The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-19
IMPORTANT CHANGES
All, However, Have Been Bsne-
fetal.
NOTHING RADICAL or SWEEPING
Every Prospect of New Organic Law That
Will Place tie Old State OF q Firmer
Foundation and Make Her People
Prosperous an, Happy-An
Epitomc OF Ahat has
Been Zone.
NOTHING RADICAL OR SWEEPING

sne following synopsis of the work so
far accomplished by the constitutional
Convention may be considered accurate
as well as semi of1icial.
ii embraces the action on every mat
ter up to Friday night Of this past week
and does not include the work of the con
yontion Saturday, in completing the re-
port of the Committee ON Public lnstitu-
lions and Prisons and the completion OF
ell but a few sections of the article Oh
the Executive Department.
This interesting summary was prepared
by two distinguished editor-membcrs OF
the convention, Hon. Carter Glass, Of the
Lynchpurg News, and Hon J, IL Lind
say, Of the Charlottesville Progress
AS these two compiers, or codiiiers,
have taken opposing positions on almost
every question that has been disposed
Of in the convention. their joint agree1nen,
on the value, character and extent OF
the work will carry additional weight
Their review follows:
There has been a great deal of critf-
cism OF the Virginia constitutional ooii-
ycnIion for many things that 1t mas
done and for some things that 1t mas
not done and for the length OF llile II
has taken 10 transact It's BUSINESS. SOM, ooliie
of the comments have been Just and pro-
ct,eded from a fairly accurate knowl-
,d:s,. of the situation Oiher criuc!Sms
have been totally unmeuted ana pro
ceeded from an utter lack OF lniernaa-
ton. y few OF the comments nave peeh
so manifesuy unreasonable as mot TO
disturb those members OF the convention
who. while properly amenaple to public
sentiment, feel that they cannot be hurt
bafure the IcCplc by what must ineNltably
appear to be the carping OF those "ho
were originally opposed TO constitutional
rsxiaion and are persistenty hosule to
nearly everything that has been done or
proposed in the convention.
For The information OF the public, and
,tarticlllarly for the information of that
mart OF the press Of Virginia which would
not Willingly nisreprese1lt the facts or
produce AN erroneous impression upon
The minds of the public. the subJolned
statement OF the Work OIL me convention
has been compiled.
In this connection it may be stated
also that there is great misrepresentation
upon the part of those who have charged
the convention with waste Of time
Not only have its members worked all
long.
lnittees, but the Democratic members
have spent night after night in confer
ence, endeavoring to solve the great and
pcrpleXiag question Of suffrage.
Moreover, it may be stated, as fair
comparison. that the cost of this conYen-
ton. which was called TO get rid OF the
Underwood Constitution, Will not eN-
coed the cost of the convention which
fastened the Underwood Constitution
anon the people of Virginia The con-
I-lstion of 1S5G- 81, confronted by lev
intricate questions or peTpleNlng prob
lens, sat for more than ten months The
1lrcsent #Constitu,l onal Convention, rapid
iv approaching the termination of its
labors, has been in session for about
seven months. 1t has had problems to
solve of which the earlier conventions
never dreamed. 1t has been confronted
by the race issue in d multiplicity OF
forms as it relates to our educational
system, to the suffrage 10 the judiciary,
and TO the whole social fabric Of our
government 1t has had to deal with
the changed condition of affairs in the
Industrial financial. and commercial fea-
lures of life. 1t has had To consider the
subiec: OF corporate control, in the face
Of powerful objections and distractions.
..ndeavorIng ali the while TO be fair 10
the great corporations and at The same
time lust and dutiful TO the public in
terest and welfare. 1t has had TO solve,
IN a better degree than has heretofore
been the case the intricate difficulties
Of taxation, so as to relieve the burden
upon the people of Virginia, as lar as ii
equitab2y could. and fairly exact from
the great railroads and other corpora-
tions larger. contributions to the expenses
OF the government,
II ii has not entircW succeeded in all
OF these undertakings, few persons oI
public Journals. who will make a pains
taxing and intelligent investigation OF
the conventions work. Will be disposed
TO contradict the assertion that II has
made an infinite Improvement over the
requirements of the Underwood Cooeti-
tuition 1t Will be found III the end that
the saving alone in the onerating ea-
VIII be sueicient to paw the whole cost
Of tie Constitutional Convention to the
Public treasury; and III addition to this
will save 10 individual citizens in money
ent in i.ar*sN5nent 1t will have exact.
ed in additional annual contribu. ions
from the railroad corporations Of The
State. double enough neonev each yeai
10 pcv the cost of the convention Not
only has the convell.ion greatly simpli.
fed the system of government In naIhN
departments, but II is not an eSasserat ed
eeti.nate To srv that. adding the fui
amount that will be saved by reduction
Of cxpenses to the fitli amount OF in
creased revenue thar viii be derived from
The taxation Of generations, the hu-det
az the taxpayers Of Virginia viii be re
Bcycd 10 the extent of nearly q half null.
lion OF dollars ner 'annurn. II. IN a3di
ton to this achievement. The convention
shell succeed in solving the great arc
difficult problem Of popular siffraee
VII II not annear IN the end tina. In
people OF Virginia acted wisely in c-iire
thp Conxtit.i.innal Convention ard worlf
better commend than condemn the worf