The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-12
WORK GO AHEAD
AT GOOD SPEED.
Convention Making Fine Progress
With Matters Before It.
PAST WEEK VERY BUSY ONE.
Two important Reports Disposed Of and
Another Nearly Ready for the Final
Vote Other Matters Now to
Receive Attention.

Receive Attention.
The Constitutional Convention Of Vir-
GINA is seven months old to-day.
The past week work has had all the
dash of splendid charge of cavalry
against a helpless and panlc-strtcken toe.
When on Monday morning last Chair
man Eppa Hunton, Jr., sounded the busle
call to advance, there was movement all
down the line, and for six days there has
been rattle of musketry and a roar Of
cannonadlng that convinced the people Of
the old Commonwealth that every thing
had broke loose at once.
And critics have stood afar off and
wept Some have had the magnanimity
to go away back and sit down, while
few are honestly admitting that the con-
vention had not really been wasting time
in its six months Of deliberate incuba-s
ton. They believed 1t had been hiber-
mating. And it hadn't. It had only been
cautiously, laboriousy, conscentiousIy
feeling its way in the dark towards tlle
light.
VALUE OF COMMITTEE WORK.
The careful work of the committees was
demonstrated when, after days and days
OF argument debate, and contention in
committee of the Whole, they came fortl,
but little changed, every change being
IN Keeping with the spirit OF the report.
The value of the exhaustive work of@the
Committee of the Whole was appreciated
the past week, when it passed the gaunt-
let OF the convention and its more re-
strlcted rules OF procedure, and came
out the mill. which grinds exceeding
fine" with scarcely dust Of raw ma
terial mingled in the bin.
Articles VI. and VII. Of the Constitu-
ton were finally adopted and disposed
OF by the convention practically as they
came from their respective committees.
They were both Of very great Importance
to each member. Article W., dealing
with the judiciary Department OF tho
government, affected especially the law
yers, who compose majority Of the men,
bers, and Article VII, relating to the or
ganization and government Of counties.
affected every member. because it strucl,
close to every home and dealt with mat
tiers of everyday knowledge. Another
very important phase Of these two arti-
Giles: They directly affected the office
holding proclivity of every so inclined
member of the convention, and thousands
of their friends in the State and countless.
from the Chief Justice on the Supreme
Court bench to the little district over
seer Of the poor.
NOW OUT. OF WAY.
Who can longer doubt the almost In
spired sagacity of a body. that selected
these two articles first to finally dispose
of and send to the, sepulcher Of the Com
mittee on Final REVISION So that the.
wicked will cease from troubling and the
weary can be ct rest.
No person on the outside can appre-
ciate how awful has been the pressure
on the responsibility of those on the in
side. Members themselves do not yet
fully comprehend how much easier their
future duties will appear, now that
these two most gushing springs of all
other sources of care and trouble, have
been effectually damned. May a better
fate await those who have wrought so
well.
The convention machinery will certain
ly run smoother henceforth.
Besides the completion of the Judiciary
and County Government articles: Of the
Constitution, the convention has also,
during the past week. completed in the
Committee of the Whole, the next most
important and far-reaching popular ele-
n:ent of State government, the artlcle
on education. AS soon as 1T comes from
the hands Of the printer, it win be taken
up and adopted in the convention IN
short while, experience with the two
other articles having shcwn that the
debates and struggles in Committee OF
the Whole failed of duplication or repe-
tltion on the floor of the convention.
The convention also has had reported
to it during the past week the recon-
mendations of the Committee on Cltles
and Towns. and the amended report OF
The Committee on Public institutions and
PRISONS.
q PR0RT,E,M.
Nor, than this: The pest week has
witnessed a renewal of effort to bring
the suffrage question to a head. The
conference has got down to business. The
s,Iffra se problem is being brought within
well defined bounds. and the regular pro-
reedinss of the conference as if in Com
rnittce of the Whole. will soon see the
lines drawn closer and closer around the
conflicting propositions, until all may
perish. but only. one can survive.
And best Of all, the conferences are
ttendcd by nearly all members. show |
ing that they realize at last that duty
calls them there. as we'll as to the regu-
lar meetings af the convention.
Another most encoura ging feature has
zen the large attendance during the
whole week on the sessions of the COM
cntion. All Americans like movement.
They got it there last week, with some
Xciting experiences and sensational in.
,.idents thrown in for good measure, and
IS a reward. perhaps.
TO BE BUSY WEEK.
The convention wrok for the coming
week promises to be varied, voluminous
interesting. Two reports perfected in
Committee of the Whole will be adopted
by the convention and sent to the Com
mittee on Final Revision.
Article VIII, on education. will prob
ably be taken up Monday.
For Tuesday, Article ". the legislative
department, has been made the special
order. and this will supersede the educa-
tional report. If 1t has not then been
finally adopted.
In Committee OF the Whole the COM
nittee reports. on Public Institutions and
Prisons. Executive Department, and Bill!
Of Rights. have each a few remaining
sections to be passed upon. when they
will be ready for the convention. 81
REPORTS YET TO COME
The report Of the Committee on Cities