New-York tribune., 1879-05-05
THE WORK OF THE CONVENTION.

THE WORK OF THE CONVENTION.
THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW CONSTITUTIONS CLAIM
A MAJORITY OF OVER 2j,000-A SUMMARY OF
THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
Ever since the adjournment of the COnsttu-
tonal Convention the California newspapers have been
full Of arguments for and against the proposed Const
tuition, ana numerous meetings bave been held by its
friends and opponents The seems to have been
n very thorough one, and the people cannot complain
that the work OF the convention has been dis
cussed too little. One or the san Francisco
journals The Chronicle claims that forty out OF the fifty
counties will give majority OF 25000 for the new
Constitution The Ohroniels and foryour newspapers
outside san Francisco support the instrument.
On the other hand, eighty journals oppose it strongly
The merchants OF San Francisco also oppose
it, and have taken active measures to defeat
1t. The general opinion Of the better classes
in the State seems to be that 1t would be
dangerous experiment to adopt the new Constitution
They say OF threeths Of the members OF the CON
venton tine public knows nothing except that they
proved themselves utterly unfit for their duties They
acted says The Record. of Sacramento with as reck
less disregard of consequences though they had been
ordinary legislators appointed to draft simple statutes
which if found harmful could be repealed"
The Constitutional Convention completed Its
labors the 3d of March, ana adjourned sine die,
after being in session 157 days and ineurring
Liabilities amounting than Sl50,000 beyond the
sum appropriated for it, The proposed Constitution
will submitted to the people OF the State as whole,
for adoption Or rejection, next Wednesday. Ii
adopted by majority Vote the proposed COnstiu-
ton win take eff ct at noon July 4, 1879, 30 far as
II relates to the election Of all officers, the commence
ment OF their terms Of Office, and the meeting Of the
LEGISLATURE. In all other respects the Constitution will
take effect al noon January l, 1850. The present
Constitution adopted IN 1919. and twice amended in
few particulars-cOntans thirteen articles and 1j6
sections. The proposed Constitution is much longer,
containing with the schedue) twenty-five articles and
233 sections. Many parts Of the present Constitution
appear in the new document unchanged. Some OF the
more important changes proposed are referred to
below:
The Chinese Article (XIX.), entirely feature,
is given in full:
SECTION l. The Legislature snail prescribe all ne
regulations for the protection OF the STATE ANA
counties cities and towns thereof from the burdens
and evils arising from the presence of aliens who are or
may become yagrants paupers, mendicants, criminals
or inyalids afflicted with contiguous or infectious
diseases, aud from aliens otherwise dangerous deri
mental TO tue wbeing Or peace Of the state, and %
impose conditions upon when sucR persons NAV reside
in the state, and 70 provide tho means ana mode OF
their removal from the state upon failure or refusal to
comply with such cohmtlohs pfONueu, that hOtuIhg
COutnedin in tails section snail Dc construed 10 impair or
limit the power Of the Legislature TO pass such police
laws other regulations as II may deem necessary.
SIC .. No CORPORATION now eX sting, or hereafter
formed under the laws OF this state shall after tue adOp
u0n Ot TINS CJhstlutlOuj employ uLtc) OI IhIiftctb,
in any capacity, any Chinese or M0ngOan. The Legis
laure shall pass such laws as mag be necessary To Gu
sEC B. No Chinese shall be employed any state
couuty municipal OF other public work. except Ia pun
ishuent crime
SEC l. The presence OF foreigners ineligible to be-
Of the United Sses Is declared 20 be dan
ger0us to the we-Deng OF the State, and the Legsa-
,uro shall discourage their immigration by All the means
within It's power Asatc cody ism is iorm OF human
slavery and Is forever prohibited IN this ate and all
contracts cody labor snail be void. All companies
corporations, whether formed III TINS country OF any
foreign country for the importation OF such labor shall
be subject such penalties as the Legislature may pre-
scribe The Legislature snail delegate all necessary
power 10 Incorporated cities and towns Of TINS State
for the removal of Chinese without the limits Of such
portions of those limits, and t shall also provide the
necessary legislation to pr3hlD5 me ntrodaGton nto
tion. This section shall be enforced by appropriate
legislation.
The Chinese are excluded also from the right OF citi
zenship by the article snhraee neear"tinn "f
Rights Artice ~ is changed in only few places. One
OF the changes is IN the form OF section declaring
that special privileges immuuties shall ever be
granted which may not be altered, revoked or repealed
by the legislature and also declaring that no citizen or
auy class OF citizens shall be granted privileges i'm
munities which upon the same terms may not be
granted TO all citizens
Article w. relating to the Legislative Department
has been changed considerably. Hereafter, il is pro-
vded, the Legislature shall meet on the first Monday
after the frs Tuesday OF January next after the elec
ton OF its members instead OF the first Monday In
December) unless called together by Governor, thus
doing away with the holiday The sessions will
be held bienniay at present The regular sessions
are shortened to sixty days and provided that no
bill shall be introduced during the last days OF the
session without the consent or two-thirds OF the
bers The first session under the Constitution, how
ever may continue for 100 days. The pay OF members
is limited - day, tlelr mileage TO 10 cents NILE
and the contingent expenses 25 for each session.
Members are to be chosen biennlaly on the Tuesday
after the first Monday in November nstead OF in sep
tember unless Otherwise ordered by the Legislature
The Governor is given ten days after each session in
which sign reject bills, aud is given the power to
veto any item in appropriation bill without inVall-
dating the whole bill The giving or lending of the
credit OF the State or any political subdivision, pro-
hibited. The making or authorizing tho making OF any
ft ,rant or subsidy 10 auy person or corporation or
association is also prohibited, Lobbying and the ac-
cepance OF reward while in toe public service are de-
stock any corporation margin declared VOID,
and the Legsature is directed to regulate OF prohibit
stock gambling Special aud local Lex slatlon Is closely
counued. The changes in the Article the Executive
Department reduce The salaries Of the State officers and
abolish the Office OF SuryeyOrGeuCr, ana prohibit the
election OF the Governor 10 tine United states senate
Many changes nave been made IN me 19Lical system
Supreme Court CONSISTING OF CuleIJUsuoe ana SIX
rnveS ynr and SnpeTor Courts take the place OF Dis
irict County and Courts. All terms are abOl
h1n'.su 80 S,,Hrrme Court and SUPERIOR Courf Judges
are not 10 receive their monthly salaries unless they
make oath thai 40 case submitted IOr ninety days re-
mains undecided
In the two Artcles on corporations many features
are introduced One OF In makes the directors on
trustees of all associations Jointly aud seyera,ly liable
to the stockholders for oil moneys embezLcd or mis-
appropriated by any officer OF the association. Many
o me provisions found IN recent constitutions ON the
subject railroads were adopted by the convention.
These declare railroads and ouor transportation COM
panies TO be comon carriers aud subject to legislative
control and prohibit discr uatiJn III the ran5pUrd-
tiOn Of passengers and freight contracts between com
panies and tner officers the giving of passes public
officers the pooling combination OF earnings FOR tRe
purpose monopoly, aud the increase Oi raios tGat
have been reduced Tor the purposes or competition
Railroad COMMISSION - provided FOR with legislative
powers beyond the reach of the Governors veto.
The definition Of property includes moneys credits
dneudng mortgagel bonds, stocks, Dues franchises,
and all other matters aud things capable Of private
ownership real, personal ana mixed Only growing
crops, public property, and property exempt under
Iruff, urt cd