Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-09-22


For the Republican.
should the State COmslilutiOn
be Keviscds
The. general election for this State
is just at hand. At that election, the
people are asked to vote upon the
question: Should there be conven-
ton to revise the constitution and
amend the same? The last Legisla.
ture OF the State provided for taking
the vote, and the proclamation of the
Governor contains the form of bal.
lot
There appears to be sort of op-
position to the constitution conven-
ton upon the ground that the pres
ent constitution has been in force
but short time, and was itself the
result Of the combined judgment of
very many able men, acting in the
light Of experience gathered from the
older States. 1t is not difficult to
meet this objection, if such objection
does exist; for, though you may be
IN possession of that, which in itself
cannot be called bad, it is never too
soon TO add to its necessary and i'm.
portant improvements. A well at
the kitchen door is good. But
would it be wise, therefore, to defer,
for three or four years the addition
of a pump because that would be an
Improvement
1.-THE proposition to amend car
ries, nothing can be done with it till
the Legislature of 1872 provides for
the election of delegates to the con-
| stitutional convention,-that is, the
new constitution could not be sub
mitted before the general election in
tall of 1873. fit fails to carry, then
it goes over for ten years, at least,
and the submission of q revised and
amended constitution cannot occur
till 1883.
This, then. puts the question plain
", can we afford to wait thirteen
years for such improvements in our
code of organic laws, as ! am about
to suggest?
First, IN relation to an slsctivs judiciary.
It is well known to all, that . Ju.
dietary holding place by election, Is
constantly prey to political parties,
and subject to the warping influence
! Of petty factions. The desire for
political preferment seizes the bench,
which then panders to worong, par
ticularly where political parties are
Of close numerical strength. The
citizenship Of great State, such as
Iowa lis fast becoming, should be
consulted upon the continuance Of
this feature in her organize laws.
Secondly, A'nority representation,
which is SO purely democratic in its
aim that aone should hesitate to
grant it a chance for adoption or re
lection, under the light which we
shall have in 8 very few years in con-
! sequence OF that measure having been
adopted in our sister State of Illinois,
Minority representation aims to pre-
serve the rule in the hands Of the ma
jority while the minority are not
without voice in legislation, thus
securing approximate fairness of re-
presentation to all parties. Who
can say that Iowa does not need just
such provision for the regulation OF
her SURFACES? None but the voters
OF course. Then let them be asked
concerning it, through the means Of
a vote for the adoption or rejection
of revised and amended constitu-
ton providing for that measure.
Thirdly. The regulation Of corpora
tons. The history of the past few
years teaches that we are in imminent
danger Of being bound hand and foot
by the Herculean power of railway
companies. Companies owning paral-
lei lines ofroad, consolidate, and the
producer must pay their unreasona-
BILE joint demands ito the division of
the twentieth part of one poor scru-
ple;" for they can, and do, regulate
their charges at their own pleasure.
These powerful companies lobby Leg
islatures and seriously battle, if they
do not in many instances totally pre-
vent enactments for the restriction oil
such wrongs. A constitutional pro.
vision would be quick and permanent,
would relieve the Legislature of q
monstrous clog in the form Of the
pampcred dogs who hang about and
treat the soft members, and, in .
single stroke, bless every man who
holds pillow feeds stock, manufac-
lures any implement Of industry or
follows any honorable pursuit.
The provisions of the lately adopt
ed constitution OF Illinois in relation
to railroads are timely and good
Here they are. Do we not need
scmthlng similar?
l. That there shall be no consolidation
Of railway companies owning parallel or
competing Ines Of road. 2. That ia oil
cases in which different companies are cone
solidated 1t least sixty days previous notice
shall be given to the stockholders, ii .