The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-08-12
from the Lewiston journal
The Constitution Amendments.

At the State election on september loth
the people OF Maine are to give IN their
votes on nine amendments to our State
Constitution proposed by the last Legisla-
ture. and recommended by the Constitu-
tional Commission consisting OF MeSsrs.
George F. Talbot of Portland, William p
IIaines of Biddetord, Washington Gilbert
of Bath, William X kimball of Paris,
Artemus Libbey of Augusta, H. L. Robins
of Waterville, j. G. Madigan of Houlton,
Edward Kent of Bangor, W. NJ Rust OF
Belfast, and j. A. Pike of Calais. These
amendments present the following ques-
tions for the consideration of the people OF
Maine -
/. Shall the Constitution be amended
50 that Senators shall be elected by plur-
atty vote, instead of a majority?
AS representatives to the Legislature
are elected by plurality, the commission
and Legislature thought there is no rea-
son why Senators should not be similarly
chosen.
2 Shall corporations other than MUM
cipal be formed in all cases where practi-
cable under, and always be subject to gen
eral laws to enacted by the Legislature,
instead Of being formed by special acts of
legislation?
This amendment is in tended to avoid
the evils OF private and special legislation
which has given rise to the corrupt lobby
system. Under this amendment the time
OF the Legislature will not be taken up in
granting charters, and no special and IL
rcpealable privileges or exemption can be
given any individual or corporation,
>. Shall the pardoning- power be so
modified as to give the power OF ailiNing
conditions to pardons. and be limited so as
To require an annual report to the Legis-
Iaturc OF the eases and reasons?
The adoption Of the proposed amend
ment would make this provision like the
recent constitutional amendment adopted
in New York
i. Shall Judges OF police and municipal
courts be appointed by the governor and
council, instead Of being elective?
g. Shall taxes upon pel%0nd estate, as
sessed equally according to the Just value
thereof, rs the constitution OF this State
has heretofore provided in the case of on
lY rtUi estate
This amendment providing irr equal
taxation, extends the same principle to
the taxation Of pti,>o1lN2 estate as has here
tOtore existed in reference to real estate
Should the amendment be adopted, it Will
be out of the power OF the legislature to
exempt from taxation the personal estate
OF any individual or corporation, as it is
now out OF their power to exempt the re0i
estate. Under the old provision of our
constitution, which relates only to real
estate, the Supreme Court has said that
the legislature may exempt any class OF
real estate - us. for example. all the
churches in the State, on all the farms,
but not church here and there. or a farm
or mill here and there 1t is now pro-
posed to have the same rule apply to per
Sonal property.
6. Shall the office OF Land AGENT be
abolished?
Z. Shall the Legislature jay two
thirds vote, have the power of calling
constitutional conventions?
s. Shall the Legislature have the pow
or OF excluding by law, for term not cN-
ceedlng ten years, all persons convicted
OF bribery ri any election or OF voting at
any election under the influence of a
bride
., Shall the Chief Justice arrange and
codIfy the constitution rs amended, and
submit the same to the next legislature
and such coditied constitution be the SUI
preme law OF the land when approved by
the legislature?
In accordance with the provisions of
the resolve providing for the submission
OF these amendments to the voters. the
Secretary Of State has caused ballots to
be forwarded to municipal officers in the
following iorm:-
For all the propositions this ballot which are
not cancelled with ink or pencil and against all
Which are so cancelled.
For the proposed amendment in relation to Flee
non OF Senators by plurality vote.
FOR the proposed amendment relating to Special
Legislation and Corporations.
FOR the proposed amendment in Relation to Pow
"r OF Governor to pardon.
For the proposed amendment i'll relation to Ap
pomtmcnt OF Judges OF Municipal and Police Courts.
For The proposed amendment in relation to Taxa
For the proposed amendment in relation to alol
i>Ang Land Agency.
For the proposed amendment in relation to Con
stitutioual Conventions
For the proposed amendment in relation to Bride
ny Mt Elections.
For the proposed amendment in relation TO Cod
ncation OF the Amended Constitution.
Al voters who favor each OF the nine
amendments will give expression to their
views by casting the ballot as above print
ed. Any one who desires to vote against
any one or more of the proposed amend
ments, will give expression to his views
by crasing or drawing a line with pen or
pencil across the amendment or amend
ments as printed on his ballot, and then
casting it in that form. For example, ii
a voter desires TO oppose the proposed
amendment IN relation to elections OF SEN
ators by plurality vote, and tavors all the
other amendments, be will draw Il line
across the first of the nine specific prop
ositions on his ballot. And in the same
manner, he may give expression to his
opposition to either OF tlp other l,rQD0SpI