The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-19
remedies, that you knew

that your dlty was 10 TOOL ktncm OUT
by constitutional provisions knowing
these dangers, congra tulate you that
you did not shrink from laying an al
Fternative or formative hand, as the need
might be- upon any sll bject Of the former.
Constitution, or pom he powers and
duties of any OF the departments of gov
scrnment. Yet those who know your long
2labors in the several committees, MS
well as in the Committee Of the Whole,
well know that you Il took no step reck-5
3lessly.s Each change or Innovation was
made after earnest thought and careful
and s laborious examination into all the
avenues OF experience, from which as.
5surance or warning could be Il derived
sInS fact, to a some one or more of our
sister States we owe most of he changes,
which we made: with the exception of
some of hesproyisionsS In the articles on
i the Judiciary, publin,;sc hools and on IL
nance and taxation, M asi,ii gs, u
Outline Presented
" Neither the broad scope of your.
changes and nnoyations, nor the full.
measure of your labors, can be appreci-
ated by an examina ton of q section, or
even of any articles OF the Constitution,
but can only be gotten from considering
1T in its entirety. Looking back tonight,
1etames present In mere outline the full
ness of your labors. Sl5f 5 u S
ls OF thegSthree great departments Of
1 State YOU made the least clan eg in that
of the executive. Il n
5ss Yet as to that department you re-
quired longer term of residence in this
State for one to be eligible to the office
of Governor You broadened n the veto
power You gave to the Chief Executive
power to recommend changes In pro-
posed statute without requiring veto.
You required the Secretary OF the Com
tmonwealth and the State Treasurer to
be elected by the people,
Il need not point out the changes In thu
elective franchise. You we'll know that
the changes upon that subject were radi-
cal. that they were intended to be So
and were demanded in many respects by
the peculiar conditions existing In this
State. s45;3 f3
Let me pause for moment in my mar
SratiYe of your work to say upon this
question of suffrage. that every citizen
1 In this commonwealth ought at all times
and under all circumstances to declare
that no man in this State shall vote I'M
less he can read and write, and shall pay
the captation tax for the public schools
Free educa ton removes the last excuse
for. Ignorance. y "A nd each recipient OF such
a boon should be willing to contribute
his mite, that others may also be so
blessed. # Let us not indulge in sympathy
for the Whiteman who does not now VOTE
but blame him for his failure. Let It
become hereafter a mark OF shame for
"a man who can qualify himself, but
who shall fail to do So. Let US insist
saggresslvelys upon this civic duty.
I'm the legislative department your
changes were most marked and funda-
organization OF the Senate. You pro-
hibited the passage Of many classes OF
local. special or private laws. You pre-
Sscribed biennial sessions. You prohibit
ed the election of a member Of tho Legis-
Elature to any other office except those,
filled by popular election. You fixed
the time when the laws should 90 into
effect. You also made many minor
changes, 8$ u ,.l.
your changes in the judiciary dc.
partment We're also many and most im.s
tportant. You gave the Supreme Court
certain constitutional power In doing
so you prevented the Legislature from
ever doing what Congress d d, as to the
Supreme Court of the United States
during the administration OF Andrew
Johnson, viz: Prohibiting the court from
.pussing upon the constitutionality Of a
law. You @at the same time gave that
citizen In hts life and liberty, You
broadened its Jurisdiction as to tho
amount Involved, You required ma
jority OF the court TO determine the con-
stitutiona!lty Of a law. You so dis
.tributed the election OF tho judges that
their elections should not all fall to-
gether. You abolished tho county court
system, and established q single sys-
tom or courts or trial and original juris-
dlctidn, Yop liked a judicla system for
the cties.Y .Eou gave certain probate
powers to the clerks of the courts, You
insured to the judges at least living
salaries.
ISL Fundamental Changes,
e s,Ink the government OF counties, after
abolishing the system Of county judges,
your, chief changes were restrictions upon
eligibility of certain officers for re-
election. #
tin the government Of cities and towns.
you made important and fundamental
changes You required them to be In
corporated under general laws. You limit
ed the eligibility Of cits' treas'lrers and
Commissioners Of the revenue, You ems
larged The powers OF the mayors You re+
,qyired the mayors and councilnen to he