The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-05-03
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
In another column we publish Off
cialIy the amendments proposed by
the last Legislature to the Constitu-
tion of the State. The joint resolu-
ton requires publication Of the pro-
posed amendments to be madel in
one newspaper, in each Senatorial
district, once a month for six
months after their passage by one
legislative body Then they are to
be acted upon by the Legislature
which convenes next January, and
il passed by that body, they are to
be submitted for ratification to the
voters of the State. The changes
proposed by these amendments are
important ones and should attract
the careful attention and considera-
ton Of the people. A contemporary
summarizes the changes proposed as
follows:
The first extends the term of the Gen
eral Assembly from two years to four
years.
The second abolishes the exemption
from taxation Of 81 900 worth of proper
ty in the hands of each taxpayer.
The third expunges the clause which
prohibits the State becoming owner,
in whole or in part, of any bank
The fourth would extend the Cover
nor's term to four years, leaving him
eligible for only eight years in any per
iod of twelve.
The fifth would take the election of Su-
preme Court Judges from the people and
give it to the General Assembly, at the
same time increasing their term of ser
vice from eight years to twelve.
The sixth would, in like manner, vest
the choice of Judges of the Circuit,
Chancery and inferior courts in the
Legislature.
The seventh increases the official term
of the State Treasurer, or Treasures,
and Comptroller, to four years.
The next increases the per diem of
Legislators from four dollars to six, and
abOIishes the present limitation of seven
ty-five days for a regular session and
twenty days for called session. A
subsequent amendment suggests in lieu
one hundred days and sixty days respec-
lively.
Among other notable provisions are
the following:
The Legislature may, by general laws,
authorize the trial of misdemeanors, and
of civil suits, by a jury of less than
twelve.
Abolition of the State poll tax.
Authorization of courts with both
common law and equity jurisdiction.
Removal of the ineligibility to legisla-
tive office of ministers of the gospel
To expedite the process of amending
the Constitution i'll the future, by doing
away with the present Intervention OF a
second General Assembly.
To authorize exemption of manufac
lures from taxation for six years.
Authorizing the Legislature to pass
fences, road, school and other local laws,
and make them applicable to such cOun-
ties and incorporated towns as may by
a popular vote, accept such laws
To reduce the Supreme Court to three
Judges.
To abolish in toto the recruitment that
voters must prove payment of poll tax.
These embrace all except two, Of mi
nor Importance.
All of these are important-those
involving a change in the election
of the Judiciary, not the least in
interest. At present the Supreme
Court members are elected by
the people for eight years. The
propose to elect them
for twelve years, and let the Legis-
Iature make the selection. We are
for the change, and believe the peo-
pie will be. The meagre vote here
tofore cast at the elections for Judges
satisfies us that the people do not
care for it, and the trickery, wire
pulling, and log-roIling resorted to
in some instances by friends Of OPP
posing candidates surpasses anything |
ever witnessed on the part Of leg
slative body, discharging such high |
luty. We do not know that we have |
lad any better judges on the bench |
since they were elected by the peo-
han we had when they were elected |
1y the Legislature. In fact, we have
thought the difference was somewhat
n favor of the legislative selection.
We believe the Legislature can elect
Circuit and Criminal judges
md Chaucellors with more judgment
md economy to the people than it
AN be done anywhere else, and the
people will be perfectly willing, we
,elieve, that the power to make such
elections and elections shall be re-
-ested in the Legislature. We will
iotice other proposed amendments
hereafter