The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-28
Byrd Advises % efeat Of
CONSTITUTE al Amend
1nent at p oils.
TOO MUCH POWER
WITH TR REAS SUFFERS

11ASASlS p ~ W 4iz5 0CS fAll
Four Amendments
Beaten.
z Striking a terrific blow at the pro-
posed amendments to the Constitution
of Virginia permitting city and county
treasurers to. succeed themselves In
definitely. Speaker Richard Evelyn
Byrd. in an interview with The Times
Dispatch yesterday. announced that
rather than run the risk OF It's adoption
he would prefer to see ali OF the four
amendments defeated. This in spite
of the fact that he believes the session
OF the General Assembly should be ex-
tended or the three radings OF bills
abolished. in the interest OF time saved
In Legislative procedure. fl
Speaker Byrd's argument against
allowing traasurers to hold on to their
offices is an entirely new one, and has
not heretofore been mentioned during
the campaign now drawing to a close.
He, bases his objection on the ground
that the treasurer has to o much power
In having charge of the poll tax lists,
and that he can easily use this power
In building up q machine in his county
VI S1tSj VlllCll OeCOnle fLno SOLO
arbiter OF political destinies.
Weld Great Power.
Often. 1t Is stated, treasurers take
especial pains to see that their own
friends taxes are paid, and to pay
themselves, II not settled by the voter.
On the other hand, 1t Is no ones bus
mess to see that the taxes OF those
unfriendly to the official are properly
maid a i, IA ri. n
stated, some treasurers throw every
possible obstacle in the way OF such
payment.
Thus. while the voter six months In
advance Of the election is not thinking
of his political privileges, the treas
5urer, who is always on the job, can be
taking care of the interests OF himself
and those OF his friends and perpetu-
ate himself in office.
The Speaker has not heretofore
Stated his position on any OF the pro-
posed amendments to the organic law
OF the Commonwealth. Therefore, and
because of the eagerness with which
hts views on; pnblfc questio ions- -areera- :
icetved, his statement at this time viii
awaken the widest possible interest.
States HIS Views
sS Speaker Byrd. when asked about his
views on the amendments. said yester-
day:
4 think that the machinery Of leg
islation should be simpIifed or the ses-
sion extended. II those amendments
We're alone before the people. i would
vote for the amendment whilh siI1ipli-
fies the legislative procedure. unfor-
itunately, this question Is complicated
with others. am unalterably opposed
TO permitting treasurers more than
two consecutive terms. t (
The suffrage clause Of the Consti-
tuition provides that. except veterans
of the Civil War, no man can vote un-
six months in advance OF a general
election. Section 3s OF the constitu-
ton provides as follows:
=. After the first day OF January
1904, the treasurer of each county and
city shall, at least five months be-
fore each regular election, file with
the circuit clerk of his county or Of
the Corporation Court OF his city.
list Of all persons In his county or
city who have paid not later than six
months prior to such election, the
sstitution during the three years next
preceding that in which the election;
is held 5 4 q; n 4,
ss List Is Final.
This list the clerks must post at
each polling precinct in the count ty, or
city. Any person whose name Is i'm
properly omitted, may within thirty
days apply to the court after five
days notice to the treasurer and have
his name added to the list. After the
thirty days has expired the list is
conclusive, and no man has right
to vote unless he is on the list, even
though he may have paid his poll
taxes according to law. 1t takes little
reflection to appreciate the tremen-
.dous power which this section lodges
insthe hands OF the treasurers. and the
Constitution wisely sendeavored$ to Bsa fe-
guard its use by providing that treas
.urers should be eligible for only two;
consecutive terms.
Prior to- the publication of the list,
five months before the election, the
treasurer is the only man in the coun-
ty or city who knows who the eligible
voters are. For month he has In his
pbssessi on, "a nd known only to himself,
an exact list of voters. 3
9sSN'.IIe knows who have paid their poll !!
taxes at the time appointed by law,st
and who have not
Can Qualify Friends. 5lS
In the case OF a general election in
he has from December of the
preceding year Until the 4tOllOWlHS \
May d quietly see that the poll taxes
OF his friends and partisans are paid
SO as to qualify them He can make
II. easy for his followers and hard for
his opponents to qualify In time BY |
simply absenting himself from his OF IA
flee bhe#can disfranchise numbers of, to
him. undesirable voters. He can de-
liherately omit the names OF persons
when he certlfes the list and trust to
the failure of the defrauded Voter to
so to his voting precinct Within thei
thirty days X examine the posted |
list. Ss5 ss "
average citizen only wakes n up [
to the fact that there is to be an4elec-
tton about two months before It comes
att I ass y; treasurer ion @ the @ JOB al
SIeans Olisnrcby..
..To permit /, y nd err he suffrage re-
luireule Rsss Of the pres teristitVtlenS
treasurer to &sn ncceed ghimsself- ilfdsil
nitely means Il he reation q asts 7
ting ol lgarchF .of Rice
lolders. based upon the extra ordfnaryi-tt n
Ay-i~