The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-28

II Eress OF March !. 1874
4 FRIDAY. OCTOBER IS, 1910
SsPisAIxER byrd AGAINST THE
AMENDMENTS.
\ Al powerful impetus to the wave of
popular sentiment that on November s
ssssill sweep to defeat the four proposed
amendments TO the Constitution of
NIrginia was given yesterday by Mr..
fssspeaker Richard Evelyn Byrd. who an-
4 rounces that he is opposed to the pass
4 nge OF any OF these changes in our
N organic law. His opposition is not pass
ss I've. but is scathlng attack on that
proposed amendment which would give
unlimited tenure OF office to city and
county treasurers. AS presiding officer
sof the popular branch at the
1.-TWO sessions of the General
h Assembly which referred these
i charges to the people, the opinion or
Speaker Byrd is of the highest and
most far-reaching Importance, for,
though he originally favored the pro-
posed amendments. as did majority
f of the members of both houses OF the
General Assembly, he now believes
s8Hrmly that all OF these changes should
be voted down at the polls,
This position taken by the Speaker
twill be in the nature of death blow
to the advocates of these four changes
b IN the Virginia Constitution. The maiI,
Z argument sof those who would enact
these changes into our organic law
have been: first that the amendments
Should prevail, since they We're ra I'll
fled BY, two sessions OF the General
Assembly; second, that to limit the
terms of city and county treasurers and
|. commissioners of the revenue would
amount to depriving the people of their
( ght to choose officers according to
heir untramnieled Will. Both OF these
contentious gre refuted wholly by the
powerful argument of Speaker Byrd.
Demonstrating beyond doubt that the
treasurcrs of Virginia are attempting
to establish a political oligarchy, OPP
posed to the free expression of the will
of the people, Speaker Byrd declares:
I'll am unalterably opposed to permit
ting treasurers more than two consecu-
tive terms
III Now, what Is the danger which he
points out in the proposed amendment
giving unlimited tenure OF office to
treasurcrs?
Section IS of the Constitution of vir-
Ha ginia provides that at least five months
before each regular election each treas
urer shall file with the clerk of the
court list Of all persons who have
paid their poll taxes SIX months prior
to the election, as prerequisite to
voting. The clerk of court, within
ten days after receipt of this list posts
y at each precinct a copy Of this list. II
Within thirty days after the list has
been SO posted, and after Ave days
written notice to the easurer, any
person whose name has been omitted
applies to the court to have his name
entered upon the list the court will
order his name to be entered. upon suf-
fcient proof II voter fail to COM
ply with these requirements, he is
barred from yetints. Commenting
{ = z + 8 ~ 2
on the authority vested in the treas
urer by this provision. Speaker Byrd
says:
"1t takes little reflection to
appreciate the tremendous power
which this section lodges in the
a hands OF the treasurers, and the Con-
Sstitntion wisely endeavored to safe
guard its use by providing that treas
Hsurers should be eligible for only two
consecutive terms
How does this provision lodge any
great power in the treasurer?
First, because before the publication
OF the list as above set forth, the treas
Surer is the only man In the world who
knows who are the eligible voters in
his county or city. For a month he has
this knowledge to himself, and in that
month can act with such exclusive
knowledge In his possession in such
way that he may use it powerfully and
effectively for his own ends.
Second. using the language of Speak
er Byrd:
I'm the case OF general election
lin November he has from December of
the preceding year until the following
vi May TO quietly see that the poll taxes
of his friends and partisans are paid
80 as to qualify them. He can make
lit easy for his followers and hard for
his opponents to qualify in time BY:
simply absenting himself from his Of
Nee he can disfranchise numbers of
10 him undesirable voters. He can de-.
liberately omit thes names of persons
9wIen3le certities The list. and trust to
athe allure OF the defruuded voter to go
ITO his voting precinct within the thirty
days and examine the posted list
he treasurer Is on guard always, or.
as 3speaker Byrd puts 4 I, The is on the
Job all the time" The voters are not
ON guard. and think about the election
only q short time before 1t is held, and
TOO late for them 10 qualify The
|ssSfreasurel can notify his friends and
sceSthat they qualify In time; but he
docs not take this trouble In the case
of his opponents. lie can put them
down on the lists When hey have nell
Their appeared nor paid anything: and