The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-07
THE RICHMOND w. WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1910

'h@I5 lJlIl LulIlDIuLN u, lClOo
ence gained by It's editor az a mcmbe,
of the constitutional Convention whicf
framed our present organic law II
1902. 1T knows what 1t is talking
about ana 1T does not hesitate tt
brand each and every one or these
proposed changes as unjustifiahle nnt
pernicious. The Progress says.
"a gentlemen said in our presence
recently that 1t looked to him like
presumption in the Legislature FOL
that body to tinker with the Constitu-
ton; that 1t was not selected for that
duty and there was no public de-
mand OF any dignity for the attempts
that have been made, and are making
to destroy a great deal of the force
or that instrument"
That Is the position we have
taken from the beginning We do not
deny the constitutional right OF the
General Assembly to propose amend
ments to the people but we insist
that the originating of such PROPOSE
tlon should be treated not as an ordt-
nary matter by the Legislative arm
of the Commonwealth, but as an eN-
traordtnary procedure. An amendment
rious matter than the average Dill
or resolution upon the calendar OF
the Legislature. Yet there were many
bills at the last session of the Gen
ara A co ,phfrh rprAIypI ton
times more attention than these pro-
posed amendments 1t seems to us that
they glided too softly through the two
houses of the Legislature. EXamina-
ton of the accounts Of the proceed
ings of that body when they re-
ceived its ratification two years ago
and again this winter reveals the fact
that very little was said about them
one way or another.
Policies of the most far-reaching i'm
port were considered over many
months by the Constitutional Conven-
ton of 1902. The members of that
body gave deliberation and discussion
to these policies that members OF the
General Assembly in their session OF
sixty days could notNgive. The people
selected the best available delegates
in 1902, with the purpose ever In mind
that these representatives should
frame an organic law that would
stand the test Of time and service The
people have elected members Of Leg
JeIn ,I,Sa ant IL. To ms IL
tional Convention with no SUCH idea
in mind. They sent their delegates to
the Constitutional Convention to frame
the great structure of our law; they
to pass such laws as may be neces-
sary, but not to interfere with the
framework erected by the Constitu-
ton. unless there be some powerful
Progress we'll says
1T can, we think, be said for the
Constitutional Convention that the
people of Virginia at the time 1t was
called recognized q great need OF gov
ornamental reform and administrative
correction and simplification, and Sc
lected large majority of the member
ship with the view of achieving these
things. And 1T is equally certain that
after It's labors were ended it's per-
Torrance was generally praised
throughout the State by persons COM
petent to realize the good work 1t had
done and who We're out of the reach
of selfish considerations. or course,
there was howl In certain quarters
That howl has continued to the pres
ent day, and the Legislature has given
1T entirely too much complying atten-
ton. The outcry was natural. The
opportunity for office brokerage ana
office holding had been seriously cur
tailed In many cases the Legislature
has sought to restore the old order
of things, and in too many cases they
have succeeded in injuring the integ-
rity of an economical public service
We have faith that the people OF
this Commonwealth will not take any
backward step In this day and time.
The progressive policies which their
delegates in solemn session wrote into
a Constitution in 1902 will receive the
ratification of the people in l9lo. for
when the people refuse to ratity the
nronosed amendments in November,
they will nevertheless be doing an al
armatiye act in approving the wise
no,;cies that are now part and parcel
of our fundamental law.
---"-=
The sun should have added 10 us
nraise Of gombo that it is just as good
atter u has been warmed over for
supper the next day.
OF course. If it had been a MURDER
or a suicide. or a divorce the great
New york daily newspapers would
have run 1T down long ago; but they
dasen touch the Tribune None OF
then will tell where 1t Stands as be-