Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-19
REV oONsr1rUr1oN OF ARKANSAS.

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new CONSTITUTION OF ARKANSAS.
The new Constitution of Arkansas
provides that Representatives to the
Legislature shall be chosen by the quail
fled electors every two years, and Sena-
tors every four years. Militia officers,
justices of the peace, postmasters, officers
Of public schools and notaries are not
ineligible to seats in the Legislature by
reason of holding such Offices. The regu-
lar biennial session shall not exceed sixty
days unless by vote of two-thirds OF
the members elected to each House,
provided that this shall not apply to
the first session under the new Consti-
tuition, or when impeachments are pend
ing The presiding officer of the SEN
ate shall be styled the President, and
of the House of Representatives, the
Speaker. The State of Arkansas shall
never be made defendant in any of her
courts. Every bill shall be read at
length on three different days in each
House unless the rules be suspended by
two-thirds of the House. No law shall
be revived, amended, or the provisions
thereof extended or conferred by refer
ence to its title only. No local or
special bill shall be passed unless
notice of the intention to apply there
for shall have been published for thirty
days in the locality where the matter or
thing to be affected may be situated. No
new bills shall be introduced into either
House during the last three days Of the
session. The Executive Department
shall consist of a Governor, Secretary
of State, Treasurer, Auditor and Attor
ney General, who shall be elected by the
qualified electors, and hold for two
years. The Secretary Of State shall
discharge the duties of Superintendent
of Public Instruction. The Supreme
Court shall consist of three Judges, one
of whom shall be styled Chief
Justice, and when the popula-
ton of the State, which 40 the last
census was 4s4,47l, shall amount
TO one million, the General AS
sembly may increase the number to FIVE.
The Supreme Court shall have appellate
jurisdiction only, except in other cases
provided by the Constitution, and its
Judges shall severally have power to
issue writs Of error, supercedeas, quo
warrauto, habeas corpus, etc. They
shall hold for eight years, and the Clerk
and Reporter for six years. The terms
Of the Court shall be held only at the
State Capitol. For every two hundred
electors there shall be elected Justice
of the Peace to hold two years; pro-
vided, that every township however
small, shall have two Justices of the
Peace They have original jurisdiction,
exclusive of the Circuit Court in all mat
tiers Of contract where the amount in
controversy does not exceed one humid
red dollars and concurrent jurisdiction
where the amount does not exceed three
hundred dollars, exclusive of interest.
The separate Criminal Courts are abo-
lished and the jurisdiction vested in the
Circuit Courts. Each county shall elect
one sheriff, who shall be ex oficio tax
collector; one assessor, one coroner, one
treasurer and one surveyor, for two
years. The Senate shall never consist of
less nor more than thirty-fve members.
The personal property of any resident
not the head Of family, to the amount
of two hundred dollars, besides wearing
apparel, and Of the head of family, to
the amount of FIVE hundred dollars, shall
be exempt from collection on any debt
or contract. A homestead is also ex-
empted. The General Assembly may
by general law exempt from taxation for
the term oil seven years the capital
invested in all kinds of mining and man
ufscturing business in the State. The
powers Of municipal corporations are
greatly restricted so as to prevent
the abuse Of power and excessive
taxation. The General Assembly shall
6x the salaries and fees Of all officers in
the State, and shall have power to tax
hazkers, peddlers, ferries, exhibitions and |
privileges. No mention is made Of
merchants as there is in the Constitution
Of Tennessee. State taxes shall not
exceed in the aggregate one per cent Of
be assessed valuation. and no county
hall levy tax to exceed one-hslf per
ssnt except to pay OF existing inds6i-