New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-11-06
Proposed Changes of the Micht.
gan Constitution.

The present constitution of Michigan is as
nearly and truly republican as the fundamen-
tai law Of any State in the Union Under
it every State, county, and city officer, how
ever small, is elected by the people, the
rights of The citizens are guarded with the most
rigid care, and altogether there are as few re-
strictions placed upon the people as is con-
sistent with the power and welfare OF the
state. But it was a complicated instrument,
many of its provisions being almost impossi-
BILE of execution, and imposing such restric-
tons upon the Legislature as to render it
| almost pOwcrless in many cases involving
the prosperity OF the State and the interests
of the people. At the last session of the
Legislature, therefore. commission was APP
pointed to revise the constitution.
In a session of fifty days this commission
completed its work, which is to be submitted
to the next Legislature for its consideration,
and, if approved, to a vote Of the people.
If they approve the amendments proposed,
they become a part of the constitution Of the
State.
The amendment, agreed upon by tn: com
from two years, As now, 10 four years, and
the elections are made to alternate every two
wears, after 1876, between the odd and even
numbered districts.
The maximulY of the House is nxed at one
hun llred and ten members, and there is more
exactness than before in the section limiting
eligibility in the Legislature. State officers,
Federal officers, and many county officers
being excluded. II is provided that after the
first fifty DAYS Of a session new bills can be
introduced only on The Governors recon-
incubation by special message. The pay of
members is increased to four dollars per day.
Local or special laws arc forbidden in any Of
nineteen enumerated cases. The number Of
judges Of the Supreme Court i increased to
five, thus guarding against a tie vote, and
their term is fixed at ten years they and the
Circui: Judges TO be appointed by the Gov
ernOr.
The power OF municipal corporations to
contract debts is limited; bank officers as well
as stockholders are made personally liable
for debts contracted by their ins titulions
foreign corporations are 10 have no greater
privileges than dyIuestic, and their stock.
holders also arc 10 be personally liable ; such
corporations are forbidden to acquire lands
in the State except when taken in good faith
in payment of debts, or needed in legitimate
business, and lands acquired in violation OF
this provision shall escheat to the State
foreign corporations which violate any State
law are TO be debarred from doing business
in the State.
The provision in the old constitution, al
lowing the Legislature to establish maximum
rates Of fare and freight, and TO regulate the
speed Of trains, besides prohibiting dlscrim- /
mating running contracts, is inserted, and is 1
the only distinctively railroad" provision |
there is. The only detached provision to be
submitted to the vote Of the peo- /
pie is a proposition on the license question,
by which the Legislature shall impose tax
Of two hundred dollars or more on the liquor