Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-08-13

day why we imposed on the peoplethe
great burden Of voting at all on this
question, "Just adopt the Constitution
and let it stand" A thinking man,
100. L got copy of the present Con-
stltution which contains a provision
that We shOull not do it. He seeined
satisfied and made no further objec-
tons. Laughter.l
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
There are great many other very
important provisions here. This mat
ter of appropriation bills-I do not
know how many of you have consider
ed OF that, and of the importance of il.
Whenever Legislature is about To
wind up its session, the last thing they
do Is to adopt the appropriation bill.
Always just at the wind up of it. 4
whole lot of lobbies come in and pirk
out time when about half lne i.r.ei,-
lature are off at home on railroad PISS
es, and by a bare majority of these
present they get little amendment
stuck In which costs the people a trifle
Of perhaps-One or two hundred thou
sand dollars. They get it in here, and
then, although tie Constitution re-
quires that there shall be majority of
all the members to adopt the whole
appropriation bill, when it comes to
voting on it, those who are in favor of
tnat amendment say they will vote
against the whole appropriation bill,
and stop the wheels of government,
and prevent you from adjOurning, and
keep you there to all eternity unless
you adopt the bill with this amend
mept in it. Just the way they ram
med the salary grab' in at Washing
ton. That is invariably done; and it
costs US great deal of money every
year. And you cannot help It, no mat
ter how many diligent and careful leg
islators you have.
} A little provision in this Constitu-
: ton prohibits it, and it is simply that
any one member of the Legislature
may demand vote by yeas and nays
! on every item of appropriation, and
, every one that does not receive a ma
: Jority of all the members elected is de-
feated and goes out of the bill. And
) then an additional provision is, the
| Governor may veto any one item, and
; 1t requires three-fifths vote to pass it
, over his veto.
These are illustrations, gentlemen, of
the efforts which have been made by
this convention to economic the adj
ministration of the government.
should like to have talked to you
about this matter of minority represen-
tation, submitted as a separate clause.
voted Tor 1T in the Convention, and
!. am in favor of it. 1t is somewhat
| complicated, and, perhaps, has not
been thoroughly considered by the
j people; but 1 ask you to read the pro-
s visions on that subject, and think for
Q yourselves.
!. My friends, as stated in the outset,
l have met you this evening, not SO
3 much to advocate the new Constitu-
: tion as 10 induce you to study it, and
e vote on it advisedly. Let me then, in
Y conclusion, call your attention, with
Q out further attempt at discussion, to
g other important amendments, which
o are regarded as valuable.
+ 1. IN THE LEGISLATIVE ARTICLE.
Persons having contracts with the
State are ineligible to the Legislature.
: (Sec. A.
q Members of the Legislature are to re-
2 ceive fixed annual salary, with ratea-
i BILE deductions for absence. (Sec. 33.l
q : 2. IN THE MILITIA ARTICLE.
5 Persons having conscientious scru-
\ piles against bearing arms are exempt
1 ed from militia duty in time of peace,
: on payment of an equivalent into the
school fund, instead of, as now, being
n treated as criminals, and subject to fine.
Q 3. IN THE ARTICLE ON MUNICIPAL
CORPORATIONS.
: The debts of municipal corporations
t are limited. (Sec. 4.
4. IN THE ARTICLE ON CORPORATIONS.
9 Minority representation is applied to
# the election of directors OF corporations.
y (Sec. g.
: The consolidation of parallel or COM
: peting railroad lines is prohibited.
n (Sec. 10.)
o. All officers and agents of such com-
f panies are excluded from being inter-
< eSted in their receipts and cOntracts,
except as ordinary shippers, passengers,
= stockholders, bond-ereditOrs or en-
II ployees. (Sec. 81
all The "watering OF stock" is prohibit
# ed. (See. 49,
a Unjust discrimination in transport
1fI ing passengers and freight is prohibit
y led. (Secs. II and H.
-e 5. IN THE ARTICLE ON REVENUE AND
It TAXATION.
a Special taxes on railroad and other
a. franchises, and on incomes, when the
re principal is exempt, are authorized.
of (Sec. 3.
ss Special taxes on dogs are authorized.
(Sec. ~
le Now, my fellow citizens, am GER
oil tainly very much Obliged to you fol
le your patient attention, and have only
to say, in conclusion, as the result o
)f my convictions and humble judgment
10 on the subject, that unless you vote al
I'd of you, on this question, and unless you
rs adopt this proposed Constitution, you
ID will do injustice-a great injustice-tC
ne yourselves as we'll as to posterity.
e.