Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-11-04
A New oueslion-KaAlr
Last winter the question Of the State of

'oAus was aglt0teu 70 b llmlIAd extent.
This vas merely ''feelers thrown out for
he purpose of feeling the public pulse.
fhe learnedsdoctorss VIC understands Agve
about copcluded that the ratient-the
Stste-can stand the dose. The consul.
tation has been long and close-the plan
has been adopted-and ere !ong we shall
hear Of an attempt to administer the pro-
posed remedy, which is to cure Iowa en-.
tirely Of the severe attack of Hard
Times" under which she has been labor
ing for some time, and like the sick Dutch.
man, getting no better FAST
We are not fully advised as to the plan
to be brought forward. Two have been
suggested. The first is to follow the ex.
ample Of Minnesota Amend the consitu
ton by vote Of the people SO as to allow
the State to contract State debt of any
required amount. Then the Legislature
is to pass law issuing State Bonds in
different railroads, under such regulations
and restrictions as may be deemed proper
to aid in the construction Of these roads
This plan involves, however, longer time
than the friends Of the project are willing
TO wait. In the new constitution two Gen
eral Assemblies are required to pass upon
q proposed amendment to the constitution
before this amendment can be submitted
to The people.
Thus, if an extra session of the General
Assembly was held in this city, this win
ter. and this proposed amendment Of the
constitution should be adopted by them
yet the question would remain in abey.
ance till the meeting of the new General
Assembly to be elected in October, 1859
After this General Assembly has met, the
question Of submission of the proposed
amendment Of the constitution can be en-.
dorsed, and the question submitted to q
vote of the people. 1t will be remember.
ed by all that the constitution prohibits
the borrowing or giving of the credi, Of
the State to a"y individual, association
or corporation and also provides that the
State shall never contract debts to exceed
in the aggregate, $250,OO0. We quote
sections | aud 2, article 7, of the new con
stitutlon -
ART. 1.-Sate Debts.
Section |. The credit of the State shall
not, in any manner, he given or loaned to,
or in aid OF any individual, association or
corporation; and the State shall never as
sumo, or become responsible for, the de bts
or liabilities Of any individual, association
or corporation, unless incurred in time oil
war FOR the benefit of the ) ate
Section 2. The State miy contract 10 bts
TO supply casual do.iclts or failures ia rev.
euues. or to meet expenses not otEeI wise
provi6ed fer: bur the aggregate an ,uu, OF
such debts, direct and ceRtIrg,nt. vine l.
er contract d by virtue oil one or n Dlc agls
Vi the General Assembly, or at otde.rnt
periods Of time, shall never exceed the
sum Of two hundred aud fifty thousand
dollars aud the money arising from the
creation of such debts. shall be applied to
the purpose for which it was Obtained, or
to repay the debts so contracted, and to
no other purpose whatever.
We also quote section !. article 10. to
show how the constitution can be amend
cd to allow this loan:
AFT. lO.-1aendneHts 10 tic Consultation.
Section |. Any amendmen, or amend
meats to this constitution may be proposed
in either House of The General Assem- Div:
and if the same shall be agreed to by a
majority OF the members elected to each
of the two Houses, such proposed amend
ment shall be entered on their journals,
with the yeas aud nays taken thereon, and
referred to the Legislature to be chosen at
the next general election. and shall be
published as provided by law. for three
months previous to the time of making
such choice and if, in the General AS
sembly so next chosen as aforesaid. such
proposed amendment or amend ments shall
be agreed to, by "a majority OF all the mem
bers e ected 10 each House, then it shall
be the duty of the said General Assembly
to submit such proposed amendment or
amendments to the people in such man
ner, and at such time, rs the General AS
sembly shall provide and if the people
shall approve and ra,ity snch amendment
or amendments BY majority of the elec
tors qualified to vote for members of the
General Assembly, voting thereon, such
amendment or amendments shall become
q part of the constitution of this State.
These provisions are plain and binding
and hence it will be seen that it will take
much time to go through with this propos-
ed plan.
Another plan, however. is proposed and
endorsed by leading railroad men and poll
ticians Of the State, for the purpose Of
obviating and whipping round these con
stitutional difficulties. 1t is this, as we
have been given to understand: Let an
extra session of the General Assembly be
called at an early day, and then let them
submit to the people a question in sub
stance Of this kind That the people be
to vote upon proposition that
he State of Iowa be allowed to increase
her Indebtedness to the extent of say So.
100000 for the purchase Of Railroad Iron.
This iron is then to be sold to the differ
INT companies at a certain pnce and upon
certain conditions. This is rough sketch
Of the plan.
1t is also proposed that the State come
N and take county and city railroad sub
'criptions aud cancel the same, the State
the aforesaid and assuming the
heretofore contracted.
We throw out these rough and hurried
...sa. r