The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-03-21
a NEW CONSTITUTION.

Newspapers Of California publish the
full text Of the proposed new constitu-
ton Of the State, just completed by tho
convention which has been in session
for several months. Some Of the Jour
nails speak Of it with unqualified praise
and others denounce IL as Il whimsical,
crotchet patchwork affair. In the con.
vention there waS strong element
which was swept i'll on tho wave Of
that peculiar socialism which is so ram
pant in California; and it is quite natu-
raj that this element should project
some Of its ideas into the constitution,
yet on the whole there il less Of this
sort Of thing than might have been ex-
pccted, and the instrument is entitled
10 fair consideration ut the hands Of the
people Of California, IL contains pro-
visions well calculated 10 put restric-
tions upon hasty or inconsiderhte legis-
lation; IL reduces salaries and emolu-
ments hitherto extravagant; it prohib-
its the loan Of the credit OF tho State I;
1t reduces the frequency Of elections,
prohibits corporations making fictitious
increase Of their capital stock, provides
obecka upon fraudulent transfers of
property to escape taxation, gives the
Governor tho power to veto any item
in an appropriation bill while approx
ing the rest, and prohibits appropria-
tions 10 all descriptions of sectarian and
religious institutions. In providing for
less expensive government and intro
ducing methods for better protection Of
the public against various kinds Of job
berry in legislation and expressions by
corporate power, the new instrument
contains much that will prove accepta-
ble to the people of the State, and they
will be disposed to excuse certain fea-
lures, even though they have some
thing Of the stamp Of demagogism upon
them.
There are other features which are
admirable il any way could be found 70
enforce them, among which VIC may in
stance that against lobbying. which is
to bo pronounced felony. Ia deGn.
ing this offence il is declared that "any
person who seeks to influence the vote
of member Of the Legislature by bri-
berry, promise OF reward, intimidation,
or any other dishonest means, shall be
guilty Of lobbying, which is hereby de-
cared felony" This sounds well, but
we do not sre that it makes any real
advance toward the correction Of AN ac-
knowledgcd evil In every State there
are already laws which make il fel-
ony To influence the vote Of member
of the Legislature in any Of the ways
above indicated. II is not readily seen
how this abuse can be more effectively
prevented 10y calling it by "a new name
and prescribing penalties in the funda-
mental law. The difficulty in these
cases is in ascertaining the facts con
corning crime which all parties en-
gagged III It haze the strongest of rea-
suns for keeping in couceAlment. There
~ also am attempt To prohibit specula-
tiun ia mining and other stocks, which
1t may he confidently predicted will
prove quite futile. a requirement
that unimproved land shall Le asscs4sd
at the same rate as improved is so man
'festly unjust that no people will en-
force It, even though il be commanded
by their constitution These aud simi-
lar cruditles are noticeable; bnt il NAV
be answered that in almost every con-
stitution ahere is more or less matter
which is practically "a dead letter. The
intractible element in constitutional
convention will insist on its WITNESSES,
and the work of such boay, when
this is the worst that can be said Of it,
is to be pronounced fairly good in pro-
portion TO the absence or harmlessness
of this class of notions.
In examining the article on educa-
ton We find that the sentiment against
high schools, supported a. public ex-
pcnse, has taken form in provision
which reserves the use of The school
fund for primary and grammar schools
only-that is, for common schools
This is IN accord with growing public
opinion throughout the country. The
Legislature is prohibited from having
anything to do with the subject of text
books, a provision which will remove
another fruitful source Of Legislative
jobbery. Textbooks are to be selected
by the local boards of education, and
after such selection has been made they
cannot be changed for four years. 1t
is evident that, much as this conven-
ton has been denounced, it has pro
duced constitution which contains
many excellent features. 1t will be
voted on by the people in September
next.-Oregonian.