The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-11-19

49," fRff""t- Nv - ~ ~ fffW fN'N-AINfiAt
~ ihr r"rs,ins Legislature rc-sutnitiing
fs'e ssn~siruiianai Amendments 10 an
n'her vote nf me people j. question
able whether majority vote ON such 4
~ Submission would make them valid a.
part az The Constitution Of the state.
Have they mot already been voiel upon
as much n the provision for amending
che cnssKusion comremplareS. without
snhmhting them egain 10 Stccessiyr
egislainres2 Ameniinr the frndamcn
I'll law nf The State should hc very care
'''''v lone. v done ~ Ill. 80 -hEt no
vhrr'fs Ts.v.v~ - - M. fss tfftiifr. IT,
sss-esl A. s'rem tie iseslrr pan would be-
y" not attempt ~ patch an o'i ir-iru-
went. which in many particulars might be
now beiterci. The expcvicnrc al thirty
years since lis adoption. and the rapid
growth Of Iraiana under il. sh.v that i
was remarkably well constructed nj the
time- u was the result Of close study bv
It's trainers. and il II j. now to I've chang
ed, Constitutional Convention, which
could take Al is parts into considera-
ton. and form an entirely new syrnmet
rieal instrument. would in our judgment.
be far the best means TO accomplish lis
change. There are many crudities sure
20 creep into any partial amendments.
Fucii for instance rs providing an extra
election for Judge as proposed by the
last set OF Amendments. which are not
likely TO be overlooked bys Convention
OF delegates who arc charged with no
other duty than framing an instrument,
which will stand the tesg OF criticism and
trial for possibly another thirty years or
more.
The elections recently held have
brought up afresh the question OF abolish
ing the October elections. The present
time is unquestionabIy an awkward one
for politicians, yet it probably brings
thousands Of dollars into the State which
our people would not otherwise have
and puts it in the hands of class Of men
who Immediately put it in circulation.
hut then Il makes the election of State
Officers turn upon National issues. with
which. as fas IS carrying any national
policy into effect i concerned, State Of
iicers have no power at all. But change
Of time to November. as proposed by the
last Legislature. would not help the
matter any. a. the more exciting national
canvass, with is eloquent orators from
other States, would swallow Up ali local
Issues.
We believe the election Of State officers
ought 70 be as far removed from ali other
issues A. possible. and that when the
change j. made i'm orr Constitution. II
ought to provide for electing all the
State and county officers al the ApriI
election, instead Of November, and fix
The election Of Congressman az the same
time a. President. 80 that the local and
national policies may be distinctly sepa-
rated and the people have an opportu-
n'ty 70 pass an intelligent judgment
upon each, without having that judr-
'nent Influenced by its effect upon the .
other election. This would not enhance
the expense any, and would be in effect
carrying out the trite old adage TO letll
every tub stand on its own bottom,
During the recent canvass, but little ref
erence va made 70 State policies: the
encouragement Of the opening up Of the
vast mines Of mineral wealth within ourl
borders and which needs fostering legis-
'ation; the regulation of the system OIL
railroad corporations, which viii soon !
control the State. il the State does mot
control them; the cost OF State House !
improvements; the cost OF our great pnb- :
ic charities and disciplinary institutions
ne cost Of executive, judicial and lecis.
alive Offices. was scarcely alluded 10
ND All discussion Of much needed local
'eforms was summed for the more ent;c- i
ne cry Of Garfield aud yicto,v.- - =
Hancock and Honesty and the dav or
~ reform in local matters was indefinite. !
y postponed. Let the election or all
'ur local officers be changed to April,
mo the people will be able to scrutinize
nore closely the men and policy OF those I
'nicers which necessitme the collection d
4 three-fourths OF their taxes. n
nut we cannot see even the sliohtes Up
nvantsge ID changing the timc or.hota