Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-29
Hy John Garland Pollard.

Ity John Garland Pollard.
On November 7. the voters Of Vir-
gina must decide whether they will
call convention to draft n new
Constitution.
Tho prcsen, Constitution provides
two methods by which 1t may be
changed. one by amendments pro-
posed by two successive General A.
somblics. and voted on by the people.
and the other by calling "a convention
ITO revise and amend the game" No
convention can be called cxccp, by
tho vot. OF the p.onlc When
changes are needed, the FIRST method
being less expensive. is usually
adopted. unless the decided changes
ar" so numerous aud important that
IL seems cxpcdlcnt to call "A con-
vention for The sole purpose Of con-
steering anew tn" whole field OF the
states fundamental law II con-
N"nii"n tx called. the scope Of it's
!, deliberations cannot be limited /,
may change all or any part OF the
existing Constitution. Tho calling
OF convention opens up every sub
jet treated in tho existing Consti-
tunon, ana every other subject, which
may b. proposed by uuy member Of
the convention. on the other hand
amendments proposed by the General
Assembly. open only thos. subjects
dealt with in the amendments and
do not bring into question other
parts ~ TIA" Instrument. The thought
iul citizen VIII. therefore. before
casting his vote on November Z. ask
Two questions. First. wha, arc the
defects in the present Constitution?
second. can those defects be convent
emily corrected by the less expensive
method OF specially submitted amend
M"hiS II the answer to the last
question h" IN IN" negative, tn. voter
has yet 10 remember that the call
ing OF convention does not ncccs-
sariiy mean that he wi! get the re-
Forms ~. seeks, but on III. other hand
IN" convention may change some pro-
visions which he thinks should re-
main a. they are. This is OF course
"a risk Incident to the calling OF!
every Constitutional Convention, and
The question always IS. Does The oC-
cnsion justify IN" risk" Another
thing to hc remembered Is that when
amendments are submitted by the
LEGISLATURE, the voters may pass on
""ch Amendment separately. and APP
prov" som" ana reject others while
when "a complete Constitution is sub
mttt"d by "a convention. the voters
are usually required 10 accept or re
jcct tn. whole Instruments OF
course. 1T would b" within the pro-
vince ~ the convention to subml,
there would he 40 assurance that
this would lac done nor would /, b.
practicable to submit any consider.
abb" number Of alternative proposl-
tons.
Cost ~ n Convention.
In this practica! ap- men are prone
20 inquire into cOsts. Personally, /
do not think s5gcOUo would b. too
much 10 snend. even In these hard
times, II by such expenditure We
could get u Constitution which for
the next generation would serve TO
promoi" Justice and progrvSs Yet
the cost IS factor TO hc taken in
connection with other considerations
The last convention cost <2O3.33GC
and the cost of the special session Of
the General Assembly. called TO ad-
Just the statutes to the new Cousti-
tuition. was S233.iO4iJ-total cost.
Si36,7i0.sl At that tim" the pei
diem uf the members cf the conven-
ton and tn" General Assembly Was
81 and now the per diem Of the Gen
cral Assembly is s.. and tho cost Of
printing has greatly Increased The
cost OF printing for the General AS
scmbly OF 1920 was sil.s75.99 The
session lasted only sixty days, while
IN" extra session following the pres
cnt Constitution convened July Is.
1902. aud adjourned January IL, 1900
eighteen months less three DAYS
though IL was not In continuous SEES
sion.
Defect, In Present Consultation.
II is generally admitted that some
changes are needed In the present
constitution. special Joint !egis-
iatiVc committee, appointed by the
recent General Assembly. declared
mat the calling OF Constitutions!
convention Is the only solution for
inc present uneconom!c and unjust
ness-lIkc administration of the af-
fairs OF the State and local govern
mcnts.' While this statement is de
nicd by the opponents of q convcn
ton, Yet the General Assembly .yi
IDENTIFY thought that the subi,ct ,yns
worthy "i serious cons liberation. for
the act calling for the submission ~
IN" question passed by IL vote of "a
10 IN the House and 30 to q i'm ,h.
Senate. II is fair however IN say
that "a vote for submitting the oues
ti"n ana not commit the legislator 10
vote Tor the convention at the polls
me writer has been in correspond
cncc and conference with a number
OF those who were known by him 70
DC IN favor OF new Constitution
ana here undertakes TO give q very
brief summary OF their objections Ia
the present Instrument:
IL is too long. II invadcs tho 6c,l
OF statutory law and places undue
restrictions on the General Assem-.
blythe representatives of the pco.
pie.
IT creates too many offices.
II does not give the Governor SUM-
cicnt mower To administer effectively
me affairs OF the State The heads
OF all departments should be an.
pointed by the Governor and be re-
movable by him.
me school system should be nm
der the control OF Il board created nv
act or The Legislature. and subject
10 chahSe by that body. instead of
uhder constitutional board having
powers which can be exercised in.
depcndently Of Legislature
fhc sessions Of the General 40.
scmbiy should not be limited To six
" days, nor should bills be required
To be read at length on three differ.
eht calendar days in each house.
The sessions OF the General AZ.
scmbly should be made animal ana
the number Of members I'm each
house should lie reduced
The homestead exemption is IN,
large.
All power Of local lccisIa,io,
should be taken away from the Gen