Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-05-28

place.
The State is divided into seven cir.
cult districts, three judges to each, and
each circuit averaging about two hum
dred and fifty thousand population.
The term Of Office of Supreme Judges is
extended TO ten years, instead of five,
as under the old Constitution, and their
salary is fixed at not less than five
thousand dollars per annum.
The Circuit Judges are TO be elected
by the restricted pla2 of minority suf-
frage, at the first election occurring I'M
der the new Constitution, under which
plan no electOre can vote for more than
three of the five Judges to be chosen.
In consequence of the accumulation
of business on the docket of the Su-
preme Court, commission shall be
appointed, to consist of the Supreme
Judges in office at the time of the first
election of Judges under the new Con-
stitution, to dispose of all business then
upon the docket which shall not have
] been, by arrangement, transferred to
/ the new Court. The judgments of this
commission shall be enforced the same
as Inc decisions of the Supreme Court.
Subsequent commissions may be ap-
pointed by the Governor.
Common Pleas Judges are required
to hold, each, not less than 240 days of
| open Court, unless all the business as
! signed to such Judge may be sooner
| disposed of, and the General Assembly
may ASSN Judges to hold Court in any
district other than that in which they
were elected, when necessary.
Jurisdiction at chambers is vested in
all Judges of the Supreme, Circuit,
Common Pleas, and of such other
| Courts as may he created.
/ Drunkenness Of a judicial officer dur
ing his term of Court, or when other
wise officially engaged, works a for
feiture of his Office.
Probate Judges and Clerks OF Courts
shall receive fixed salaries, and ali fees
received by them shall be paid Into the
Treasury.
The term of office of Justices of the
Peace is fixed at four, instead Of three
years, as provided in the old Constitu-
tiOn.
A new section is added TO the Arti-
tie, as follows:
''Sec. 26. All Judges of Courts of
Record inferior to TIE Supreme Court
shall, on or before the first day of June
each year, report in writing to the Su-
preme Judges such defects and omis-
siOns in the laws as their official eXpe-
rience may suggest; and the Judge of
the Supreme Court shall, on or before
the first day of December OF each year,
report in writing to the Governor such
defects and omissions in the laws ;ts
they may find to exist; and all Judges
of Courts of Record inferior TO the Su-
preme Court shall report to the General
Assembly, at each regular session
thereof, the number OF days they
have held court in the several counties
composing their respective Circuits and
Districts the preceding year."
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
The word "white" is stricken from
the qualifications of electors.
No person shall be deemed to have
lost his residence as an elector by reason
of his presence or absence in the SER
vice of the United States military or
naval service, or by reason of his pres
ence or absence TOR any temporary pur-
pose. Electors in the actual military
service of the United States, not in the
regular army, may exercise the right
of suffrage in the manner provided ny
law.
A new section provides that women
possessing the qualifications of electors
as to age, citizenship and residence,
shall be eligible to any Office unuer the |
school laws, except that of State Com |
missioner of Common Schools.
The article ON Public Institutions |
provides that, in addition to the pres
ent public institutions of the State, an
asylum for the incurable insane, and a |
house of discipline, intermediate be-
tween the reform schools and peniten-
tiary. 1t also establishes the Reform
School for Boys as permanent insti-
tuition under the Constitution.
No part of the sinking fund shall
ever be transferred 10 any other fund,
or used for any other purpose.
A Superintendent of Public Works
shall take the place of the present
Board of Public Works, and shall be
elected for four years.
The word "white" is removed from
the qualifications of persons for per-
formance of militia duty, and persons
having conscientious scruples against
bearing arms may be exempted in time
Of peace on paying an equivalent for
such service to the school fund.
Each township and county is created
4 body corporate to enable them to sue
and be sued, etc, IA privilege and liza
bility not allowed or incurred under
the old Constitution.
County Auditors, Treasurers and
Prosecuting Attorneys are tO receive Il
liked salary as compensation for their
services, instead of the present fee
system.
County officers are to be elected on
The Tuesday succeeding the first Mon
lay in November. Township officers
ire allowed to hold their terms of Office
hree years, instead Of one, as in the
present Constitution. Moneys raised
n counties and townships by taxation,
oan or assessment, for one purpose,
ire forbidden TO be directed to any 9TH
,r. Counties and townships are grant
I'd power of local taxation for police
purposes, for constructing and improv-
ng bitches and public roads other than
and for clearing water courses,
Is may be prescribed by law. !
The General Assembly is authorized I
o divide the municipal corporations
If the State into six classes, the powers
If each class to be defined as to levies of ,
ak, assessments, leans and power to {
contract debts.
No assessments in any corporation {
ten per cent of the taxable
Talue of the property therein, shall be ,
evied in any one year, nor more than ,
ifty per cent in any ten years.
The Indebtedness of any municipal ,
shall never exceed five per
ent. of the taxable value of the prop
rty within its limits, without the con- |
ent of three-fourths of the qualified !
electors and their approval of tho OBJ
ect for which the Indebtedness is Gre ,
ted, but in no case shall the taxation
Xceed ten per cent. of the value of [
uch property. :
RAILROADS. :
The following new restrictions upon |
are proposed: