The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-10-22
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1901
THE TWO SUFFRAGE PLANS.
COMMITTEES REPORT.


one Of which wilfualiiy him:
/. lie must be soldier, who has
served in the army and navy, in some
war in which the Confederate States the
United States, or one of the United States
have been engaged
, He or his wife must own property Of
the value of $3.50.
3. He must have been regularly en-
gagged or employed at business or work
for three months OF the year, and must
be able to understand the duties Gf any
or all the officers for whom he may at
any time be called to vote.
In addition to the above any person
whose actual habitation for twelve
months before the election cannot be
certainly ascertained by the election Off
GERS, shall be excluded from voting.
Any person coming within any Of the
aforesaid classes shall have the right Of
suffrage, provided he has paid his poll-tax
OF SlJ0 six months before the election.
The future voter, now coming of age.
and who registers after January |, 1904.
in addition to what il required OF those
now 21 years old, will be required to
make his application for registration in
writing, and to fix his own ticket with
out aid from the election officer.
The Board of Registration, which will
be required to hold the examination 10
determine whether or not those who APP
ply under the understanding clause
shall be registered, will be composed Of
three good aud discreet citizens in every
magisterial district and ward Of the
State Those who hold Office for the
first term are to beappointed by the con-
yention itself; their successors by the
Circuit courts
The Judges Of election are to be ap-
pointed by the Circuit courts.
This plan is supported by every mem
ber of the Suffrage Committee east of the
Blue Ridge, where the negro is serious
political factor, except three. 1t is be
lieyed by those who support it that the
great body OF the white vote OF the State
will be preserved under it ; and that its
practical effect will be the elimination of
90 per cent. of the negro vote. The
duties of the various public officers, from
Constable to Presidential Elector, will
it is believed, supply test of sufficient
breadth and height TO remove the negro
from the field of politics.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The article recommended by the mi
nority of the committee provides the fol-
lowing qualifications for voters:
l. That he be male citizen q years
OF age.
, Residence in the State two years !;
in the county or city one ear, and the
voting precinct thirty days.
3. Payment by him, atleast six months
prior to the election, of the poll-tax OF
$1.50, preceding the first election in
1903, to which it is to be applied; and
after that time requires that all poll-taxes
for every preceding year which shall have
become due and payable under and by
virtue of the Constitution, shall have
been paid.
I. That he shall be registered as may
be provided by law.
). That is registered after the adoption
OF this Constitution, and prior to jan
uary /, 1904, he shall Q) have hereto
fore served in time of war in the military
or naval forces of the United States, or OF
the Confederate States, or of one Of the
States OF the United States:or(2) be able to
read any section OF the Constitution OF this
State submitted to him by the registra-
ton officers, or to understand the came
when read to him; or (3) he shall have
paid to the State taxes for the year pre-
ceding that in which he offers to vote as
much as 81 on property owned by and
assessed against him.
All citizens registered under the forego-
ing qualifications continue to be electors
as long as they maintain the qualifica-
tions required under this article, and are
free from its disqualifications, and they
are not required to make application in
writing to register, and may be aided in
preparing and depositing their ballots,
when these provisions come in force
hereafter:
After January 1, 1904, the reading or
understanding or explaining any section
of the Constitution of the State edrop-
ped and every person not previously regis
tered under the foregoing provisions
must, in addition to the qualifications OF
age, residence and prepayment OF poll
tax, make application for registration in
their own handwriting, and must pre-
pare and deposit their own ballots, with
out aid from another unless they have
served in time of war, or are blind, or
physically disqualified.
1t will be seen from this statement that