The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-06-25
The New Constitution.

Inc new So2Stleut1oo.
One week from to-day (July 2d) the people
of this state are called upon to vote for or
against the adoption of the. new constitution
framed by the late constitutional convention
OF this state.
We have heretofore. on q somewhat care
full examination of the new constitution and
comparison of Its provisions with those OF the
present constitution. expressed decided pref
erence for the new one; and in the newspa-
per discussions which have taken place since
and which we have read with some care, have
seen no reason to change our first conclusion,
but many to conform and strengthen it.
There is, in short, no question whatever as
to the superiority of the new over the old con-
stitution. In the matter of pay to public Off
GERS alone-members of the legislature, Gov
ernor, state officers, judges, &C., the vote on
the new constitution involves the simple
question, whether we are to have some fixed,
definite, reasonable rule to 60 by, or no con-
stitution at all for the old constitution, in
the whole business has been treated as dead
letter, and as regulating salaries outside of its
provisions involved an outrage, so the salaries
thus unlawfuly fixed were another on ac-
count of their reckless extravaganza. 'Thc
Governors salary" says the present constitu-
ton, shall be fifteen hundred dollars. dnd no
mo,e.' The legislature voted him ten thou
sand And this same reckless extravaganza
is observable through the whole list of officers
3rn,,
fixes rule that will give public officers rea.
sonabe pay, and will put an end to this
shameless extravaganza as well as the endless
perjury and decentralization which it involves.
In the matter OF private and special legisla-
ton, that source Of infinite legislative jobbery
and corruption, the provisions of the new
constitution are admitted to be the wisest and
best ever framed Oh the subject, and must 60
far to purify our legislative halls of that rot
tonness that has of late years made them such
q stencil to the people
The restrictions on railroads are also such
as are absolutely needed if we would save the
state from wholly falling under their mercl.
less control When the present constitution
was framed there were not 90 miles of railroad
in the state. Its trainers, therefore, saw no
necessity for stringent provisions for the regu-
lation of such corporations. Now, Illinois is
the great railroad state of the Union, and vet
these great railroad corporations. in their nat
ure selfish. grasping. and inimical to popular
rights, are wholly without constitutional con-
troll
But it is needless to follow this line of ar
gument further. Most of the opposition to
the new constitution is directed against the
provisions which form its chief excellence.
The railroads oppose it, because it restricts
and limits their power to rob the people; the
counties along the line of the central railroad
oppose it. because they want to steal the half
million of revenue the state derives from that
road and use it themselves. The warehouse
gamblers oppose it, because it puts serious
check upon their thievcry; and hosts of
petty county officials oppose it, because it cuts
of their plumber in the shape of excessive fees.
The howl that is raised against the new
constitution on account of its alleged endorse
ment of the 18th amendment is answered in Il
few words by the state Register
'The Register holds that in comparison with
the infamous 18th amendment, the suffrage
article is of small moment, and that in con-
sideration of the positive good in that nstru.
ment the new constitution the negative evil
of that article should not be allowed to defeat
it,
If rejecting the new constitution could have
any effect one way or the other, on the en-
forcement OF the infamous 18th amendment
in tins state there might be some sense in
voting against it on that account but any
man with thimblc.full of brains knows that
voting down the new constitution will no
more affect Niger suffrage in this state than
would Il foot from crazy Gabrlels tin horn.