New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-07
TIRGINT4'.S CONSTITUTION.
THE WORK OF THE CONVENTION PRAC-
TICALLY FINISHED.
METHODS PROPOSED FOR NEGRO DIsFRAN-
cHIsEMENT- OF CORPORA
TIONs-A NEW EDUCA-
TIONAI. SYSTEM.
TIONAI SYSTEM.

.ior Of The greater part Of the negro vote . Si''
rler and more effective judicial system 49, no
and more carefully guarded IeRIS4auoh
restrictions thrown around corporations. 'ns
oraasa of taxes ipon them. the reduction IN eA
,,areas the increase OF revenues OF the c"iI'ilo
wealth the broadening Of the powers %
Governor and the enlargement ana PERI" 0'
,.s-,n of ropplar education. a wider scope Io'
mower agricultural and immigration improvements
the increased efficiency in county ana Sta'e GO
e-,,nent the reduction of expenses ana the reuu'
ton of general taxation for five years at ieaS'' arc
the principal ends sought in the ne" NHs'" -,
stitution. which has just been competed anu -
I'm all probability become operative in the neA' te"
months ,,,
Tho convention which adjourned on Friday uilul
Nav % when it reconvenes, will pass upon the
finished draft of the constitution as mace u"..,-
the interim by the committe on nnal TfsNiSi"'''
Lost matter TO be determined will be whether tie
new instrument shall be proclaimed ana put III
foroa NJ once or he submitted to the people Tor
ratification This question was DEBATED ~ i9'
and with great earnestness as soon d. ''e ~.
yention assembled early In June last yea ~
action was deferred until the work or the oouS
,ho,,5 have been completed and the meroeis
should have become more satisfied az 10 "e Se.'.
,,,ent Of the people. The Democratic state '"
yention which made the constitutions cum
an issue and assured its being called uecia'eu -
favor of submitting the results OF lis "o'N ~ nv
peon1e and most of the members in thelr can"
-sas ,o- election declared themselves in favor OF
that brt the length of time required by 'he "ouS
in which to perform its trying and perpleNlns SCI
vice and the apparent change of sentiment thi""s
ont The State will almost certainly result IN 'he
constitution being proclaimed. a great number
of those who were earnest advocates or SUBMISSION
now see that proclamation is much better ana II
is confidently believed that when the convention
comes TO pass upon this matter 1t Will without de-
Law and with little discussion declare the ne"
organic law.
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION
The great problem for which the convention "ds
called was that of eliminating the negro vote
which ever since the had been a vexing FACTOR
I'm The nolitics Of the State and the control OF
which had led to election methods ana prac'ic
with which the people generally became uiss"N'
OF all The committees of the convention 'iia' VII
the elective franchise had by far the most delicate
irving and difficult questions with which to deal
Tts members like the body of the convention ana
the people of the State. were sorely dlNioeu III
their views as the best method OF setuhS llu
~ the undesirable negro vote without shutting
ont a great number of illiterate white men, WINE
the article was kept within the scope or the Fe"-
oral Constitution. Senator John w. Daniel WHO
for wears has been the Democratic leader IN VII
sinia and has largely than any other on
man shaped the policy of the party was Haus
chairman of the committee. which after months
or .-s,ous labor found itself unable to agree
upon plan and made two reports. while seNefal
members adhered TO individual plans Inc major
ity favored the clause. especially Gesired pE "e'e
gates from negro counties, embodying perma-
nent understanding clause while she minority
of which Senator Daniel was the leader reported
a temporary understanding clause. with poIl
tax prerequisite and permanent but limited ea"-
cationai qualification After months OF conference
during most Of which time Senator Daniel was
absent by reason Of sickness a compromise plan
was adouted built or the foundation of the Daniel
plan as modified by the plan Of Senator Carter
Glass. OF IynchbUrg, and worked over into what
has become known the compromise clause.
The understanding feature in this only applies
for this year and next, In which time IT Is be
Iieved that all the white voter IN the State will
have been registered. and after that the require
ments for registration will be the prepayment Of
poll for three years and a modified educa-
tional qualification.
REGULATION OF CORPORATIONS.
Next 10 the suffrage question, the feature Of the
new constitution that viii attract most attention
is the creation of corporate commission Of three
members. with power to grant charters. under
general laws to be enacted by the legislature. to
a general supervision over public corpora
tions including railroads. and regulate railroad
rates. In the assessment OF railroad property this
commission supplants the present Board of Public
Works. No feature Of the constitution was
bitterly fought than this, and. though the
decisive OF strength STAYED off until late
in the session. II was early apparent that IL would
received careful and long consideration. The final
clause adopted applies TO railroads well as to
taxed on their physical property and their fran
chises. but stocks and bonds will be relieved from
additional burdens.
In general way the rights of the people have
been enlarged under the constitution, the privi
leges of corporations have been restricted and The
interests Of municipalities receive better protection
from fraichise grab6eTs The SoEernorS p0w t
provided against hasty legislation.
OTHER CHANGES.
1t is provided that no law shall be enacted until
II has been referred a committee. printed
ported from the committee and read in fun three
different times in each branch. and the vote taken
by ayes and noes upon Its passage At least
two-hfths of the members elected to each house
the bin before it becomes a law. The
General Assembly will be relieved OF the flood of
private bills that usually take zap 50 much time.
A joint standing committee is to have supervision
of such measures and report for action only such
as can be covered by the general legislation
court proceeding.
constitution is the auditing committee Of the
General Assembly. whose duty will be to examine
books and accounts OF those officers
ment who handle public funds report the result
to the Governor. and annually publish the in
newspapers of general circulation in the State
The General Assembly is also required provide
for the examination Of the books. accounts and
settlements OF the city and county officers vino
charged with the collection and disbursement OF
public funds. The State Treasurer is hereafter TO
he elected by the people instead Of the legislature
or appointed in the manner to be provided by law
but. If elected. they can hold Office only term
County courts have been abolished. and In their
stead thsre will be circuit courts which will give
The constitution creates a State Board Of
Fduca ton o be composed Of the Governor Attor-
ney General Superintendent OF Public Instruction
and three experienced educators. 10 be elected by
the Senate from q list of eliGibes. each to be
furnished by the board Of visitors or trustees Of
the University II Virginia. Virginia Polytechnic
Institute. Virginia Military Institute. State Female
Normal School. at Farmville and William and
Mary College instead Of the Governor. Attorney
General and Superintendent OF Public Instruction
under the old constitution. The members of this
hoard required To associate with them di-
vision suuGriafnndeuts OF public schools. The
r,erirteniert 81 Public Instruction Is be
by the people instead Of by the General Assembly.
ECONOMY IN STATE EXPENSES.
Il Is not believed that the convention was able
,, in h. nftn