The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-23
AIR. hAYII|.L. ] TON
STRONG SPEECH.
He Concludes for the Majority
Plan.
FLOOD TO SPEAK PEAK. TONIGHT .l;
viii Contend for the Same Scheme of SUI.
frage The Petersburger Waz
Listened TO With Great
Interest.
He Concludes foe the Majority
FLOOD TO SPEAK TONIGHT

Mr.. Alexander Hamilton devoted most
of his argument in the suffrage confer
ence last night to the grandfather clause
and strongly presented sllis view of its
utter unconstitutionality. He said that
no good lawyer in Louisiana or North
Carolina had any confidence in it, and
only looked upon it as a temporary make
Shift,
He then compared the permanent with
the Temporary understanding clause. he
showed how the latter could answer the
purpose for only one year, and even then
would exclude only $1,000 negroes, all OF
whom could make application for regis
tration just as soon as the two years
expired. On the other hand, the pern1a-
nent understanding clause would act as
q. permanent barrier to admission of the
vote which, it was recognized by ALL was
the bone of contention.
NONE AXE PERFUCT.
He explained the administration fea-
lures of the law and said that no law
that had ever been devised on any sub
ject was SO perfect that it could not be
NAL administered. Iie asked the confer
cnce to consider the fact that out OF
twenty-one Democrats on the Suffrage
Committee, twenty of them had signed a
report based on the understanding prin-
ciplc. He said he believed that those
twenty men We're fair representatives off
the integrity and ability of the convention
and fairly representative Of tho best and
most moral element of the State of Vir-
ginia. lie showed how the applicant for
registration who was unfairly treated
would have every protection given him
of time to correct the error before the
election came on.
JUDICIAL INTEGRITY.
He paid high tribute to the integrity
of the judges of Virginia, and said the
rights of all voters would be safe in their
hands if any attempt whatever was made
by a corrupt registrar to deprive them
of their rights. He proposed for the con-
vention to namc the registrars, who
SHOULD administer tho law at every pre-
cipct in the State.
Mr.. Hamilton's time was extended when
his hour expired, and he concluded a lit
tic before 10 o'clock. He was asked
great many questions by different mem
bcrs, who showed more interest in the
subject than at any previous meeting.
il was the universal comment that Mr..
Hamilton had succeeded in awakening
more interest III the merits of the ma
jorty plan than any" previous discus
sion.
The conference adjourned at 10 o'clock
until tonight.
Mr.. Flood will sneak on the majority
plan tonight. ss+t&
Finance add Taxation.
There will be several propositions to
provide for a. reduction of the tax rate
when the finance report comes up for
consideration in the convention.
Judge Marshall has one already drawn
Up aud is taking it around in his pocket
His resolution provides for reduction
OF the tax rate from 40 cents on the 500
to 80 cents.
Congressman Flood proposes to intro
duce a resolution fixing the tax rate at
~ cents with n proviso that after two
years the Legislature can raise it to IS
cents. II that increase shall be found nee,
essary to raise sufficient revenue to sup
port the government.
New Plan Proposed.
The Corporation Committee met vester-
day afternoon for the purpose of coming
to final settlement of the report to be
made to the convention. But it didn't
When the meeting was called to order
Mr.. Hunton introduced substitute for
the report relating to railroad commits
s1on he said it was practically a copy
OF the interstate commerce act and the
remedy was practically a copy of the
law already in force in Virginia. Mr..
Hunton made a most earnest and Ella
borate argument against the adoption of
the committee report and in support of
the one submitted by him.
After his speech many OF the members
of the committee said they had made up
their minds on the question. Messrs.
Wysor, McIlwane and Kendall claimed
that the railroad attorneys and officials
had made every proposition that coulG
be thought of. and they had given them
careful attention They were opposed to
further delaying the report of the ccTn-
mittee.
Mr.. Hunton insisted that his substitute
had features in it that the co 1nmittee
had never heard discussed. He wanteo
the committee to give it fair cons.deca-
on. if it took them month
! Chairman BraXtor said the committee
had been struggling with this question
for months an(: months, and just at the
last meeting for a. substitute, which em-
bodied every proposition that had been
considered it locks like waste Of time
and useless delay TO begin ali over again
He called attention to repeated delays.
and said it looked as if the committee
would not get it's report in this year.
The upshot of it ali was that the COM
,nittee agreed to take the matter up to-
day and come to vote at o'clock
though Judge Brooke objected to having
to come to a vote before further discus
sion was had on the Hunton substitute.