Evening star., 1901-08-28
Question Still Being Discussed at
Richmond.
EX-GOVERNOR CAMERON SPEAKS
He Favors Submitting Constitution
to an Abridged Electorate.
COM MITTEE ORTS
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
RICHMOND, Va, August 2S.-The ca
pacity of the constitutional convention hall
today was the size Of the audience which
assembled to hear the debate on the pre-
amble and bill Of rights. the pending ques-
tfon being on the amendment offered by
MI Wysor to propose instead of "or-
dain. There were many distinguished WIS.,
itors In the audience.
The eastern gallery was packed with la
dies, while they occupied all available
space on the floor. The western gallery
was occupied by men, about a dozen ne
groes being in attendance.
The number of members was larger than
at any time since the body reconvened.
The fact that Ex-Governor Cameron was
to speak was the attraction. and In the ex-
pectation to hear a magnificent effort they
were not disappointed. Several times Col
onei Cameron was interrupted by Mr.. Wy
sor. and the replies to queries propounded
were greeted with applause
Work of the Convention
The convention was called to order at
noon by President Goode. Prayer was Of
Tered by the Rev. DR.. w. W. Moore Ct
Richmond ,.~
Several memorials relative to regulating the
liquor traffic were presented by various
members and were referred to the commit
tee on preamble and bill Of rights. Dele
gate Petit Of Fluvanna moved that the
convention resolve itself into committee of
the whole for the further consideration of
the reports of the committee on preamble
and bill of rights
This was agreed to and Col. Cameron
was recognized. He came up to the space
In front OF the chairman and began his
speech He referred to the speeches of
Delegates Wysor, O'Flaherty and Harri-
son. making satirical and humorous
thrusts at the positions taken by the GEN
tiemen. He regretted that the question of
determining the action Of the conven-
uon In putting into effect the new consti-
luton should have arisen at this time
He was in favor of submitting the work
70 an electorate. but he was not prepared
electorate
The convention, he believed. was abso
lutte and supreme. The plea had been made
that to restrict the suffrage would initiate
against the white people of the southwest
and the valley. The time had never come
and he believed 1t never could when the
people OF the state of Virginia would not
stand shoulder to shoulder and come to
the rescue of their brethren. The Norfolk
convention, nor any other body of men In
the state, had any idea that the new con-
stitution would be submitted to a class of
people who had never shown any appre-
for a county constable.
The speech was characteristic of the
man, eloquent, forcefuI, keen and at all
times marked with consideration. 1t occu-
pied nearly an hour and half in delivery
and frequently the applause necessitated a
stop OF two or three minutes.
AT L:4O CLOCK the committee rose anu
the convention adjourned.
Committee On Legislature Reports.
The committee on legislature today SUBJ
mitted the following In relation to the leg
isiature: Members of the house and sen
ate are to be elected for four years. Per
sons holding county, city and other office
are disqualified as members of the general
assembly.
Sessions of the general assembly are to
be held every four years. and members Of
the legislature are debarred from holding
office except such as shall be filled by pop-
ular vote. Sessions are to be ninety days
beginning the second Wednesday In Jan
uary. Extra sessions are limited to thirty
days. All measures are to be read three
times In each house, except cod1f1cation and
emergency measures and shall receive
three-1fths of all members elected
The general assembly Is relieved almost
entirely of special and private measures
No measure Is to become effective until
ninety days have elapsed after its passage,
except in emergencies which shall be ex-
pressed in preamble to such measures. The
/ secretary OF the commonwealth Is to be the
custodian of legislative records