The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-18
Change .r the Constitution. ~:


10 tbs Editor Of heSHerad.
l 500 move in regard TO fubmiilrg ma
amendment 10 the constitution to the people
to elect representatives only every Tour
years. Now, if it simply embraces meet
ipg every four year,, why | will stop some
Of NV abuse sud give credit II possible 10
whom il belongs. You may think " foolish,
ven. n norsenoical idea, and that august
body nj Austin may think likewise, but
desire tie privilege to ask those lhYorlng
the chepr 10 add to or couple with their
move tho further change, tnat tho state
shall ba apporIlored into eleven senatorial
and ,hitty-thrce representative districts
and mem6ers elected for four years and
meet but onco unlots called for by the exec
utive, and then simply transact tho business
for which thoy may be called. Let good
salcry DO iiYcd--no mileage or per diem,
su0icien, to Justify or induce our nbcst aud
hest business men--l mpan our best Farmers,
mechanics, doctors, merchants and lawyers
| Ia ouit their business 10 work at Austin Tor
term of from four 10 eight months If necessa-
nv. for the GOOD of the people Of The whole
| stn,e. Pardon me sir, but l desire
| TO MIX INV iuosu"h' ~" JN'
bo,ieve either of the Caruth brothors or any
other well.to do farmer would leave his farm;
or Mr.. Gibson or any other successful mo
chnnic would loave his shop snd ioundres
or DIR. Crowdus or Other successful phy'
rcian, quit his practice; or AloX sanger oi
other successful merchant leave hls store; o.
Coloncls Crawford, Coughsnour, Eblen anc
other successful attorneys quit nm established
practice? Would you, slr, tue editor OF Int
| HERALD, leave your responsible position
now in charge of great, leading daily, aban
don oven for sixty days, your important pos
for five dollars per dry win any Of ihes'
gentlemen Quit his bushes and 20 to AusiiI
And labor nj Eve dollars per day for sixty
days and il for u longer time, two dollars po
day. and return ind have TO begin lie again
SO to speak Yet, sir, these arc tho vcrj
| men we 80 much need TO make, or rather TO
neal about ono~half tho present laws, enc
thcn make, adjust, and simplify good HDC
| whnlogomo code of both civil and crlmina
lava. which can be comprehended and fully
understood by msjorty of the people
Look for moment, az the situation. TIL,
digest Of our lave is now as large book ~
| Meb.tor's unabridged dictionary, aud by th,
time the work Of the present Legislature Il
rounded up il will over reach IN hizo II not II
mater the family bible. Pardon me Tor
little digression, for the eubiect ia 50 appropC
canno. iorbear ioo sure large mum
Der of tho legal fraternity will oppose svery
effort that may be made to simplify or MAXI
reasonable tho few laws that are necessary
for our people. Why will they not agree
Because now nlmos. every father who has
bow thinks, of course, he's smart, and u
soon as no is old enough, land toe thi
legislature has msdo men OF eighteen year o.,
boys) and able to define tho word capas, h
getsi, b9yalcense to practice law. Altor b
and il must judge from things Oh "a,
streets, many Que 10 hunting csso. 1t Isl
struggle TO pay board and washing 1t is N
old saying that drowning man will grat
at straw, )" tho truth ofwhich is here verified
Some poor fellow gets into u little fight, (usI
40 may for writing this letter. but he ias 4
little moncy-enOueh 10 call around him Il
host of lawyer friends. lic naturally want,
n good attorney TO defend him; iluds one and
asks the fee "Twonty- five dollars, sir
Tho unfortunate thinks this pretty high, and
turns aside for moment, and he ia halted by
a gentleman with tho remark that, 81
will take your case for twenty dollars.'
Another tsys, "There is nothing Ia your case;
| can clear you for ten dollars" and before
| the man reaches tho ground floor no il Mp
preached by hard looking Cnse ono who
hasn't had drink for perhaps half q day,
and no proposes to take his case for five
dollars. imagine, nay, l believe, sir, that
the charming eloQuence, the loud and pierre
ing peas OF oratOry, would have far more
influence upon contrary herd of cattle on
tho western rancho, md that HE tender,
solacing compassion and iondness would &c,
far more charmincly to quiet tho passionate
rago of flock of sheep, and would bemuch
better for his pocket lnan worrying himsclf 10
practice law. mention these things to
show that tho practice Of law has become
almost shameful and fidiculous. Again
ask pardon for tho depression. DO not mean
by tho mention of tho names above that
do not wan. poor man 10 20 10 the leglsla.
turc. Far from IL. Il simply mean asa point
that ono who conducts his own business
successfully Is better able to
work for tho welfare of his city,
county and state government, than oue who
has had golden opportunities but mover sue
cessiul Or course mistor,unea ARC moi TO be
counted 81 we have no control over thom
| Another point may bD mad0 that wo have
too great diversity of intorcsIa for so small
u body. Look for instance NJ GmySon, Fan.
min, Collin, Hunt, Rockwell, Kaufman, DIAL
las, Ellis, Navarro, Hill, johnson. Parker,
Tarrant Denton, Cook and Wise, aud show
mo the diyereity of interest. l believe two or
three men from this boundary would DO far