Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-01-23
THURSDAY EVENING, JAN. %. 1902
TIE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

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THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Is still sat it." Judge Bergman
Green now says the work Will De
foIsbed and the convention ADJ ourn
on February Is. Well, this lea consum'
nation devoutly to be wished. Mr.
Cannon. Of Illinois. in Congress on
Monday, when asked as to the policy Of
his party In the Philippines replied
1--WE expect to remain there forever
and a day." 10 June last, 10 the early
sessions of the convention, there was
quite a contention as to the powers Of
that body, and it was resolved "ths'
we (they) are the people, and from thai
day to the present they have conducted
affairs of State as if they were II am
Sir Oracle; when 1 speak let no man
ope his mouth" However, as has
been previously intimated, the people
are getting tired of the convention
The power that makes can unmake'
and If one legislature can give authority
to the people to say by their votes that
the work of the'present constitution Ii
unsatisfactory, 1t remains in then
hands by the calling OF another con
vsptlon to correct the work OF the
present. All this can be done, anC
most probably will be done If the con-
yention persists in going 80 fully into
the domain OF legislation which
should be allowed to remain In the
hands of the General Assembly. 1t Ii
true that the fear Of such another
exhibit as We now have might deter
thu people from calling another consti'
tutional convention upon the ground
that It is better to bear those ills we
have than to fly to Others that we
know not of or the present convention,
TO stretch proposition, might enact
section prohibiting the General Assem-
bIy from submitting proposition to the
people, or allowing the people to vote
for any further conventions until for
ever and two days" Senator Daniel,
in connection with the convention,
spoke of political graves" and more
than one member thereof will repeat
the refrain OF song popular some years
ago, "They are after me-" In one OF
the recent committee reports, that for
the government OF cities and towns, 1t
is provided that municipalities shall
not impose taxes upon Auditing land
owners for street or other improve
ments except for improving side
walks. Place These words 10 the con-
stitution and Virginia cities will present
a sad condition. Here is another phase
of home rule which the convention
seems determined to strike down. This
clause will be much regretted If it
should become law. The people OF
this city, certainly q great many OF
them, are showing q commendable dis
position 10 improving the streets. AS
1t Is in Alexandria so most probably is
it the case In other cities. Do the
members of the convention desire the
cities to remain like small towns? Do
the intelligent one hundred arrogste to
themselves all the wisdom OF the ages
and intend to leave no matters to the
general assembly? II they do there
will be for many Of them "day Of
righteous reckoning" and those who
SOW the wind will reap the whirlwind
The convention has consumed sever
months and has done little as yet, save
harm and crowded court dockets and
an endless chain OF litigation will prob
ably follow 10 its wake.