The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
ONE POINT SCORED
BY CORPORAL R TONS.
Secure an Amendment Giving
Right of Appeal.
CONVENTION NEARING END
Two Other Reports to Be Concluded and Then
.he Suffrage Problem VII Be
Dealt With con,eu.
tlon Gossip.
CONVENTION NEARING END

\ Y A
The past weeks heavy laaors in the
Constitutional Convention circles, six
hours nearly every day having been given
to close application on the floor of the
chamber ilagc tended. to bring things
nearer and nearer 20 the much coveted
day when the. delegates can look back
upon tho completed whole and. go home
rejoicing.
There aow remains only q portion of
fEo article on corporations to be finally
adopted by the convention. five sections
having, been completed UP TO the hour OF
adjournment yesterday. The report on
Taxation and finance will then be taken
up. and 81 can easily be disposed of by
Thursday.
This lcayes oi,is= the article on suffrage
TO Zoe considered dc novo. How long it
VIII take to dispose of that is entirely
probiematical. 1t may be a day: it may
be a. month. No one can tell. Possibly
by March 18th it will have been settled
FOR good or for evil.
Then comes consideration of the various
resoiutiens TO rcscind. and the time re-
lu;site to dispose of them is equally as
sifposSip.e Of estimation Last and by 10
means least will be the final revision and
adjustment report, in which will be In
Tol"ed the question of submission Or pro-
e,aasation Of the Constitution.
RAILROADS SCORE "A POINT.
TIE outcome OF the session yesterday
was the adoption of an amendment which
gives the railroads the right to appeal
from q ruling as 10 the sufficfency of its
suspending bond. and one other amend
snent which permits the Legislature to
exempt religious corporations from pay
anent Of the annual s. license tax.
. THE convention was opened with prayer
by Rev. ]. D. Langley, Of ST. James
Methodist Church. fifty-ninc members
fieing present. After the granting of
many leaves OF absence, the convention
proceeded to consider and adopt the va
rious sections of the Article on corpora
Lions as amended in Committee OF the
Whole. Section e. which contains ten
Eub-sectioDs. was first takcl up. There
was no opposition TO any of the provis-
ions expressed. Chairman Braxton of
fered many amendments principally of
e verbal nature. pointing out each line
and clause as a subsection was read, and
explaining the object OF if. The only
break in The tedious Inonotony was when
Judge Robertson moved that the Corpora
tion Committee of the convention be
made permanent and perennial for the
purpose Of suggesting amendments to the
article to the Governor. the Corporation
Commission. the General Assembly and
everybody else.
ONE FOR MIR. TIIOA1.
When The final adoption of subsection q
pf section q came up. Mr. Thorn Won a
Seeded victory over Chairman B-hxton
and made the first breach in his solid
paIanx by securing the adoption of All
amendment providing for the review by
The Supreme Court of any decision Of the
CORPORATION commission as to the suffi-
siency of the suspending bond required
of railroad pending an appeal from an
nrdcr The vote was 81 TO II in favor of
The amendment
The debate had been short and sharp.
In his argument. MIR, Thorn called atten-
lion To the innumerahle amendments
which Chairman Er3Nton llag. seen sleceS-
sary every time he read the repcet, and
complained that earnestly as he, Mr..
Thorn, had endeavored to assist in per-
fecting or improving . most faulty meas
.ure. every effort was repulsed and every
suggestion dsregarded. lie thought these
fequent amendments by the chairman
himself showei7 that the report was not
dirinclr inspired.
Mr.. BraNton replied With some heat, but
entire good huInor. He said the commit
Tee found itself being crushed between the
na.fler nlill-stnnes of criticism. For ac-
cepting and suggesting amendments it
was being tainted ny friends. aud thank
u! for concessions from oppon as in one
breath, while making con,plskits, such
:,s Mr.. Thom's, with the next. lie urged
the defeat of he amendment. but his
soiid phaianx left him one time and he
got his first fall.
1t MAS remarked that amorE the rebels .
IN the AYE" column were those who had
voted against placing the commission in
the appointivca power of the Governor.
Everything went smooth until the last
subsection vas reached for final adoption.
ehen Cantain Wise secured an amend
scnt with the approval of Chairman
Braxtan. giving to the Legislature the
light npon recommendation of the COM
mission 10 amend any subsection of sec
ION q. This right formerly did not ex-
end 10 suhsections and b.
COMMISSION MUST RECOMMEND.
Then came another spirited debate be-
Tween Messrs. Hamilton and SraNton over
an amendment Offered hy the last sul'-
se5'inn, !. the clause providing that the
Legislature could adopt amendments only
upon recommendation of the commission.
The amendment was rejected by vote
sf 10 to IL.
Auolnes-General Anderson offered to
amend by giving the Legislature power.
hv a twn-thirds' vote. to amend the sec
lion without the recommendation of the
commission. Ale vigorously criticised the
article. Saving it. created an all powerful
triImyirato and no matter what defects
might BECOME apparent, neither the Coy