The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-03
VOTE .No..

A,%ldsrS The effect OF the !rst or tAsse
proposed amendments would he TO re
anove the constitutional restriction
which limits city rre2surs-s 10 two
,e-r5s in once. The effect Of the second
amendment would be TO remove Inc
constitutional restriction which limits
: city commissioners Of the revenue %
one term when elected by the reopi7.
Both OF these proposed amendments
should be defeated. because,
l. Their passage would practically
operate 10 give Office to- life "a city
treasures and city commissioners OF
the revenue.
.. City commissioners Of the revenue
ought to hold only one term when
elected by the people, because in order
:. to secure reelection 10 office they
would under-assess politically tnfiuen-
,;al citizens. SO as TO secure their poll
? t.cal support. When appointed, thA
t,eomuissfoner is removed from the
s-ts,n1tation to make improper assess
..nzents:. when appointed. he realizes that
ights best claim 20 disappointment is ef-
!sxc,ert and impartial discharge OF his
sAuties. ~ =. r.
IS g. City tceasurers ought 10 be limited
ITO two terms. for when they realize
,f1hat they have limited period in,
which to handle the public finances,
they viii be removed from the tempta-
!. ton TO misuse or misappropriate the
!; public MONEYS, facing as they would
The rfaiization that they would have
to account finally within specified
;sfi1ne.
IL T. The Constitution OF Virginia spe-
!. cifically declares that no amendment
/ proposed TO IL shall be submitted to the
!peopie for their ratification until the
;.proposed amendment has been APP
lfcreved By TWO successive sessions of
ySkhe General Assembly. The two pro-
Sposed aIae ndments relating 10 the ten
lure of city treasurers and city CON-
smissioners of the revenue Were passed
upon by only one session of the Cen
ersl Assembly, and are unconstitutional
and void The Constitution is thus
violated 50 as 10 try to prevent hand
SfuI of officehoIders from going out Of
-.oftice wien required TO do so by the
law of the land
g. The oficeholders' trust bulldozed
the General Assembly of 1912 INTO sub
uniting these proposed amendments:
the unconstitutional submission Of
these amendments was a part of the
program 10y which the ofiicehoiders OF
the State throttied legislation in the
interest of the people and forced
Through legislation in the interest Of
officeholders.
5. The people settled this question IN
.s1y1s,, but ,he oficeholders' trust says
.sthat the people cannot vote right until
trey vote <he- way the 'ofhcehoiders
nserder: them 10 vote,
r~-s. Both proposed amendments deny
S-the Jerersonian principle OF rotation n
+6ftice: both amendments deny equality
of opportunity 20 the average man.
:. The submission OF these propose
amendments embodies the Roosevelt
idea that Constitution is no NOR"
tenacious than water, and that a Con
sti,utian should De political play
thing
8. The passage Of these Proposed
.sehanees will intrsach band Of g.
;termined o:iceholders who could never
be disiodged from Office.
Es. Both the proposed. changes are d..
siened to enrich a few rnen az n, c"-'
: of great damage TO the interests 81 RI
people
10. The people have been outraze
ousiy nljsled and nisinfo-red ay tH'
advocates of these amendment. Cor
tain newspapers fhaye wffuIly So"
pressed the truth as TO the undesirable
f,y of these changes whosccv"r ask
The people to vote for these chaHC'
.pecause the people should Tul"
nai:ciouxIy nnisIeads the people. 70
cause TIE oficehoIeers' trust. 10 at
tempting 20 secure :he passage ~ thes
constitutional alterations. j. striviut
20 take away the peoples risht TO sa
row long their public officers shall
hold or.ce.
n. Tn. forces tia; proposed tines
Hr-rG-re-ss have sought TO misuse iE
uachfnery Of the Democratic party b
Invoking Democratic city AID coaat
e1alrrnen to their aid.
- a. long a. the osicehclders A.
psrrsg.;es 10 bg1ldozc The General -
su.5Iy in order TO &c; their pet IA"
p. -. PEOPLE ear never secure fr"'
---a s,.rcrsl Assembly better school,
G,rtss rsads. better laws. lower iaNs
fsfs oggortunisses- eqsai rishts ="
r7Ts rsuuIne progress
shall tie people fyie7 IL theS sea-
Set :aer- rule BY rejecting these ~
.,er,-f,t,i,-sl amendments The sssu