Evening star., 1901-07-17
Senator Daniel Reported to Have
Prepared One.
Is SAID TO BE SATISFACTORY
Problem Of Determining Who
Shall Have Voting Rights.
BRIEF CONVENTION SESSION
Special Dispatch 10 The Evening Star

RICHMOND, Va. July 17.-Prior to the
meeting of the constitutional convention
il was reported that United States Senator
John W. Daniel would prepare and present
suffrage clause which would meet all
fhe objections of members from the vari-
Gus sections of the state and would at the
same time meet the provisions of the fed
rraI Constitution. The senator Is reported
10 have given much time to the considera-
ton of the matter. and 1t is believed that
he Is about ready to present the result OF
his Iabors to the committee on suffrage and
franchise for consideration before 1t is sub
mitted for discussion the floor of the
convention. The proposition of Senator
Daniel is said to differ materially from any
vet presented to the convention. The sem
ator Is said TO favor a poll tax of 81. but
nt. inclines to the belief that either the local
electoral boards or the county supervisors
should be given the option of exempting
such of the electorate would. in their
opinion be satisfactory to the voters OF
th- several counties. Every voter who IS
allowed to vote for members Of the general
assembly would. Of course. have the priv
iiage of voting for members of Congress.
and in this way conflict with the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments would be ohvtat-
al but il Is believed that a provision Will
be incorporated By which the right to vote
for county and municipal officers will be
Vested in the local electoral boards or a
board to be created to deal with the ques-
ton
That vexed Grandfather Clause.
A problem entirely new has arisen IN con-
uection with what Is known as the grand
father clause" by which descendants Of
men who rendered military service were to
BE- exempted from the operations of the
suffrage law. and those who voted prior to
1851. In some Of the counties. particularly
he
large numbers of negroes reside who have
rendered military service. and to exempt
these would not accomplish what is desired
by many members The grandfather
clause would exempt descendants of men
who voted prior TO 1861 AS only property
owners Were allowed to vote. the question
IriSeS. What would become Of the descend
ants Of men who could not vote prior to
iST2
Extended Debate Probable.
These are some of the questions which
IRE confronting the suffrage committee,
and which are sources Of worry to the
members who are wrestling with the prob
l@m of who shall vote.
Everything before the convention is be-
ing held in allegiance until the suffrage
committee makes a report. The debate on
the report il expected to last three weeks
pr month. as every member of the con-
vention will desire to go record on the
subject
Brief Session of Convention.
Seventeen minutes sufficed today for the
deliberations Of the constitutional conven-
tiun. The day was fearfuIly warm and op-
pressive. and the members fingered very
few minutes after the adjournment. Only
two resolutions were presented both brief
and Of no especial significance. 1t ap-
pears that the members have about ex-
hausted the supply of ordinances, and as
committeeman they are undertaking the
feat of digesting the mass which has here
tofOre been presented.
President Goode called the body TO order
at 12:OS. Eighty-elght members were pres
ent at roll call Prayer was offered by
he Rev DR. W. E. Evans of Monumental
church. Leave of absence was granted
Delegate Joseph Stebbns of Halifax on ac-
count of sickness in his family. Secretary
Button laid before the convention state
OF local taxation for school purposes and
the amount realized from such source The
report was ordered printed for the use of
the convention,
To Restrict Extension of Credit
MIR. Hamilton Of Petersburg presented
the following, which went TO the committee
on government Of councils and cities
Resolved. That the committees inquire
into the expediency Of amending the con-
-stitution to the following effect, and IL ap-
proved. report the same favorably TO the
convention: That no county. city or other
local subdivision Of the state shall grant
It's credit TO or In aid OF any person asso-
ciation or corporation. and shall not d.
rectly or otherwise subscribe to the stock
Of any company, association or CORPORA
ton. and shah not be party to or become
interested IN any work Of internal improve
ment. nor engaged in carrying on any such
work.
other Propositions.
The following was offered by Mr.. Terry
Of Mecklenburg. and sent to the committee
on county government:
Resolved That article VII. section 2 OF
the constitution be amended by adding
following at the end Of last line thereof:
But 10 board OF supervisors shall ap-
propriate or expend out of the county funds
for any extraordinary or unusual purpose
any exceeding $1,000 without first posting
notice of their Intentions so to do for
thirty consecutive days at the front door
Of the court house of the county, nor for
nfteen days thereafter: and IL before the
termination Of said term of fifteen days at
least twenty citizens Of the county who
snail Tor the prior have been assessed for
taxation with real and personal property
or either aggregattng IN value not less
than $1,000. shall In writing be signed by
them and delivered to the chairman or
any member of said board object to said
appropriation or expenditure then the
same shall not be made without first hay-
ing the approval. at an election to be held
of a majority Of all the citizens OF the
county. otherwise duly qualified to vote
who shall have been assessed upon real and
personal property or either. for the prior
year such election shall be duly ordered
and held after reasonable notice and ac-
cording To laws
Mr Robertson OF Roanoke. from the COM
fEittes on legislative department reported
back the resolution of MIR. Gillespie relative
20 the title OF land purchased by the state
ior uehnquent tax. saying 1t belonged to
was referred rNp0
President Goode. just prior to adjourn
tation to the members to "a gold nsSa,
oratorfcal contest to be held at SmfthdeaI
HAN tonight at which the students will
selected The invitation was received snd
laid on the table When the words "ora
torical contest" We're received the members
smhed recalling the displays Of oratory
which marked the opening days os ths o.,
5iCn. S
PORTO RiCAN INFANTRY.