Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-08-08
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

the columns Of the RECORD, the matter
to be decided at the ensuing election.
The first proposition is to amend Section
l. Article TX Of the Constitution, so as to
change the commencement OF the fiscal
year from the first OF January to the first
Of December. This appears every way
worthy Of endorsement. az it would give
the State officers an opportunity to se.
their biennial report ready in time to
submit them to the Legislature in the
commencement Of the session, instead |
OF presenting them. as heretofore, to-
ward its close. The proposed amend
ment will in all probability pass on its
merits. The second proposition is Of an
entirely different nature. In this
the people are called upon to
decide whether they will or will
not have the entire constitution re-
vised through the costly and cumbersome
medium OF Constitutional Convention.
We but express the opinion Of this sec.
ton Of the State. when we say that such
contemplated revision is wholly useless
and entirely unnecessary. The mining
industries Of Southeastern Nevada are
at present in languishing condition and
to entail the unavoidable expense Of
such convention on the State, would
DO at present somewhat ill-timed. 1t
has been intimated that one of the pro.
posed revisions would be change 10 the
present bullion tax; a change adverse to
the interests OF Nevada. or this we
cannot speak with certainty except 50
far as the curtailment Of this tax would
act on its revenues, such effect Is too
obvious to need extended comment.
Sections and 2. Article XVI Of the
Constitution of the State Of Nevada read
as follows:
SECTION /. Any amendment or
amendments TO this constitution may be
proposed in the Senate or Assembly, and
II the same shall be agreed to by O ma.
jority OF all the members elected to each
Of the two Houses, such proposed amend.
ment or amendments shall be entered on
their respective journals, with the yeas
and nays taken thereon. and referred to
the Legislature then next to be chosen,
and shall be published for three months
next preceding the time OF making such
choice. Aud IL, in the Legislature next
chosen as aforesaid. such proposed
amendment or amendments shall be
agreed to by q majority OF all the mem.
bers elected to each House. then It shall
be the duty OF the Legislature to submit
such proposed amendment or amend
ments to the people In such manner and
at such time as the Legislature shall pre-.
scribe; and II the people shall approve
and ratify such amendment or amend
ments, by majority OF the electors
qualified to vote for members OF the
Legislature voting thereon, such amend.
ment or amendments shall become a
part OF the constitution.
SEc. 2. II at any time the Legislature
by vote of two.thirds Of the members
elected to each House, shall determine
that it is necessary to cause a revision OF
the entire constitution, they shall recon
mend to the electors, at the next election
for members Of the Legislature, to vote
for or against q convention; and If II
uPpcht VI tho CicSt
ors voting at such election shall have
the Legislature shall. at its next session
provide by law for calling conventio n
TO be held within six months after tn,
ton shall consist of number OF mem
bers not less than that Of both branches
OF the Legislature. In determining wha
10 - he uNkt nj
such election. reference shall be had te
the highest number OF votes cast at sucl
election for the candidates for any OHIO
or on any question.
Section Of the above applies to tn
proposed change in the fiscal year. Thi
proposition will not be voted upon 10
tho people at the next election. bein
acted upon by the Legislature next Win
ter. and then submitted to the people TO
ratification. Section 2 applies to th
proposed revision OF the Constitution
and will be decided by . general vote G
the people next November. II q ma
jority Of the voters then declare for
Constitutional Convention. the next Les
islature will provide for the holding {
the same within six months after th
enactment Of the law. The history {
the several State Constitutional Conver
tons held throughout the Union for tn
purpose OF revision shows that unlei
grave and urgent reason exists for sucl
revision. it's better to forego the o
pense that it always entails. More q
pecially is this the case in this State
present, where our leading industry Is
much depressed and no urgent niece
sity for such revision exists. Tho Co
stitution Of Nevada. as 1t stands to'da
is by no means perfect; we never saw 1
instrument drawn by human hands tn
was; inconsistent clauses may be four
in it and certain sections now admit
dishonesty arising under legal enac
ment, but We are Of the opinion shou
the proposed convention be called tho
clauses and sections would receive lie
attention than others which wou
admit of lobbying and pecuniary
tsrest being brought to bear upon q
case. We are told Of the fruit vende
who. going around Bsgdad at a loss I
a suitable cry, finally chose the trst
formula I'm the name Of the proph
- figs. There is slight flavor Of th
about the proposed Constitutional =
vision which like enough postpone q
Armative action on this question Ii
some more fitting occasion in the iutur,
No matter what Peter Cooper's ides
on the currency question fare. he IL
good old man, In q late speech he saii