The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-17
WOULD LET DOWN
BARS TO VOTERS.
Part Of the Prerequisite
to Voting Law Is
Obnoxious.
PREPAYMENT OF
THE POLL TAX
Virginians Have Their Weather
Eye on the State Legislature,
Hoping That 1t Will
Do Away With
the Poll-Tax
Barrier.
tFrom Our Regular correspondent.)


WASHINGTON, D. c., January 49,
There Is much speculation among VIZ
ginians and southern men generally In
Washington as to whether there will be
an effort made at the present session
OF the Virginia Legislature to secure the
passage OF an amendment to the Con-
stitution to be submitted to the people
eliminating the prepayment OF the poll
seems to be a very general belief that
this will be done eventually, but whether
an effort will be made to induce the
present Legislature to undertake 1t is
not made the subject of prophecy. A
Well known Richmond man, who is In
Washington to-day. is strongly In favor
of the abolition of the poll-tax payment
as prerequisite.
The other safeguards thrown about
the electoral franchise. such as the ed
ucational qualification and the property
qualifications, protect II sufficiently The
portion of the population desired to be
eliminated has been purged from the
electorate. ! want to see the pre-
requisite of payment of poll-tax abolish
ed. 1t creates. or adds to the great
discomfort which exists at present
among the voters. We know the exer-
else of the electric franchise is a priv
ilege and not right. but this is not
the feeling among the masses They
regard as right the privilege of voting
and they feel they have been deprived
OF cherished right by the pre-
quisites the Constitution OF 1sol-o2 es-
tablished.
Il have always voted the Democratic
ticket, and do not know that shall ever
vote any other. but % noe speak as {,
democrat, or as a member Of any party,
Snen say We should abolish the poll
TAX payment as q prerequisite to voting
simply speak as u citizen, who wants
10 see better state OF feeling existing
among the people Of Virginia towards the
State government. The people are dissat-
ished In many instances. Those wbo
rave been disfranchised for any cause
ieel aggrieved. and the friends OF the
people are sore. They may not be able
TO indicate exactly the object OF their dis
pleasure. but they are not hearty, enthu-
siastic Firginians any more. but men
with grievances. pessimists and cynics
IN SO far as the State government Is con-
cerned. l wonder whether the Democrats
VIII undertake to abolish the poll-tax, pre.
requisite, or allow the people to call the
fepuoiicans to power for that purpose"
Advocates in Minority.
But 1t Is fair to say that the advocates
or the abolition of the pail tax prereouis.
lite are not certainly in the majority among
the Vlrginians here with whom I hive
discussed the subject.
am for the regulation of railway
rates by the government" said Repre-
sentative Glass to-day II shall vote for
rate bill. but want 1t to be a bill vhicb
VIII regulate. The best bill that could
De introduced In this House. believe
would be copy OF the act creating the
interstate Commerce Commission. With
sentence interlined, comforting on the
commission the power to saw whether
given rate Is unreasonable, ana 70 a.. .
reasonable rate .
Ihat is about all there is to If .rd
am tired of SO much talk abont m 10
niils. 1t is the simplest and easiest thin,,
IN the world to get a bill which wifi an
sWer every PURPOSE OF those who want
rates controlled tv the government"
To Cash War Claims.
Representative Lamb thinks he has hit
upon a plan for the people Of his dis
trict who have claims against the gov
ernment for property destroyed by Fed
eral soldiers after the war and the
claims for church property destroyed dur
Ing the war. He proposes to have all these
bills. about twelve in number. referred
to the court of claims for adjudication
under one resolution. This Is the prac-
tice of the Senate. but the House has
not adopted it. Captain Lamb has been
at work among members for the purpose
Continued on Fifth Page.)
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