Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
Boosted TOO MUCH
Activity May Defeat Change in
Virginia Organic Law.
EXTEND LEASE OF OFFICE
Might Have Slipped Through But
for Activity Of Friends.
AFTER INSURANCE CONCERNS
Must Obey Laws or Quit Doing Bust
ness in the Old
Dominion.
EXTEND LEASE OF OFFICE
AFTER INSURANCE CONCERNS
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, September "a, 1910
Because of the issuance of a circular
by some person In the Valley Of Virginia
directing attention to the proposed
amendments to the constitution regard
ing the tenure of Office Of commissioners
of the revenue and treasurers Of counties
and cities there is being heard in the
state great cry against the adoption
of the suggested amendments. The pro-
posed change would make the officers
| named eligible to succeed themselves at
the hands of the voters. The new consti
tuition limited the terms-the treasurers
| to two terms and the commissioners of
the revenue to one term, unless the lat
| ter officers should be appointed by judges
| of the courts.
The amendments under consideration
will allow these officers to be chosen by
| the people at large and Will permit them
| to serve so long as they can be elected.
The circular letter in question directed
| that the officers Interested should see to
| ii that their side Of the case vas clearly
presented to the voters and that workers
employed for the purpose should go to
| the polls and seek to have the amend
mentS carried. The amendments had al
most been forgotten by the mass OF the
voters, and the chances are that had
there been no agitation the voters would
| have simply scratched out the section OF
| the ballot and paid no attention to them
But the people all over the state are be-
coming aroused, and there are many who
are declaring that the time has not come
| for tinkering with the constitution, which
has been in effect and force only bit
more than eight years.
Then there Is another reason against
the change, according to the dominant
party If the voters are allowed to choose
the officers named 1t would result in many
republicans being chosen to the best OF
fees in many of the counties, especially
in the southwest, those counties being to
q considerable extent republican. AS the
law stands at this time all the judges are
democrats, and to allow them to appoint
the commissioners OF the revenue anoros
! places for very many men VINO are ana
have been for years powers in the coun-
ellis of the party. Then there is a strong
sentiment against allowing these very I'M
portant officers to be connected with poll
tics. for they are required to make as
that holdings are listed for taxation. and
by getting these officers close to the larg
er holders Of properties might be to sub
ject them to influences that would pre-
vent the state in some instances from
getting her due.
fractional Republican Strife.
There is anything but harmony in the
republican party in this district. all grow
ing out OF the election Of district chair
man a few days ago. Melvin Flegen-
heimer. a lawyer, was chosen to that po- |
sition about q year ago. and his victory
was regarded as a triumph for the outs
of the party-that Is, the MISUNDERSTANDING |
contingent. When the meeting OF the dele
gates to name a representative was held
c. Ridgeway Moore. supervisor of the
census for this district, was made chair
man. Mr.. Flegenheimer was displaced,
his name not being voted on
John g. Luce Of this city, former
member of the House, was mentioned for
the place. and he is one Of the ''outs."
Mr.. Moore was elected to the posi-
ton, and since that time there has
Messrs. Moore and Luce, the latter de-
claring in the public press that Mr.. Moore
has made statements which enttie him
to admission into the inner circles of the
Ananias Club. At this stage of the pro-
ceedings, however, the Ems are very
much In evidence and they are In control
of the organization and have named their
men for the lower branch OF Congress.
Mr.. Luce charges that the officeholders
are bent on limiting the party in the state
to the ohiceholders, SO that they can con-
troll the patronage and have no outside
interference from those who are not of
the elect.
Must Obey the Law.
department is still on the track of the
insurance organizations which do not
comply with the laws Of the state. Re-
Gently he sent an examiner to look over
the books and securities Of Kansas COM
pany and the examination was denied by
the officers. Steps were about to be taken
to revoke the license Of the company.
when the announcement was made that
the company was retiring from Virginia
business and had reinsured Its risks in a
company which is very much stronger
This action suited Commissioner Button,
and the company will discontinue its Vir-
ginia business.
Col. Button Is devoting q good deal of
attention to the several companies doing
business in Virginia, and Is seeing to 1t
that the local concerns of all sorts COM
ply with the law in dealing with patrons.
The result Of this espionage has been
that many of the live stock, hail and light
ming, sick benefit and fraternal orders
have gone to the wall. the greatest saving
having been to the poorer classes who
were in many instances being duped by
the operators Of the orders.
Along the same lines the banking de-
partment Of the state corporation COM
mission is on the trail OF the banks in all
parts of the state. Some three or four
have gone out OF business within the last
two months. and there are several others
the bankers were reported to have a
capital stock of $4,000 paid up. and an
investigation disclosed that $500 had been
actually paid in and that $500 was in
the shape OF q note from a sick benefit
concern which was being operated by
the bankers. The bank has gone out of
business.
Will Feed Its Employees.
Because of its inability to keep its
corps of mOtormen and conductors up to
its standard, the Virginia Passenger and
Power Company. employing several hun
dred men, has decided to provide accom-
modations sfor its men on its grounds.
Plans have been prepared for the build
ing Of an immense restaurant. where the
men can be fed at any time. the men to
paw a nominal board and the company
to pay for the cooks, the walters and all
the incidental expenses.
The claim Is that many young men
come to the city and have no place to
stay Until they can get steady en-