The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-01
LAY|NAA' IS VIEW OF
new ORGANIC LAW
Captain Bakers Epitome Of Con.
yention Work.
-
CHANGES BRIEFLY EXPLAINED
In Plain. Business.like Way, the Pop
ular Legislator Points Them Out,
and Does Not Employ Tech
nical Legal Phrrses.

vention, which is given below as lay
mans view OF the new organic law OF
the State.
Captain Baker is prominent business
man and has served q number OF years
IN the House. where he has made
record for intelligent and faithful work,
oud he has made his review of the Ia
eors of the convention without the use
OF technical legal phrases, and n plain
business language, which will be appre-
ciated and readily understood By all VINO
may read Inasmuch as there is such
widespread interest on the subject. the
paper is printed in full
~ have taken pains, says Captain
Baker, ito carefully examine the present
printed copy and am prepared to say that
the important changes made in our pres
cnt Constitution are as follows:
In the Bill of Rights, in addition to the
declaration that no persons should De
deprived OF their property for public uses
without their own consent, the WORDS
cor damaged In" are added.
In criminal cases. where the punish
ment is neither confinement in the peni-
Tertiary or death. upon plea OF guilty,
the court may in it's discretion hear and
determine the case without jury.
The General Assembly may provide for
the trial Of all offences not punlstaoie oy
death or confinement in the penitentlary.
b.- Justice of the peace, but in all
such cases the right of appeal and trlal
by jury Is preserved.
rhe most important change is in ar
ticic 4, which perscribes the risht or
franchise. which will permit, only those
ito exercise that right who possess the
following qualifications. until after 1905.
THO t1rst registration shall embrace only
the following:
A person who has served in the army
or navy of the Confederate or United
States or any State.
The son of a person who has served In
the army or navy OF the Confederate OF
United States, or any State.
A person who has paid q State tax OF
che dollar on property owned by him
and assessed against him.
= person who is able to read and I'M
derstand any section Of this Constitution,
or il he cannot read. when read to him,
can give a reasonable explanation OF the
same.
All of the above four classes shall re-
main permanently enrolled as voters I'M
less disqualified by some act or some
other provision of this Constitution
POLL TAX FOR THREE YEARS.
After January. 1901. all others than
those on the foregoing roll shall be re-
ul1ired to pay all poll taxes which may
have been assessed against them for the
three preceding years. and shall also be
required to make application for regis
tration in their own handwriting in the
presence of the registrar. unless physi-
cal.y disabled. or if newly attaining the
age to pay to the treasurer poll tax Oh
SIS All persons registered under TINS
last provision shall. unless they be bind.
prepare their own ballots.
The electoral boards will be appointed
nv the circuit judges after 1904. The first
registrars will be appointed by the con-
ventinn. Ali capitation taxes will be GER
lifted to the registrars by the clerks OF
the courts.
Men and women over eighteen years
of age may hold Office of notary pubic.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth
and the State Treasurer shall be elected
by The people instead Of the General
Assembly.
Members OF the Senate are elected
every four years. and of the House of
Delegates every two years, but shall holu
biennial sessions of sixty instead or
ninety days. and extra sessions of thirty
DAYS, or if they are extended 1t snail be
without pay.
No bills shall become laws nnl,l tnes
have been reported from a, committee and
,or;nted and read in full for three calen-
dar DAYS. and must receive recorded
vote of majority of two-fifths of all
the members elected to the body.
No law shall take effect until ninety
DAYS after the adjournment of the Cen
,rai Assembly. except a, general appro-
,,rist;on hill. unless four-fifths of the
members of each house are recorded as
voting for IT.
No local laws snail be passed by the
General Assembly. but all laws shall be
general in their nature.
All county courts are abolished. ana IN
their stead the State shall be divided into
tyenty-four judicial districts. to each of
which circuit judge will be elected by
III. General Assembly for term of eight
,ears except at the first election. The
Judges for the odd districts shall be
elected for four years, and those for the
even districts shall be elected for eight
years. Our judicial district will embrace
the counties Of Chesterfield Powhatan.
Dinwiddie Nottoway, Amelia and the
city of Petersburg. and is denominated
the fourth circuit.
The number of terms Of the circuit
courts shall be determined by the General
Assembly The circuit judges shall re-
ccive salary Of not less than 1900 per
ennunn.
LEGISLATIVE POWER.
The General Assembly shall have power
10 confer upon clerks of courts jurisdic-
ton in the matter Of admission OF Wills
to probate. and of appointment and quail
ifcations of guardians. committees. cura-
tors, appraisers. &c. The General AS
Een1Oiy SNAIL pTSNloe lSi SAt1'SA LAC CiSS-
ton or appointment of justices of the
peace, and shall prescribe their duties
and powers.
In the county government there shall
be elected one attorney for the Common
wealth, one clerk OF the court. one county
treasurer who shall serve but two
consecutive terms. The commissioners
OF the revenue shall be either elected or
appointed, as may hereafter be deter
mined by the General Assembly. If APP
pointed they shall be eligible for con-
t!nuous appointment, but if elected they
will not be eligible for reelection for
the next succeeding term.
The General Assembly shall provide for
the appointment of superintendent of
the poor and county surveyors.
Zach magisterial district shall elect
one supervisor. who with the supervis-
ors of the other districts shall consti-
tute the Board OF Supervisors who shall
fix county district levies and disburse
the same and perform such other duties
MS may be prescribed by the General
Assembly. All county and district off,