The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-09-13
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENrs

Among the most important sub
jects now claiming the attention OF
the people OF Tennessee are the
amendments to the Constitution pro-
posed by the seth General Assem-
bly,. Some very vital changes are
proposed. Some that we think
ought to be made. and some that
ought not.
In the form in which they are pro-
posed, the only way to understand
them, is to take copy of the Reso.
lutions, and with the Constitution
before you, compare them. Com
paratively few voters will have an
opportunity to do this. In the ex-
element of the general canvass, we
fear our candidates for the Legisla-
ture will overlook this matter, and
not discuss the proposed amend
ments before the people. With a
view of enabling our readers to be-
come conversant with all the amend.
ments proposed, and to understand
the effect they will have, we propose
to publish series of articles between
now and the election, in which taken
altogether we will lay the whole mat.
ter fully before GU readers.
We state now that if these same
resolutions should be passed by a
two thirds vote in each house of the
10th General Assembly, it will then
become the duty of that body to
submit them to the people for their
approval at the ballot box. If they
are thus approved, they will become
parts of the Constitution, and only
such of them as are so passed by
two-thirds of each house, and then
adopted by a majority of the people,
will become parts Of the Constitu.
ton.
But the first amendment proposed
is this:
Amend Article 2. Section 8, by
striking out of the 4th line after the
word 'for,'' the word ''two," and in
sert the word "four'' in lieu thereof.
The effect of this, if adopted, will
be to elect a Legislature every four
years instead of ever two years. Are
you in favor of this? We think
there is too much legislation-too
many changes-and are in favor of
the first proposed amendment.
In this connection we will consider
Section 8. of the proposed amend
ment- 1t says amend Article 2, Sec
tion %, by striking from the first
line, after the word "of,'' the word
-four" and insert in lieu thereof the
word ''six." In the 9Th line after
the words ''paid for" strike out all
the words that precede the words
"Any day" in the 7th line.
The effect of this amendment, if
adopted, will be to allow members
of the General Assembly six dollars
per day instead Of four dollars, and
to strike out the limit as to the
length Of the sessions, to rs and 20
days.
Further down in the list of amend
ments is one not numbered which
reads as follows:
''No member of the Legislature
shall be paid for more than one hun
dred days of a regular session, nor
for more than sixty days of any ex-
ira session."
These three amendments are all
that have reference to the Legisla-
ture. Their effect, if adopted to-
gether, will be to convene the Legis-
lature once in four years, for one
hundred days, at six dollars p day.
In our opinion, as above indicated,
we have too many sessions. They
are too short for mature legislation,
and the members are too poorly
paid.
Adopt all Of these amendments to-
gether, and we have only half as
many sessions, they are longer, and
the members are better paid. But
the cost of our legislation would be
diminished by the mileage of one
session, taking four years together.