The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-30
New Constitutions.

gan have, during the past. few weeks
been engaged, through their public
men, in revising their old Constitu-
tons. and remodeling the system OF
fundamental laws. The Michigan
Convention has finished its labors,
and the result of its deliberations are
published We give an abstract of
the new Constitution. in order that
our readers may judge whether yalua
BILE improvements have been made in
the organic laws. iWeare inclined to
the opinion from a. hasty reading,
that the Constitutional Convention
has. in some of its provisions, done
part Of, the work which should have
been left to the Legislature. gew IL
The new Constitution will be SUBJ
mitted to the people for, their ratifca-
ton or rejection, in the Fall election.
One of the most important changes
proposed is in the article on the cleo
tive franchise, which strikes the word
white from the qualifying clauses.
The people of Michigan will thus de-
eide at the llot-box whether, uni
versal suffrage shall on shall not be
engrafted on the fundamental law of
the State. The Senate will be in
creased to thirty-three members, and
the Senatorial term to four years
There will be 49, Representatives
elected for two years. Every two or
more counties having 1000 inhabi-
tants are entitled to representation.
A census will be taken every ten
years, the first one in 1875. + The
compensation IF members of the
Legislature is fixed at four dollars a
day. Fifteen dollars are allowed for
stationery, postage, &c, ten dollars
more than is allowed under the pres
ent law. The President of the Senate
aBd-Speaker- the House are en-
titledI to six. dollars a. day q PIE
prohibition of money for religious
sects is extended' to schools under
UNCONVENTIONAL control. Cities Iaad
townships can be empowered to and
the construction of railroads to the
amount of temper eent.iof the assess
ed valuation of the city or town prop
erty Such tax, however, must be
approved bya majority Of the electors.
The Governor salary is Increased
from 81 900 to $4,000; that of the Sec
rotary of State, Commissioner of Land
Office, and Attorney General, from
$500 to $1,000; State Treasurer and
Superintendent of Public Instruction
from 81, 900 to $4,000. The Auditor
General receives $500. and the
Judges of the Supreme and Circuit
Courts $4,000. These salaries may be
changed by two-thirds vote of the
Legislature. The article on impeach-
ment provides that no officer shall
hold his=ofice after impeachment is
directed until he is acquitted. The
Supreme Court is to be composed of
FIVE Judges ian increase of one) to
serve ten years instead of eight;
the Judge having the shortest
term to-. be s4the Chief Justice.
The number of Circuit Courts is
increased from eight to- ten, their
terms to be for eight years. Every
law, hereafter creating a-debt must
provide for sinking fund to pay the
same. The ship canal Sault Ste.
Marie is excepted from the clause for
bidding the State to be interested in
any public improvement Most ample
provisions for education are secured
The- enlargement of the franchises of
a corporation requires q "a two-thTirds-
vote of each House. and the Stock
holders of all corporations are made
liable for all labor performed while