The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1874-07-30
SUPPLEMENT.
The New Constitution.
ADDRESS =
TO THE
PEOPLE OF OHIO.

oruer OF the constitutional convention,
submit for your consideration statement
of the more material amendments of the
organic law of the State proposed in the
new Constitution. We have sought to
state only the substance of the changes,
without giving at large the reasons which
commend them.
ARTICLE 1.-THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
Except in sections five, eight and ten,
this Article is substantially unchanged
These sections are so amended that in
suits for less than one hundred dollars the
jury need not consist Of more. than six
persons; the writ of habeas corpus can be
suspended only in such manner as shall
be prescribed by law; and suits cannot be
brought by publication unless the Court
shall be satisfied that the residence and
postofice address of the party cannot be
found, no that he shall have actual notice
ARTICLE 1.-THE LEGIsLATURE.
The amendments proposed in this Arti-
Gle will have a most decided effect upon
the future legislation of the State.
1. Bienhial Elections IN November.-As
no State officer is elected for term less
than two years, it was determined. to save
the great expense and Inconvenience OF
annual elections, that the election of all
State, county and legislative officers be
held biennially, on the Tuesday after the
first Monday in November, being the day
fixed for the election of President, and, by
a late law of the United States, for the
election of members of Congress after this
year.
2 Legislative Ptfrity.-It is provided in
section four that no person interested in a
contract or unadjusted claim against the
State shall hold a seat in the General
Assembly, lest by considerations of per-
sonal profit he be influenced to do pub
lie wrong.
8. Per Diem Abolisked-The cost of a
legislative session, other than the compen-
sation of members, is large, it's magnitude
depending on its duration. Absenteeism,
resulting from railroad facilities and per
diem payment, has often heretofore re-
suited in protracting the sessions. It is
therefore provided (Sec. 33) that members
shall be compensated only by fixed
annual salary.
4. annual Sessions.-Biepnial sessions
of the General Assembly, as provided in
the Constitution of 1851, have not been
observed. The necessity for annual ses-
sion in State of such vast wealth, bust
ness and population as Ohio, having been
demonstrated by experience, a return to
that system is provided. (Sec. 28.)
8. The Teto.-Hasty, inconsiderate, and
sometimes partisan legislation is incident
to an unrestrained legislative body; and
where large sums are to be expended, and
the purposes of monopolies and powerful
corporations to be promoted, its delibera-
tions are not always free from the in
fuence of the lobby To more effectuaIly
guard against these abuses, the Conven-
offo dad ffl
follow the example of nearly all the other
States, and clothe the Governor with a
qualified veto. (Sec. 49, The difference
between three6fths, required by this sec
ton to pass bill over veto, and the
mere majority, which a law must obtain
in any case, is only den in the House of
Representatives, and four in the Senate.
1t was thought that ten days of delibera-
ton by the Governor, free from the ex-
citement AID influences which sometimes
control popular bodies, might often pre-
vent great mischief.
6. Appropriation BiQs.-A change of
the greatest importance is the proposed
limitation on the passage of appropria-
ton bills. Under the existing Constitu-
ton, the general appropriation bill, like
the general appropriation bill in Congress,
has been made the vehicle for the grossest
peculations in the public funds. Abb
senteeism often reduces the attendance to
a mere quorum. A bare majority of this
quorum can incorporate in the general ap-
preparation bill, by amendment or rider,
any scheme for depicting the treasury.
On the final passage of the bill, it must
be voted ON as an entirety; and unless it
receive the vote of a majority OF all the
members elected to each house it is lost.
-. ON fho
government are thus coupled with, and
made To abide the fate of, schemes of mere
peculation and plunder. Members are
compelled, against their convictions, to
vote for the bill including these obnoxious
items, or suffer stoppage of the wheels of
government. To prevent this is the pur
pose of the new provisions in sections
twentythree and twenty-five. Each item
of appropriation must stand on its own
merits and be voted on separately, by yeas
and nays, on the demand of any member.
If it fail to receive the constitutional ma
jority, 1t is to be stricken out. Thus each
member is made personally responsible to
his constituents for the vote he may cast
he can no longer have the pretense that
unless he vote for the bill, including the
obnoxious item, it must fail, and the gov
ernment suspend for want of funds.
Another check and safeguard is the
power vested in the Governor to veto any
item in the appropriation bill, and ap-
prove the residue. tits belived that these
provisions will result in an annual saving
to the treasury of many thousands Of
dollars.
ARTICLE m.-THE EXECUTIVE.
The only changes of any importance in
this Article are in the first, fourteenth
and fifteenth sections.
The time Of electing the State officers is
changed from October to November, bien-
nially, for the reason already explained
under the foregoing article. Section four
teen requires the General Assembly to
provide by law for the case of vacancy oc-
curing at the same time in the Office of
Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Un-
der the existing Constitution, an actual
allegiance of the Executive is by no means
an unlikely event. As the existing power
of the Lieutenant Governor to "vote
when the Senate is equally divided" has
become a subject of contention, it is 30
modified by section fifteen as to remove
any fair ground for jealousy of his con-
troll hereafter.
ARTICLE Iv.-oUR COURTS.
Chief among the purposes for which the
Convention was called was the reorgani-
xation of the Judiciary. The accumula-
ton of Judicial business had blockaded
the courts. From one to two years was
required to reach the hearing of a cause
In the Common Pleas, and from five to
seven years in reaching an end in the Su-
preme Court. This was virtual denial
Of justice, often working the bankruptcy
of Htigants even when successf. .ul. Its
causes were obvious. The practice of
second trials duplicated the labors of the
ought to have been devoted tn that Court