Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-19

some disclosures of irregularities that are
alleged to have taken place at various
points in the state. In the county of Page
there is said to have been frauds so gross
that the attorney for the commonwealth
has taken cognzance of them, That Is
report which has reached a republican
source in this city.
OF course. the result of the election Is
not disputed, but the majority is being dis
puted. One of the counties in the neigh
borhood of this city is said to have been
the scene of irregularities, but it is not
known If any action is contemplated in
connection Herewith.
Contrary to all expectations, the repub-
licans did not hold their own in this
state in the election. They had eighteen
members in the last legislature, and this
time they will have sixteen. The repub-
licans were apparently divided in every
appears to have been perfect in every pre-
cnct, for the total negro vote in the state
will not reach 10000. Fully 10000 was
counted on.
State Finances Good.
The coming session of the general as
sembly will have q vast amount of work
to do within the sixty days of the session.
At least two weeks will be devoted to
the consideration of the appropriation bill,
That will leave six weeks in which to
transact the business of the session, indie
pendent of the appropriation bill. The
state will have more money than ever be-
fore in her history for public purposes.
An effort is to be made to have an in
surance commission for the state. to super
wise the insurance business, see that com
panies doing business in the state are SOL
vent that the securities deposited to cover
losses in the state are not of fictitious value
and to see that contracts are lived up to
in every way.
A board of equalization Is being discussed
to see that taxes are equally apportloned
to the several counties on the actual value
of land and not on the value given by
owners. Instances of land being taxed for
SIS to $40 acre are on record, ana the
same land has changed hands at an aver
age of $50 TO 500 an acre Immediately al
ter being assessed for taxation.
It is expected that preparations Will be
made for the working of convlcts on the
public highways of the state. The contract
by which the convicts In the state prison
are making shoes for private parties VIII
not expire for many years Q9l3), and the
dominant party in the state has expressed
itself as favoring the employment of the
penitentiary inmates IN road building in
stead of competing with honest labor, The
state will be able to make an appropria-
ton for roads. and the plan is expected to
provide for the working of convicts from
now on, the number to be increased from
time TO time.
Capt. Wise Appears.
Capt John s. Wise, formerly of this
city, who lives at his farm near Cape
Charles and who practices law in New
York. is said to be getting ready to have
another ''go'' at the new constitution.
Capt. Wise was employed several years
ago to test the franchise clause Of the con-
stltution. and he did so, but he met de-
feat at the very outset, Chief Justice Fuller
sitting IN the case in this city and deciding
every point against him. Capt. Wise is still
counsel for the colored people, and there
| ored man named Brickhouse against the
election judges in one precinct in Norfolk
county, the judges declining to allow the
man to vote because he had failed to reg
| lister under the terms of the new constitu-
| ton. The man brought damages for sl0.-
! Oo0. and the case has never been called.
Capt. Wise declares that the case will go
| to the Supreme Court of the United States
| IL decided adversely to him in the lower
courts. He says that the courts have never
passed upon a case of the nature of the
| one he now has. and that some pretty
| points are to be presented" He also says
| that the courts appear to be willing for
Congress to do something and that Con-
| gress Is waiting for the courts to do some
thing. Meanwhile, he says, his clients are
being ground between the upper and the
neither millstones.
| Capt. Wise is now at his country home
/ preparing speech on Peace" which he Ii
/ soon to deliver in Kansas City. Just what