Evening star., 1901-08-02
Virginia Convention Finally Agrees
to Long Recess.
Big CROWD PRESENT TODAY
People Come to Hear Daniel on
Bill of Rights.
RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

StitutfOnai convention was called to order
at noon with ninety members present. The
hall was crowded with visitors: the eastern
gallery was occupied almost exclusively by
ladies and their escorts. In the western
gallery were men. a few colored men being
in the assembly. On the lever floor every
seat was occupied. many members bringing
In friends to hear the speeches of the
delegates on the preamble and bill Of rights.
Senator John w. Daniel was expected to
speak and the crowd came to hear the
most distinguished orator in the state. Out
side the railing people were packed In a
solid mass. The hall was hot but the peo-
pie kept coming. ~-~~. .g-.a
Shortly after the session opened Mr..
O'Flaherty Of Warren introduced an ad-
Journment resolution. He wanted to take
recess from Saturday till August %. the
members to receive mileage, the employees
half pay. -.. -s ..-
Committee of the Whole.
The resolution was passed by, pending the
appearance of the members of the suffrage
committee which was In session. Pending
action on the resolution, the convention re-
solved itself In committee of the whole and
the discussion of the preamble and bill OF
rights was resumed, Mr.. Wysor Of Pulaski
was recognized and began his speech in
support of his amendment.
Mr.. Wysor in his speech argued against
abridging the electorate for submitting the
new constitution to the people. He favor
ed proclafming the constitution rather than
that the electorate should be abridged. It
was neither right nor lawful to proclaim
the constitution especially in view of the
sacred promise made by the dominant po-
litical party to submit it to the full cleo
torate. The promise should be kept. Re-
plying to question he said he would
rather submit the constitution to women
ttr.lr, 60 s,.A&
eral times by members, and his argu-
ment was shaken, but he kept his temper.
the debate being good tempered.
Resolutions Presented.
The following resolutions were presented:
BY Mr.. Bristow of Middlesex-Resolved,
first That the manufactured products of
farm. gardens. orchards, dairies as we'll as
the products of the shell and other fish in
dustries of the state, shall be sold in any
section of the commonwealth without a
license. either by the producer or his
agents.
Second, That all persons engaged IN the
purchase of the above named products for
the purpose Of facilitating their trans
portation so as to get said products In the
hands of consumers shall <5e exempt from
any license whatever for engaging in said
enterprise.
Third, That no railroad, steamboat or
other transportation company doing bust
ness partially or wholly in this state shall
be allowed to discriminate against the
farm products Of this state by transporting
the similar products of other states and
sections at a lower rate Of freight tlan
they charge for moving similar articles
within the limits of this commonwea. tn.
BY Mr.. Portlock-To amend the suffrage
laws so as to provide that all voters shall
pay a poll tax of 81, reside In state cne
year. county three months. read and write
and own and pay taxes six months, prior
to the elegtion, on 500 real or personal
property. i
BY Mr.. Fairfax of Loudoun-Directing the
secretary of the commonwealth to furnish
the convention with the names location
and capital stock of all private CORPORA
tions doing bQlsiness In Virginia and estf-
mated gross annual earnings except trust
companies, banks and common carriers.
BY Mr. Mcllwaine (by Iequest)-Protest
against appropriation by the state of any
public funds to any institution Of learning
which does not maintain a high code Of
morals. =
The president laid before the convention
a memorial from the Roanoke African dis
trict conference in reference to the school
fund and report from Auditor Marye of
the number of whites and celored voters
VINO pay the poll tax. The report was or
dered printed.
Mr. Withers. from the committee on the
reduction or expenses, submitted a report
on county government. The report recon-
mends that all reference to county and
circuit clerks and prosecuting attorneys
should be omitted from article of the
constitution; that in counties of less than
10000 the sheriff Is to collect taxes: in
counties with a population in excess of
3o.ooO treasurer may be elected. the eisc-
ton of all county officers to be for four
years that commissioners Of the revenue
be appointed and receive salaries
The convention at the conclusion of Wv
sor's speech adopted the adjournment res
olution, IL to 35
Work of Convention May BE Rejected,
Grave doubt exists in the minds of men
acquainted with the conditions throughout
the state whether the new constitution will
receive the approval of the voters at the
polls for with the adoption of the recon-
mendations of the committee on reduction
OF expenses will go several hundred office
holders. and II Is fair to presume that few
or the people who now draw salaries will
vote TO cut themselves of from the state
or county treasures. Added TO the office
holders are their friends and supporters
and whatever Influence the men on the
pay rolls may have Will be exerted in op-
position to ratification, and with the op-
position OF the republicans it Is almost GER
tain that the new constitution will be re-
pudiated This, in connection with the
fact that the republicans are preparing to
make vigorous fight for the governOrship
has convinced many men that 1t will be in
expedient TO have the constitution before
the people while they are in any way dis
gruntled. with the hope that the antagon-
ism which may have been aroused by abo-
lition of offices and reduction of salaries
will have subsidized or laid aside in the fall
election.
Favor "a Proclamation.
No one on the ground who Is familiar
with the trend of events will deny that
the sentiment Is growing to have the con-
stitutiOn proclaimed by the convention.
This is directly attributable to the intro
duction OF measures which are regarded as
extremely radical. Take. for instance, the
propositions affecting the corporations and
common carriers. A measure by Delegate
T. l.. Moore of Montgomery Is pending
which repudiates the decisions Of the su-
preme court OF appeals on the fellow-ser-
wants question, which has uniformly been
against employees OF railroads and corpora
tions and today Delegate Eugene Withers
OF Danville. one of the brainiest men in
the convention. introduced resolution
providing for a corporation commission,
which Is along the line Of the interstate
commerce commission act, the provisions
being even more stringent than the nation
al measure. The corporation commission
would have absolute and complete control
OF the common carriers In Virginia with
power to regulate traffic and rates, with a
right to examine books and papers.
In view of these matters. and the pledge
to the people that reforms would be ac-
complished. the idea Of proclaiming the
constitution is gaining friends and 1t is
ar.f 1ttrAt tIat -f~Ilr