Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-02-08
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The constitutional convention yes
terdsy plugged into the further con-
sideratien OF the report OF the commit
tee on corporst ons. Chairman Brsx-
tou ct ted, 10 view Of the comments
made by opponents OF tle majority
Dian for q railroad com mission, that
inc committee had no idea OF doing
any OF the wild things that had been
attributed to them; but TO meet every
criticism the committee recon meoded
that q clause be inserted 10 one section
declaring that nothing contained In the
report shall impair or abridge the full
90 ger OF transportation or transmits
sion company ID manage and operst'
Is own franchises, etc. ln another
section the specific provision would be
inserted that no change OF classltica-
tion, rate or rule should become
operative or go into effect until al
least 10 DAYS altar it's adoption, the
company or companies affected having
nsd full notice beforehand. The las
amendment would meet the CRIT
clsm tast the railroads were not
given an appeal to the Supreme
Court from rule prescribing
schedules or additional facilities.
me amendments suggested by Chair
man Braxton created hutter among
the opponents OF his report. They
covered t1e principal points OF attack
made against it 10 the arguments here
tofore made. Judge Kendall resumed
the argument begun Thursday. DE
declared the threat that II the ma
orily report were adopted 1t would
cause the railroads to enter Virgins
poIItlcs would not deter him. THESE
great corporations, he declared, had
long bsen 10 politics aud he observed
we're generally on top 10 these contests
Judge Robertson Immediately de
iyered 90 exhaustive argument 10 OPP
position t) both plans. At It's close
Mr.. Stebbins spoke 10 favor of the ma
jority report. No vote was taken.
Ia the democratic conference OF mem
Oers OF the Constitutional Convention
Yesterday afternoon Mr.Glass concluded
nis speech In advocacy Of bis eufirsg-
ptan, which embraces the temporary
understanding clause, and Mr.. Il. l.,
Gordon spoke for the majority report
or permanent understanding clause. Mr
ilass made strong defense oil the tenn
porary understanding clause. He dis
cussed the various other plans, declar-
log the grandist Ter clause Was go
clearly unconstitutional be did net
believe for q moment 1t would be
adoItsd. He read statistics 10 show
tnat property qualification OF 500.
which had been iLt foduoed by Mr..
Moncure, would dislrAnchise every
whit, voter 10 Stafford county, except
about three hundred. Tne senator
defended the poll-,ax prerequisite,
| ADD said 1t would eliminsts the negro
vote, as had been shown 10 others
1t ,tes.
Mr.. Gordon, 10 supporting the ma
ority report, declared he and Others
from the "black belt" would iDtoitelS
prefer the present sy.tsm under the
Walton law, Infamous as 1t was, to
nave to be put of with such q make
shift es poIl.tax prerequisite, which
was the principal feature OF tne Glass
plan, sltsr g single election. He said
90 mstIer what law was adoptsr II
would be open to fraud.
No vote was taken and the con
ference adjourned, t. meet on Tresday,
when it is quite certain that q vot.
will be reached. and according b what
seems the best calculation 1t will be
very close. The strength OF those VIII
favor the grandfather clause ia put II
20, but they claim to have more. do"
ever, % is venturins little to say that
most members believe some sort oil 90
understanding clause will be agreed
upon finally.