Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-05-10

Hon. John Goode, president of the
Virginia Constitutional Convention,
in recent address to his constitu-
ents, gives a summary of the work
done by the Convention as follows:
1t has accomplished the paramount
object for which the convention was
called, by eliminating illiterate negro
suffrage and at the same time pre-
serving the right to the white man
as far as it could possibly be done
without violating the Fifteenth
Amendment of the Federal Consti-
tuition.
1t has reduced the expenses of the
State government without impairing
its honest and efficient adIninistra-
ton. According to earefully-pre-
pared statement made by promi-
nent member of the convention, it
has saved to the taxpayers of the
State $685., COL per annum, and has
gained in revenue by adding to the
taxable values the handsome sum of
$275, 900 per annum.
1t has provided new jury system
which will not only greatly facilitate
the trial of cases. but save consider
able expense to the State, and also
to the counties, cities and towns.
1t has introduced salutary reforms
into the Executive, Legislative and
Judiciary Departments.
1t has greatly improved the system
of common free school education.
1t las made valuable changes in
the organization of counties and in
the government of cities and towns.
1t has devised an emir emily fair
and equitable system of taxation,an
has reduced the rate of taxation 10
cents in the 800 worth of property,
upon the theory that no more money
should be taken from the pockets of
the people than is absolutely neces-
sary to defray the expenses of gov
eminent economically administered
By changing the system of exemp-
tions OF property from taxation,
which has heretofore obtained, it
has added at least 100000 to the
taxable values of the State.
1t has adopted plan for the gov
eminent of public institutions and
prisons which will not only greatly
improve their efficiency, but remove !
them entirely from the domain of
party politics.
1t has made it mandatory upon the |
General Assembly to enact laws pre-
venting all trasts, combinations and |
monopolies inimical 10 tie public |
welfare.
1t has established a Corporation I
Commission with the power OF super
vising, regulating and controlling all |
transportation and transmission COM
panies in all matters relating to their |
public duties and their charges for
the same. This has been done with |
no purpose to cripple or embarrass |
these valuable public agencies, but
to protect the people from unreason-
able and unjust exactions.
Taking it altogether, my opinion
is that the people of Virginia have
never had better Constitution, and
l think that the judgment OF posteri-
ty will be that the members of the
convention have builded better than
they knew.
He not only believes that 1t is a
good constitution but says that he is
for proclaiming it and denies that
any pledge was given or understood
to be given by the Norfolk Conven-
tion which prevents that step from
being taken by the members Of the
Constitutional Convention. He not
only denies that any pledge was
given by the Norfolk Convention,
but says that "the convention had
no power to bind the judgment and
conscience of Constitutional Con-
vention called into existence by the
fiat of the sovereign pc ople."