The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-08-06
What Does the Amendment
Apaend2

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A short time ago we prepared and
published in the Register a careful
synopsis of the proposed Constitu-
ton Amendment, with the clauses
Of the present Constitution aud the
amendments to them placed side by
side for comparison.
Our purpose in this work was two
fold: a. 1t is the only intelligent
method of arriving at the merits of
the proposed Amendments, and (2),
we desired to assist the voters of the
State in judging, each for himself,
whether the proposed patching of
the old garment would increase its
value.
We have given the subject some
study for our own benefit, and we
hope all who came into possession of
the Registers synopsis, have done
likewise.
Ifso, they have doubtless reached
with us, the following conclusions,
viz:
That the proposed amendment
will give us three, and only three,
notifications in the existing judi
ciary system, that are not provided
for under the present Contribution
that number and no more. They
are the following:
l. An increase in the.Circuits and
Circuit Judges. J
2. Areduction in the Judges sala-
ries.
8. An increase of jurisdiction and
trial by jury before Justice.
We make this proposition with
some assurance and without discus.
sion unless its correctness is chal.
lenged.
If anyone can discover any addi-
tional modification than those stated
in the three instances above noted,
not possible to be made under the
present constitution, we shall be
glad to have it pointed out, but at
the same time we are entirely conf
dent that it cannot be done.
By way Of illustration we will emu
merate the main features of the pro-
posed amendment to which we re-
l. The amendment provides forre.
arranging the circuits.
That can be done under the pres
ent constitution.
a. The Amendment provides for
establishing Courts of limited juris-
diction in any incorporated town, &c
That is also provided for under the
present Constitution.
60 The Amendment provides u
County Court composed of three COM
nfissioners, who shall have charge of
the police and fiscal affairs Of the
county, DC.
Exactly the same thing is provid-
ed for, and really exists in some coun-
ties, under the present Constitution.
a. The Amendment provides that
the Legislature, under certain condi.
lions, may reform, alter or modify
the County Court established in any
county, &c.
An almost identical provision is
contained in present Constitution.
The above four features, in con.
nection with those notifications not
provided for, constitute all the ma.
terial changes proposed by the
amendments, and if anyone is troub-
led to discover for himself that they
are all compassed by the present CON
stitution-with the three exceptions
named-we will take pleasure in
making it plain.
Under this showing it occurs to us
that the main question upon the pro-
posed amendments is not whether
they are good or bad in themselves,
but rather, whether they amend any,
thing worth neutrality-suspicious. it
would not be wiser and cheaper to
allow any of the counties which so
desire, to adopt for themselves any of
the proposed changes, or decline to
dose, as they have the privilege, with
out disturbing the organic law;
whether, in fact, it will pay to over
turn the organization of the whole
State for the purpose of accomplish
ing three triding changes in the judi
ciary system.
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