the State or Inc
treasury OF any political subdivision
therein.
10. Granting out OF the treasury oil
the State or granting out OF the treasury
of any political subdivision thereof, any
extra compensation 10 any public OH
Ger, servant, agent, or contractor.
IL For conducting elections oil
designating the places OF voting.
Judge Brook moved to strike out sec
q. ton u, forbidding the legislature "giv
Ing effect TO invalid deeds, wills, leases
or other Instruments and gave severa
instances of the great injury such
clause would be capable OF produc cling
Chairman Moore agreed with the com
mittee that this subsection be stricken
out.
: The following sub-sec,ions were
adopted without debate.
Is. Regarding labor, trade, mining
or manufacturing or regulating the rate
, of interest On money.
IA. Granting any pension or pensions
: 10. Creating, increasing, or decreas
ling or authorislng to bs increased Of
decreased the salaries, fees, percent
ages. or allowances OF public officeri
( during the term for which they art
, elected or appointed.
r Mr.. J. L. Brown opposed section 10
which forbides authorizing the open
ing, altering, maintaining or vacatng o
| roads, highways, streets, alleys. towt
plats, cemeteries, graveyards or public
ground not owned by the State.
, Mr.. Turnbnll for the committee, de
Tended the section by saying that gen
{, eral laws could be passed by which ~
, cal road laws could be adopted witbou
coming to the legislature every session
D 10 amend law for every county or re
peal it one session and re-enact 1t o.
; change it at another; that If the gentle
men Directing TO the section would con
slider the whole scheme OF the commit
tees report they would fnd that tn
/ trouble they feared was avoided.
0 The amendment was rejected-2S Il
! 26-and the section was adopted as |
came from the COMMITTEES, as were als'
the succeeding sections, except 10 which
was stricken out and q, which wa
passed by. The committee considered
! and adopted the report down TO and 10
3 Guiding section 81, passing by section
8 lion 26 at the request OF Chairman
Moore.
The educational committee held 81
executive session yesterday. The.
agreed to recommend minimum
amount in the constitution OF appropria
tons to educational institutions; tina
, the names of State institutions be no
! embraced in the constitution; that al
future appointments for boards OF visi
tors, trustees and other officers shoult
be for fixed and certain tetms.
The committee On executive depart
ment failed off quorum yesterday. Th
COMMITTEES has agreed that both the sec
E retarer OF the Commonwealth and Stat
l treasury shall be elected by the people
and the auditor by the legislature. Tn
: only two questions unsettled are thos
D recurring State fiscal officers and thel
r subordinates to give fiduciary or trus
company bonds and ss to whether tn,
: second auditor shall be made consti
tutioDal officer. The Office will be re
: tanned.
4 Judge Roger Gregory, the sittiDl
member from Hanover and King Will
liam In the convention, is confident tba
be will be retained In bis seat agains
: the contestant, Marshal Morgan Treat
The committee on public institution
y, last night adopted resolution author
j iziug the legislature to borrow $3.50, 00
for the enlargement OF the penitentiary
= 1t was also decided to change the bosr'
0 OF directors of the penitentiary from
u three to FIVE members, and to max