Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-01-29
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

The constitutional convention ran
ont OF work yesterday morning, and
after an hours discussion as to what
was best D do, adjourned. The report
OF the commiltse on cities and towns
was completed in committse OF tne
whole.
The only clauses considered were re-
lating to city councils. Section Z. ss
agreed upon last week, provided that
every city shall, 10 the year l9O3. and
in every tenth year thereafter, resppor-
ton the representation in the council
among the wards or similar subdivisions
Ia proportion to their population on
the basis of the last preceding United
States census.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Thorn
last week, aud defeated, provided for
the IeapportioDmept every ten
years, as proposed, but left the matter
of arranging the subdivisions to the
legislature. The vote was recoDsidered
Yesterday, and after considerable de-
bate the amendment was adoptsd by
| majority OF two.
The matter ofrequiriDg two branches
of the council in all cities was settled
| satisfactorily, or will be when the re-
| port comes up in the convention prop
err. Chairman Brooke stated that his
| committee had decided upon az amend
meB to be offered to section z, which
will require two branches 10 cities OF
over $1,000 population, with Free
hold qualificst for members OF the
upper or smaller branch. Ia cities OF
less than $1,000, the legislature may
provide for a council WITH only one
branch, and dispense with the freehold
qualification.
This meets the object of Judge Har.
rison's amendment, exempti0g cities
under $4,000 from the provision, and
this was not adopted. The report, as
completed, was reported 10 the conven-
lion and ordered to be printed.
The report OF the committee on cor
porations not being printed, considers-
ton could not be given this subject. but
a hurry up resolution was passed and
some criticisms made on the delay 10
getting printing done. Another suffrage
plan was presented for consideration by
Mr.. Stuart. of Russell. It's most signif.
icsnt feature is that il permits the Leg
islature to adopt different suffrage law
for the counties and cities east OF the
Blue Ridge mountains from that for
all other parts of the State. One clause
10 lieu of the requirement OF the Ola
plan that person offering 10 register
shall be able to read or explain any
section of the Constitution, contains
requirement that be shall be able
to give a reasonable explanation OF the
general nature OF the duties OF the
various officers for whom he msy at any
time, under the laws then existing, be
al titled to vote. After January l,
1904, any person who has not been pre-
yiously registered shall have paid his
poll-taxes for five years proceeding MS
application for registration and shall
make application in bis own hand
writing for registration without assist
snce or suggestion from any person and
shall answer undel oath any and
all questions propounded TO him by TIE
reRistrative officer affecting bis qualiti-
cation as an elecIor. He shall also
pItphtb huu ucpOSib oio ooi'SS
aid from another.
The report OF the finance commit ee
will be ready to be sent 10 today. The
chairman of the committee, Mr. Fair
fax, says that in their report the com.
mittee will not attempt to tx rates oil
taxation. This is left to the General
Assembly. He thinks that squarter OF
A million dollars will be the net TO-
crease in the revenues. This, however,
will nearly ell come from railroads,
who have agreed to msks the conces
sion that this increase shall be put up
| on them.
The committee 90 educston laid on
the table the resolution prohibiting the
| legislature from appropriating any
funds for the education OF physicians,
pharmacists, lawyers, and preachers.
The design of this resolution, which
was pressed by The University College
of Medicine, was to cut off the States
appropriation t. tho Medical COLLEGE
of Virginia. This leaves tle matter