Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-18
Revision of the Constitution.

maze their report on Cne HrSG pafC vi
the work to the Bar Association of San
Francisco in the following terms:
No person of any intelligence is
ignorant of the advance made in this
department during the past twenty
five years. The whole subject of gov
eminent is undergoing constant ex-
animation, and the extraordinary de-
velopment of our resources has made
apparent the necessity of modifying
constitutional provisions in regard to
every department Ofthe different State
governments.
The Constitution Of this State was
framed nearly twenty-five years ago
by the representatives of population
a majority of whom had no settled in
tentiOns of a permanent residence and
whose pursuits, circumstances and
were widely diverse in
many respects from the people OF CALI
fornia to-day.
1t is a fact which few will be found
to dispute that the Constitution of this
State is lily suited to the needs of the
present population of California.
Many of its provisions are too narrow
and confirming. Many are too lax and
insecure to guard the people against
the improvident action of their repre-
sentatives. Experience had abund-
antly proved the necessity of multi
plying limitations upon the powers Of
the Legislature and of local boards,
and throwing additional guards around
the rights ofprivate property in terms
which cannot be evaded by interpre-
tatiOn. r
The whole subject of assessment and
taxation as limited and defined in the
organic law needs careful revision.
The Judiciary is in many respects de-
fective, and urgently needs change.
Indeed, there is not an article in the
instrument which cannot be revised
and amended to advantage. Exist
ing provisions can be changed, new
ones added, old omitted, and greater
efficiency and economy in adminstra-
ton secured. The machinery of our
State Government is far too expensive
and eXtravagant in its working and
should be made more economical in
every department.
The annual expenses Of the admins
tration bear heavily on all classes of
the population and systematic re-
trenchment is not merely popular
demand, but has become an absolute
necessity.
1t will be difficult howevert to accom-
plish this in the right manner and to q
proper extent, without a careful revi-
sion of the organic law. 43 ~
tits hardly probable that period Of
twenty-five years will elapse for CEN
fury to come without occasion for con-
stitutional changes so considerable as
to make a convention expedient, but
whether this is true or not, 1t is i'm
probable that any period of twenty-five
years in the history of this State will
produce such radical changes in the
composition, character, conditions and
relations of its population as the pre-
ceding twenty-five years have done.
Within that period from an unset
tied, heterogeneous and nOmadic char
acter the population has become fixed,
homogeneous and identified in feeling
and aspiration with the State and it's
great future.
Agriculture, commerce and manu-
features have taken the place of mining
as leading industries and are develop
ing with rapidity-a steady current OF
immigration has set in this direction,
attracted by favoring circumstances of
soil and climate, and will doubtless
steadily increase in volume.
1t is time for thorough revision of
the Constitution under which a popu-
lation which has so changed and ex-
banded is to execute the task of self
government. ass
That no such provision is practicable
through the agency of the Legislature
is apparent to all practical observers.
1t is impossible in the short sessions OF
the Legislature for any careful thought
to be given to the subject by members
engrossed with various que stions of
general and local legislation. -
Moreover, when amendments are
made by this process; they are often
discovered to be incongruOus and un-
satisfactory III their practical work.
ing. ~ Eh uneauf8 hqv
The only effectual mode Of securing
the desired end is through the agency of
!. convention called for the purpose,
and composed of men selectedkin view
of their supposed fitness for this spe-
cial work. lfAl ~ JH4jHe ErlH8
The expense of such body has been
greatly Overestimated by some. 1t
could hardly exceed 800, 900, and
might fall considerably short Of that
sum, as the compensation Of the menu
-bers might be moderate. The class of
men ready to accept positions in such
q body would not be attracted by ex-
trayagant compensation. VI N
We therefore recommend to your
association to exert any influence its
members may possess individually and
collectively in favor of the call of a
convention to revise the Constitution
of this State, and submit for your con-
sideration the accompanying resolu-
ti0n. e - .s-i - ke-EL DuD - p
"The Lord Raleigh Grapevine"
which was growing when Sir Walter
Raleigh landed at Roanoake Island in
1910, and was then but three inches in
diameter, is now spoken of as one. OF
the largest vines in the world. 1t
covers one and half acres, and last
year yielded 46 barrels of wine-l,s4O
gallons in all.-which sold for So per
gallon, yielding $3.50. There is a
Scuppernong grapevine in Terrill
county, North Carolina, which is said
to be much larger than the Raleigh
vine and.to produce at least fourth
more wine. The wine from the vint-
age of last year from this vine meas
ured $3.50 gallons, and brought the
handsome sum of S., 040.g Ky
A young man who had just returned
from sequestered village to, the. city,
declared that 1t was SO still at night In
the country tavern where he lodged