Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-29
First of Series of Articles State Government and Cit
zenship, Written by Former Attorney General and
Issued by College of William and Mary

which cannot be called fundamental.
but In this particular Is not differ
'ht from any state Constitution
winch mas been made in the last
hfty yeats. An modern Constitutions
contain many restrictions on lcgisla-
i've action. The list OF things ih.
Legislature cannot do grows with
each successive Constitutions Some
legislators. chatting under these re-
Strictions. claim these are linita-
tons upon the people. The truth is
that these restrictions are evidences
OF III" growth uf democracy n.
against representative government.
Tor by them the people retain moi.
power for themselves. by these re-
str!ctions Legislators are required TO
consult the people Through the sub
mission of amcndncntsl before ac-
ton is taken In certain specified
hcids. These restrictions require
legislators. the agents OF the people.
10 consult 10 their princlpals. should
th"y ever desire to do certain things
For instance, our Constitution pro
vided that the General Assembly
should not Issue bonds for roads.
But the General Assembly WAS at
liberty TO ask the people for per
mission. by submitting to them an
amendment; This was done. and the
people gave their consent This
provision was a retention OF power
Tor the people. OF course, all writ
ten Constitutions are !nfringcmcuts
ON the principle OF representative
government II tho people com
plGtely trusted their representatives
no Constitution would be necessary
The representatives. OF the people
would have Il free hand without let
q gt ~ tf,f al
government has grown older. the
people have learned that certain
things should be considered fixed
and not suhicc; 10 change by the
Leg stature. without nrst consulting
tn" people by submitting amend
mcuts. Hence. Constitutions grow in
length and Will continue TO do so
No stat. has ever adopted Com
stitution which was shorter than the
one preceding IT,
Too Many Officers mud Employees.
An Organization known hs the AS
ISOLATION for the Common Good. about
Il year ago. sent out qucstiouuaIrcs
for the purpose OF asccrtain.ng how
many government officials and en-
p!oyes. State and local. there are in
virginia. They reported the num-
h"r TO y" $3.50 This statement
without explanation. would be gross
~ misleading. Az II includes 1000
election officers. many OF whom
function only about one day In the
ycar, the 1900 employees OF the
school system. and the thousands Of
employees In the large cities from the
rcct-sw""pcrS UP. But IL we ac-
cent $4,000 as being approximately
the total number of government Of
nrIals and employees, IL is safe to say
mat the Constitution Is not rcspOn-
slblc Tor per cent. and that nearly
all the offices created by tho Con-
stitution are generally accepted as
absolutely necessary for the trans
action o: public business So far as
| know, no ono advocates III. abol-
ishinp OF any constitutional Office
except the county superintendent Of
the poor. whose compensation Is
reriigib'e. and the county Treasurer.
who's" dtri"s. according to the report
OF tn" join, legislative committee
above referred to. should be placed
on tho sheriff /; is very doubtful
whether the state is ready 20 accep,
either on" OF these suggestions hu,
If th"s" changes -" deemed advisable.
ih-y can easily hc accomplished ny
submitting an amendment. surely
u cannot bc said that tn" CoustItu-
Ton places an iusurmountablc OBJ
structicn In the way Of rctrcrchrn.nt
In reducing tn. number OF puhlic
servants. The array Of officers and
employees. whether necessary or not.
are creations OF The General Assem-
bly, and the political subdivisions Of
the state Even our modern com
missions and bureaus. so much In
Weighed against, are creatures OF the