Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-01-25

The work of the Convention tC
date, says the Charlottesville Pro
gress, will save the State annually
about 100000. The statement being
correct. and we have no reason to
question it, the people will have no
cause for compla int against their
representatives even il nothing more
is accomplished by them. The claim
is made, however, that much larger
saving to the State may be expected
before the labors of the members of
the convention shall have ended.
But whether much or little is accom-
plished in the interest of the State
there is nothing left for us to do but
to trust tn EN-, instead of abusing
them for every act done by them not
in accord with our wishes, and we
cannot believe our confidence mis-
placed in trusting men of their re-
coguized character and ability. They
ought to know better than we can
tell them what legislation is required
in the best interests of the State.
That they have done much, emitting
them TO our confidence and deserving
our commentator, appears in the
summary below recently submitted
by the Richmond Times:
First of all. the judiciary question
has been disposed of and q new court
system adopted, which, We have no
doubt, from layman's point Of view
will give us better, if not a more
economical, system than we have
ever had.
A marked improvement has also |
been made in the Legislative branch |
of government, in denying the right |
which the General Assembly had I'M
der the Underwood Constitution tol
enact local. special or private laws in /
certain enumerated cases. Under the
old system the greater part OF the.
time the Legislature was occupied
with these local and private bills,
and many such bills which were not
proper to be enacted into law were
rushed through without proper con-
sideration. The General Assembly
is now to give its whole attention to
matters OF public import only, and
such restrictions are thrown around
all bills introduced as to prevent ill.,
judicious or dishonest measures from
being sneaked through Moreover,
with this work out OF the way,it will
not be necessary for the Legislature
to sit so long, and so the term has
been reduced to sixty days. This
will be considerable saving to the !
State.
1t is further provided in this con- {
nectiOn that no member of the Gen
eral Assembly, during the term for >
which he shall have been elected,
shall be appointed or elected TO any .
civil office of profit within the gift OF :
the General Assembly or the Cover
nOr; and he cannot accept any other
office except by election bv the peo- v
pie. This will have the effect to pre- q
vent members of the Legislature b
rom log-rolling and electing each n
other to office,an abuse which sprung
Up under the old system, and which
las been time and again denounced .
'y the public press. b
The Convention has also done well s.
Il creating a Board of Education, g
With representatives from the public c
Institutions of learning and public
chools, and with such regulations
IS will, as far as possible, take the IL
public school system out OF politics. II
Another good measure is that pro- ~
riding for a general board for the u
oDtrol Of all hospitals for the in IL
ane, and the Times is especially
ratified that under the new Consti-l p,
ution the General Assembly will be- or
equired to enact law providing for IN
n examination of the books and &C ~
cunts Of all State and county officers in
Tho collect and disburse public -
nnds. This is the introduction of
be inspection system in the State, d
'hich we believe to be absolutely FIR
ssential to good and honest service he
nd which will also be a great moral RI
gency. ac
The Times is also much gratifed of
} note that under the new Constitu- Ri
on the General Assembly will be ca
owered to introduce the Torrens of
md registry system in Virginia,
hlch will be of very material bene-
{ to the owners of real estate. on
1t is manifest from this that the ma
has already accomplish of
much, and we believe that the m'
-her problems now before it will XII
ION be also solved. ap
TIL