Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-08-06

their adversaries. This proposal takes
away the necessity of attending yearly
elections, by SO arranging that terms Of
Office shall expire every two years from
a certain date, instead of some yearly
and others every second year. Do You
not think it is an advantage to every
one TO make this change?
And then another move in the right
direction and toward economy and the
best interests of the people, is in regard
to the Legislature. "The members of
the General Assembly shall receive a
fixed annual salary and mileage to be
prescribed by law. and no other allow
ance or perquisite5 either in the pay
ment of postage or otherwise. This
takes away all inducement for holding
almost interminable seSsions-receiv-
ing therefore the sum of s. per diem.
1t results in dispatch of business,
prompt attention 10 public affairs, in
stead of prolonged services at the ex-
pense of the people knowing that
heretofore it made no difference how
long they may sit, they received so
much a day. Now, if they wish to
listen to long speeches, made for bum
combe or to bolster up Il reputation for
some member, they 10 50 after GER
tain number of days at their own indi-
vidual expense, and net at the cost of
the public. This change is an eminent
! ly desirable one, and will be productive
of great good. 1t tprovides further, that
ratable deductions shall be made on
account of unnecessary absence of a
member. A Legislator to draw his
salary, shall give his time and labor to
the people who elected him, and if he
does not, then his abSenteeism shall be
counted against him and taken from
his salary. That also tends to secure
prompt attention to the duties of their
Office, and it is right that it should be
so.
This Constitution throws a further
guard around the honor and integrity
of the Legislator. 1t permits no tam
pering by corporations. 1t removes
every temptation of that character by
expressly providing that no person
elected to the General Assembly shall
| from the time of his election until the
end of his term, accept from any rail-
road or transportation company any
free pass, gift or commuted service, not
offered to the public. No insiduOus ap-
prOach can be made ky corporation
in the way of gifts, with expectation OF
ultimate benefit to the company. The
provision is just and proper one, az!
applies not only to Legislators but also
| to every judicial and lucrative State or
County officer.
And this Constitution settles anohter
matter, which for years has been d
source of complaint and hardship to
every one who ships freight of any
character upon the railroads in Ohio.
Heretofore the cost of freight between
stations twenty miles apart was nearly
as great as where the station were forty
miles distant. 1t vas not equitable or
1 larity of rates. Their charges oppressed
those who made short shipments. Up
ON the adoption of the Constitution tina;
ceases and hereafter, "persons an.t
property transported over any railroa !.
shall be carried to any station al
charges not exceeding in gross the
charges for the same class and amount
of transportation of persons and proper
ty in the same direction to any more
distant station, but excursion and COM
mutation tickets may be issued at
special rates." This is as it should be,
and as has been needed. Let the
charges be ratable in proportion to
distance and that will satisfy every
one, and do no injustice to railroad
company. And at the sane time the
Constitution provides that the Legisla-
ture shall pass laws to prevent unjust
discrimination and excessive charges
by railroad com mpanies for transporting
freight and passengers. So, no un-
due advantage can be taken by the
railroad company, and exact justice will
be meted out between the company
and the public.
! But it will take too much space to
comment upon all The desirable i'm
provements contained in the new Con-
stitution. Let us urge, however, that
each voter carefully read and consider
! its provisions. If that is dore-and it
is the duty of every elector TO read and
reflect upon it-then we have no doubt
that the judgment Of the great majority
of t5e reop!. vii! be mos. deci ciicdiy i'll
favor oI las adoption.
There are three distinct propositions
submitted with the Constitution, separ-
ate and distinct from it:
1st. For or against minority repre-
sentation.
2nd. For or against railroad aid.
3rd. For or against license.
We leave these for each Individual
voter 10 consider, and act upon as his
owu Judgment may dictate TO him, to
be right and proper, with this single
suggestion: that if the Constitution
Itself is defeated each OF these clauses
will necessarily he lost, although there
WAS u niaj,mity of 100, 900 votes in their
|. favor.
!, Believing firmly in the discretion
and intelligence of the voters of thi:
State, We have an abiding conf icnce
that they Will act in such manner a.
!, will inner 10 the lasting benefit of the
State, and fully endorse What has been
| done by tine members of the Cons!itu
tional Convention, and vote the adop
ton of the new Constitution 10y al
r overwhelming majority.
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