The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-23
ORGANIC CHANGES
SUBJECT OF VOTE
Citizens Of Virginia Will Be Called Upon in
November to Record Their Desire as to Pro-
posed Amendments to State Constitution

Apparently the fact that four
amendments to the Constitution, three
OF them of great Importance to the
people Of the State, are to be voted on
at the coming election on November 5,
is passing almost unnoticcd., Little
attention has been paid to the mat
ter by the press OF the State. and but
few people are talking of the pro-
jected changes.
One of these is apparently meeting
with but little public favor. This is
the amendment increasing the length
of the sessions of the General Assem-
bly, from sixty to ninety days There
Is general feeling that the Legisla-
ture legislates too much, anyway, and
that a shorter instead of longer ses-
sion would be more desirable. At
least. that is the line OF talk one
usually hears when the subject Is
mentioned at all.
The argument Is, of course, that tho
necessary public business cannot re-
ceive adequate attention within sixty
the end of the session in which meas
ures receive but scant attention. In
opposition to this view. 1t is said
that II the session lasted six months.
there would be the same rush at the
end
May Get Same Pny.
In connection with this amendment.
an interesting point may arise. That
refers to the pay OF the members The
supposition Ia that IL the length of
the session is increased. the salaries
will be raised in proportion. A bill
was offered during the last session.
providing for so per cent. increase
in members pay in case the proposed
u af hn
1t actually received sufficient
number of votes to pass in the House.
But then some body realized what 1t
was. and made the statement that
when the salaries were doubled a few
years ago 1t was with the understand
ing that the increase would cover a
possible lengthening of the sessions of
the General Assembly. With that the
members fell over themselves chang
| Ing their votes. and at the end there
We're but few names recorded in the
Affirmative. Evidently there was fear
| of talk of a salary grab.
| The point which may arise is that a
| Legislature cannot increase its own
| compensation Inasmuch as the Sena-
| tors are to be elected next year for
| four years, It may be that no in
! crease of salary can be voted to take
effect until after their terms expire.
In this case the members must, for at
least four years. II the amendment
carries. serve thirty days longer for
the same day than at present.
Election of Officials.
| Two of tho other amendments refer
to the election OF city and county
! treasurers and city and county COM
missioners of revenue. In the Consti-
tuition it Is provided that treasurers
shall be elected by the popular vote.
but shall not serve more than two
consecutive terms. Commissioners are
to be elected or appointed, as the
General Assembly may provide, but If
chosen by the people, they are not
eligible to succeed themselves The
amendments propose that all questions
of succession shall be eliminated. and
that commissioners shall be elected by
the people and that both they and
treasurers may succeed themselves in
definitely
Commissioners of the revenue are
now appointed by the circuit courts.
One of these amendments covers
both points for the cities and the other
for the counties. The provisions re-
garding treasurers and commissioners
must stand or fall together, since they
are embodied in one article.
i Had Big Majority.
We're one to Judge by the vote in
the Legislature, these amendments
would seem likely of adoption by a