The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-03
The Amendments,

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majority Of two thirds, passed an act sub
mitting to the people for their approval
or rejection certain proposed Amendments
to the Constitution. These Amendments
are twenty one in number and ought to be
pretty sure of adoption, considering that
they require only simple majority vote
at the hands of the people, while they
have already passed the gauntlet of q two
thirds majority with the representatives of
the people.
There is come discernib!e crudeness in
the preparation of these Amendments,
though their general spirits seems good.
Thus No. 10 provides for the formation of
Circuit Courte-a very good idea indeed
for the relief OF Supreme Court docket
which is fully three years behind hand
but a Circnit Court, like any other, ought
to have a clerk, ard no provision whatever
is made for such an officer, ncr for any
attendance in the shape of a sheriff's
deputy. Again: In providing for a
parish attorney, No. IA, that official is left
entirely at the mercy of the ''parochial
authorities" whoever they may be. At
any rate, whether they be the Police Jury or
somebody else, they are limited to the
amount of seven hundred dollars in fixing
his salary, but are not obliged to give him
anything. The party elected in each par
ieh as States attorney is obliged by this
Amendment to act as parish attorney also,
and, therefore, ought to have right to get
something for euch work.
However, the general scope of the
Amendment, No. l2, seems to be good, and
the same may be said of all the others
except the first. The first Amendment
looks to a possible change Of the Capital to
Baton Rouge. There seems to be no use
in that expensive operation. Scratch it.
The 21d Amendment, one session of the
Legislature every two years, is a great
improvement. Every four years would be
still better.
The Bird Amendment limits the power of
the Legislature to levy State tax of more
than one per cent. A remarkably liberal
margin, considering that the tax In some
of our States is said to be only one mill on
the dollar, yet better limit it at that than
leave it unlimited. The same Amendment
limits parochial and city taxes to one and
one and half per cent respectively, both
items being liable to the same remark IS
above. These things are all good, but the
best part of this Amendment is that which
absolutely prohibits the issuipg of any
bond or evidence of Indebtedness or sure
tiship or other obligation, on the part of
the State, or of any parish or municipality.
This is really most admirable provision,
and ought to be eagerly accepted by every
voter Except brokere). Tie great pity
is that it cannot be made retroactive.
Amendment A economies on salaries and
charges of Legislators. Amendments Nos.
6, Z, IL, l3 and 1s refer to salaries and are
unimportsnt.
Amendment limits the power Of the
Legislature. As general thing, any lin
itstion of it's power is good, and this
AnaAndment seems to form no exception
to that principle. 1t provides that the
Legislature skall NOT pass any "iocat or
special' law changing venue, legitimating
children, remittipg fines, etc, CREATING
ANY MONOPOLY, making new parishes, and /,
generally, wherever q general law can be
made applicable. AS regards this Amend
uleuIJ VIZ ouIS leBISI Gunt tbey WIZ ihsS "a
to vote for it are not permitted to vote
| twice.
Amendment Nc. provides for the time
] within which vetoes must he given, if at
all, and prevents abuses of the dodging
kind. 1t embodies an excellent feature in
permitting the veto to reach one clause
only in an appropriation bill, while not
affecting other items. This will prevent
swapping axes in the grinding process and
mako every item stand on it's separate
merits. 1t gives the Governor no addi-
tional power to levy blackmail, as might
be supposed at first view, because the two
thirds vote always stands ready to over
| rule his venAlity.
Nos. 8, Is and 2i are of small general
Importance.
No. 10 leaves out parish Courts and is,