The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-08
MIR. rnxe Defends the Amendments.


To the Editor of The Tlmes-Dispatch;
Slr,--Your editorial Of Thursday OPP
poses the changes to the Constitution
submitted to the people for their vote
by the fast two General Assemblies.
You say none OF these changes ID
salutary or wise. and that no argu.
ment has been advanced In iaVor VI
them that has convinced You that there
write this, not with the idea OF con.
vincing you, open ,minded as think
you to be, but to give the reasons
which moved the General Assembly
Many people believe that 1T would
be better to have the Legislature meet
once in four years, or once in ten
years. or, after so good o convention
as the last one, not at all. But the
experience of mankind has showed
that the liberties of the people are
preserved and their wants provided Tor
ibatter by frequent meetings of Its
representatives.
1. The provision increasing the
| length of the session from siSty 10
| who say much valuable Legislation
| side-tracked because 1t was possiple
| to substitute less valuable measures
! therefor. ,n,,
II. The provision to allow county
! and CITY treasureIS to succeed them
selves. instead of being limited 40 10
two terms, was submitted because .ue
Limitation OF the Gons stch peo,,ires
1 expert knowledge the otiicer oust "H ts =
! he has become acquainted WIN t,e
duties imposed upon him. and SO pest
| able to perform them.
/ III. The commissioners OIL the rev
enue being allowed to succeed them :
selves IL reelected by the people was was
a change suggested for the reason Z, . las,
above mentioned, and because III TOOK
the courts out of politics-a most de-
sirable thing.
The argument that commissioners OF
the revenue will be more lndepenaeni..
IL appointed by the Judge than II
elected by the people is what ehaneery
pleading calls a negative pregnant,
in the light of the fact that the judge
usually appoints upon pe'i he is often
absolutely ignorant of whom 10 APP
: " The provision that bill may y. be be
! read only once at length IN ea in.
stead Of three times, is, to one :, &C &C
) ouainted with the work of the Gen.
) eral Assembly, a most impo ,r! nv
i change. the adoption OF Wnicn WI, oe
. the best argument against EXTENDING
the length of sessions. II the presens
law prevents hasty legislation IT also
grinds the chat as we'll as the wneaI
If the people of a town want 70 et sana.
tor want it, and 1t is an entireiy loS a,
matter, why is 1t necessary TO tea,
six times at length all the proV,sao,r,
noe the NUMBER and pay or its EN-
pioyes, etc. etc. for twenty pages !,
when reading it once at length
each house and by Its title Or, on wv wv
separate days in each house VIII CIV ,
evervhody notice and save the Com
monwealth the useless expense thu
. incurred?
The convention which made the las
, | Constitution was 81 notable pooy o
yfrginians. They did many things TO
,, the good of the State; but. their actor
is amenable to the test of experience
3 And the evidence before the Genera
: Assembly twice was that the peopi
desired to vote upon these question
with view to changing the presen
law. Respectfully,
ROOSEVELT PAGE.
Oakland, Hanover Co., Va,
AugLst 4. 1910.