The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-01

II ~ y 81 ~ w
disquieting rumor that has reached us
4 1t Is. only right that Stuart and his
managers should be put on siieir guard
against whatever foes within" may
| have been discovered during the clos
ing days Of the campaign.
What Governor Tyler says about
the effect OF the tariff on the farmers
OF the State Is commended to their
careful consideration. He has pre-
scented an object lesson which can be
/ readily understood by every honest
Voter in the District and throughout
the State.
MIR. 3BARHANI AGAINST THE; AMEND
NIENTS.
The Southampton Democrat pub
| fishes inFits latest issue strong letter
against the proposed constitutional
amendments from the Hon. j. Il. Bar
ham. a member of the Convention
which framed our present Constitution.
At the outset, he declares that he
feels that it is his solemn duty to do
what he can to defeat the proposed
changes. and he thus appeals to the
voters of Virginia:
II beg you, my fellow-citizens, with
out respect to party. to go to the polls
and ca stfsyour ballots against all OF
these amendments s.. Why SHOULD we
lschange? The Cons titution has worked
well Do mot pander to the wishes
Eof ofic hold ersi poIiticians and office
seekers. Be suresst vote. as your
silence on the ubject will be counted
as favoring the changes"
Mr.. Barhams presentment OF the
causes which Influenced the Constitu-
tional Convention to place In the Con-
stitution the limitations which these
proposed amendments are designed to
remove is powerful. His statement
of the reasons for such action may BIO
read with great profit not only by
those of open mind. but equallY by .ur
:amendment-favori contemporaries,
whose constant cry is lack Of any
sound argument against these pro-
posed changes in the organic law.
First, Mr.. Barham sets forth the ex-
Iiperience which led the Convention to
limit treasurers to two terms He
says:
The first duty after our organiza-
ton was to look into the resources,
the finances and the taxable values OF
our State. Upon examination Of the State
Treasurer's and the Auditors office
we found some very deplorable con-
ditions, especially the system OF book
Keeping in not having a proper ode
Of checks and balances to discover
shortages and mistakes. We found
that tWo-thirds of the shortages and
ldefalcations was owing to old hold
over officers. such as county and CITY,
treasurers: many Of these had held
office since the adoption OF. the I'm
..derwood Constitution. having never
been REQUIRED to make a final settle
ment When they died or failed OF
recollection they were generally short
In their accounts. e
Because Of these findings. Mr. Bar
ham points out that the present limi-;
tatfon upon the treasurer to two terms,
was imposed twas felt that an o fl !
Ger who handled public money ought
to have a definite time for final set
tlement. and that such an arrange
ment would eliminate much shortago
as we'll as much temptation to handle
the public money wrong fully Il
Second, Mr.. Barham relates tire his.
tory Of the present Limitation. declar-
ling that commissioners Of the reye-
nue. when elected BY the pc ople shall
mot succeed themselves. The proposed
amendment, be 4 t remembered, would
allow commissioned to be- elected con
stlnuously and Indefinitely. Mr.. Barham
says: q, II Fl IA sss 9ss ss
Upon the examination Of the as
ssessments by the various com mis-
stoners OF the state we found that "a:
in nearly every locality OF the state
the year the commissi oners were to
DO elected the assessments would u
sotr from b to 10 per cen Il, We Sco uld
account COR 4 his in but one way that
the commissto Toner n was III ell &C tionee rlng
for re- selection and wa s n Q as ca re ~
as he should be Ia requiring the peo-
pie to list their property for its FL i
value for fear OF q fond ing the voter.
thereby losing his ote. aal'.Ss 81
Third, Mr.. .Barham Gives the reas ons
(which impelled the Convent ion ito es-
tablish a. slxty-day session ~ the Gems
Eeral Assembly instead gof ii. nine ty-d day
session. which It is now fought to
secure BY one Of the propos ed amend
fments to devoted on next week, IT'S
says: 3isy aSts
Under the Underwood Const Tuition
\ the legislature met very ~ ca Fl and
\ was allowed to sit ninety days ~ he2
met on or about the 1st at Decemher
4 they would ,al journ, for the Chr tmas
4 holidays, and would hack about
j the st o 1 M January. there ny 4. 10 ne
|snboilt tween or hi MI days rasYtng
II tleirS full pay IA no IN Itne and ~
4 loss toi he ;tn te N ,oQ osgol
" Y n