Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-07-18
THE CONVENTION.

ub lebu6 Uu euo nutobiOh VI O. ~''Aos
ion of the school fund along race lines
In proportion to the amount OF taxes
paid was joined yesterday before the
committee on education OF the C0nsti-
tutional Convention. Judge Turnbull,
of Brunswick, speaking to his resolu-
tion, said his proposition was not based,
as was popularly supposed, on any
prejudice against the negro or any de-
sire to retard bis advancement. The
white people had been depriving their
own children of the means Of educs-
ton to help negroes who had not been
benefited thereby 1t had been demon
strated by experience that the race was
not being benefited In proportion to the
sacrifice made by the white people.
Let them learn TO stand alone-to de-
pend on their own efforts-and soon
there would be an immense improve
ment in their condition. They would
become property holders, would learn
to save for the sake OF providing a
means OF education, and thereby de-
velop into better citizens. He said the
Injustice of sppropriating one mans
property to benefit one who would not
make an effort even to accumulate
property of his own was wrong in prin-
ciple, and the practice Of doing this for
thirty years without any corresponding
benefit should be broken up.
The committee will hear from the
colored delegation on this subject next
Wednesday.
The same committee heard the dis
cussion OF the question OF electing
school officials by popular vote. Judge
Quarles took q strong stand for the
election OF all the officers by the people.
He declared that "until the schools are
taken from the control Of political
bosses or corporations they will con-
tiuue to be failure and good results
impossible" 10 this connection he said
all officers should be elected by the
people.
The judiciary committee discussed all
the morning the question whether the
commonwealth should have the right
OF appeal in revenue cases or In any
other case.
Messrs. Smith, Thorn, Ayers. Sum-
mers, Cameron and Walker opposed
the principle of allowing appeals, and
Messrs. Robertson, Meredith and Eggle-
son advocated it. Some members made
three or four speeches. The speeches
by Messrs. Thorn and Smith were es'
pecially able In behalf of their coucep
tions OF the rights and liberties OF the
citizens, while Judge Robertson re-
sented being placed In an attitude OF
disregard of the rights and liberties ol
the citizens.
The outcome of the long discussion
was an agreement that the right OF ap-
peal by the State should be limited to
revenue cases involving q pecuniary
penalty.
The convention was 10 session fifteen
minutes. Mr.. Hamilton offered = reso
luton iD reference to municipalities,
and Mr.. Tarry presented one 10 rela'
tion to the powers OF the supervisors.
Mr.. Henry G. Stuart, member OF
the committee on taxation and finance,
says he thought the proposed tonnage
tax upon the output of coal and iron
mines was already defeated. The
scheme, he said, is entirely impracti'
cable.
A suffrage clause has been prepared
BY Prof. Raleigh G. Miner, OF the Uni
versity OF Virginia, and will probably
be introduced by some member. Il
provides that q person holding from
$500 to $500 worth of property shal
have two votes. This plan will have
some advocates among the dele9stes
but there Ia not the remotest possibility
of it's being adopted. =.
The committee on suffrage will hole
another meeting today, when Mr.
Fhom's franchise clause will be furthe
considered. His plan seems to NEE
with considerable favor.