Evening star., 1902-01-22
MAY EFFECT A COMPROMISE
FRIENDS OF UNIVERSITY OF vIR-
GINA TAKE NEW TACK.
Will Combine With oppoHents of
Short Term for Senators and
RecOnsider.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Efening star
RICHMOND, Va. January q, 1902
There is a report afioat at the capitol
that the friends and opponents of the four
year term for senators have had "a confer
ence with the friends of the University Of
Virginia in the convention, and that as
result there is to be reeens1deration OF
the two propositions wf1ich We're decided
in the convention several days ago. One
of these refused an appropriation of $4,000
a year to the University of Virginia and
the other defeated four-year terms for SEN
ators. The agreement which is reported
to have been reached is that the opponents
of these propositions will withdraw and
concentrate their energies in the effort to
have both reconsidered and then to pass
BOTH This has, it is reported, been accom-
plished as sort Of compromise and in the
spirit Of concession and desire to retain
and preserve the customs and practices
which have obtained in the state for many
years.
The day in the convention was consumed
| in the consideration of the report of the
committee on organization and government
Of cities and towns, the principal matter
being the solution of the question regard
ing the terms of treasurers OF cities. Some
days ago the convention adopted the re-
port of the committee on county govern
| ment, in which the terms of treasurers in
the counties was fixed at one term of four
years, whereas the report under considera-
tion today fixed the terms of treasurers OF
cities at two terms of four years each. The
debate on this subject was precpitated by
a motion to strike out the prohibition of a
| treasurer succeeding himself, all the city
men joining in the fight to have the mat
ter corrected so far as it concerned cities,
while several of the country representa-
| tives made speeches in opposition to the
policy of the convention to make fish of
nd nyHy1 Of har " iG,ir no.
one remedy for the country and another for
| the city. The debate lasted for three hours.
1t was held that the same conditions do
not obtain in the cities that prevailed in
the counties; that while the duties of these
officers are comparatively light in the coun-
ties in the cities it requires the services of
an expert accountant and man of affairs
and that man capable of discharging the
duties of that Office could not be found who
would reinquish his business with the
knowledge staring him in the face that he
could serve only eight years, and at the ex-
piration of that time would have to be-
gin anew In some other business. If an of
ficer was found who was capable and the
people desired that he should succeed him
self there was no reason why he should
not fill the office as long as he lived The
fact that the city of Richmond has had
only three city treasurers since the close
of the civil war was broughttout During
that time not single defalcation had oc-
CURED, except that a clerk in the office
got away with a small sum. Without
reaching vote on the proposition the COM
mittee rose, and Mr.. Stebbins of Halifax
presented resolution resembling the ac-
| tion of the convention in determining that
I county treasurers should not serve more
than one term of four years.
1t was decided today that there should be
only one clerk of courts ofsrecord in cities
where the population is 10000 or less and
that commissioners Of the ,fevenae should
be elected or appointed as the law might
direct but in case such officer is chosen
by the people he is to serve only one term
OF four years and be Ineligible TO succeed
himself.