Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-13
THE CONVENTION.


terday adopted the amendment offered
by Mr.. r. Walton Moore to the Bill Of
r ghts, regarding trial by jur:es, by o
vote OF 3S to 81, and pending an
amendment the convention adjourned.
Mr.. Moore's amendment provides
that the General Assembly may, in his
judgment, arrange for juries 10 certain
cases OF less than II members, the
minimum being three.
Mr.. Braxton renewed his amendment
or )vidlng for the disposition of certain
cases 10 which the plea of guilty Is en-
tered, without the Intervention Of q
jury.
The amendment was finally adopted
by the vote of 40 to %, after being
changed to read:
But 10 any criminal case upon plea
| of guilty, rendered 10 persnh by the &C.
cused and with the consent of the at
torney for the Commonwealth entered
Of record, the court shall, and, 10 prose
cutions for misdemsanor, upon plea
of not guilty, with the consent OF the
accused and the attorney for the Com
monwealth entered ofrecord, the court
may, in Its discretion, hear and deter
mine the case without the Intervention
of jury.
Mr.. Huuton's amendment, providing
for appeals by the Commonwealth 10
revenue cases, was pending at adjourn
ment.
There we're about the usual number
OF memorials and petitions, most Of
them relating to the Quarles-Bsrbour
resolution. Mr.. Anderson, Of Rock
bridge. presented petition from the
bar OF Lexington protesting against q
reduction OF the terms OF county court
clerks, which was properly referred.
Chairman Harrison, of the committee
on privileges and elections, submitted
report in the case of Treat against
Gregory for seat 10 the convention,
in which he stated that there were
such differences OF opinion between the
members as to the law and the facts
that they decided to make their several
reports, which would be presented in q
few days, and ask the convention to
determine the rights of the contestant
and contestee.
The committee on the executive de-
pertinent devoted Its entire session
Yesterday morning to an audience TO
Auditor Marye. This officer had been
requested to appear and give the COM
mittee such information as he could
on the duties of the second audi
tor and the feasibility of merging the
two offices. Also, to get suggestions as
to the best methods possible for pro.
viding a system of checks on the va
rous financial duties OF both offices.
The com q ittee held a private session
aud the information obtained was not
given out.
Fourteen out OF the twenty demo-
cratic members of the suffrage commit
tee OF the constitutional convention
have agreed upon q franchise plan,
upon which they propose to insist that
q vote be taken next Monday Dighi,
with a view OF reporting 1t to the COLI
ventlon on Tuesday, The principal
point of disagreement is that six of the
democratic members want the under
standing clause dropped after 1908,
while the other fourteen wish it re-
tanned permanently.
The plan Endorsed by the fourteen pro.
vides that all persons shalt be entitled TO vote
who have resided in the State two years, in
tho county one year, and 10 the precinct |
three months. After filling these require
msn,s, the voter must have paid tax Of at |
least 81 on property owned by him or his |
wife, or q poll tax Of $3.50.
From this requirement are exempted all |
who have fought in defense Of the State or |
federal goveTnmsnt, ali who have had three |
months regular employment In the precinct |
where ,hey offer to vote, or who, when they |
offer to register, shall be able 70 explain the |
general nature Of the duties ofihe various off, |
GERS for whom he may at any time DO entitled |
to vote. The provision as to the payment Of
a poll-tsx - prerequisite to voting shall /
not apply to any election held prior to jan
usry 1, 1908. and no person who has served
in the Amy or navy Of the United States,
Confederate States OF any State Of the Union
shsl be required to psy poll.tsx before
voting.