The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-14
THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION.

The Constitutional Convention OF Califor-
mia has completed Its work and framed new
constitution, which 1t will submit to the
voters OF that State for their approval May T..
The demand for new constitution in Cali
fornia was the result OF the uprising OF the
people OF that State against monopolies and
Chinese cheap labor. The people Of Califor-
mia had been suffering for years from the
tyranny of corporations and monopolies
The corporations Of that State are richer and
stronger than those OF any other State in the
Union. They controlled the politics OF both
parties, elected the Congressman and Sena-
tors that California was entitled to, dictated
legislation, owned the judiciary, and, indeed,
thoroughly controlled the State government
In all its branches. This tyranny became at
last insupportable, and the result was an up
rising of the people of California In q demand
for new constitution.
The most important features In the new
constitution are, OF course, those regulating
corporations and those directed against the
Chinese. The constitution declares that rail-
roads are subject to Legislative provisions In
all matters, and creates railroad commits
sion to regulate freight rates and tariffs and
supervise the books OF the railroad compa-
MES. All pooling or combinations by which q
certain road or number of roads can secure
monopoly, are forbidden and specially pro-
vided against. The Legislature Is also given
the right to control and regulate corpora
tions, and it Is declared that any special
privileges or immunties granted to corpora
lions may at any time be recalled or altered.
III 10
Chinese are very severe. 1t Is declared that
natives of China shall never under any cir
cumstances, enjoy the elective franchise; that
their presence In the State Is dangerous, and
the Legislature is requested to discourage
their immigration by all means In its power
and endeavor, If possible, to get rid of those
already In the State. The Legislature is fur
Their requested to delegate all the necessary
powers to municipal corporations to remove
the Chinese from their limits should they see
fit to do so. The employment Of Chinese on
public works is prohibited, and all corpora
lions chartered by the State are forbidden to
employ them.
Some of the provisions of the constitution
on the subject of taxation are strange. Ali
the property in the State, including church
property, Is subject to taxation. Unculti-
waited lands are to be assessed at the same
rate as cultivated lands of the same quality,
the intention Of this provision being to break
up the large land holding system by which
immense tracts OF land are held by a few per-
sons untaxed or lightly taxed, because uncul-
tivated. The tax on mortgaged property is
divided between the mortgagor and the
MORTGAGE. A property-holder is to be taxed
on his property minus his debts, provided
they are owing to persons in the State.
The new constitution proposed for Califor-
mia differs greatly from the old instrument by
which it has been governed hitherto. 1t Is
more than likely that it will be adopted by a
large majority. The Workingmen's party
are strongly in favor Of it, and Kearney him.
self has already taken the stump to urge It's
passage. The only ones opposed to it are the
Chinese, who are without votes, and the rail-
roads. The approval Of the constitution will
be mainly fight between the people Of Cali
fornia and the great corporations Of that
State, and 1t is pretty certain that the people
of the Pacific slope have at last got these
under control.