The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-17
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMFNTs.

Governor Roberts has studied
the theories of government as care
fully as any man, and were his sug-
gestlons i'll most matters of this ma
ture adopted, Texas would have a
wiser and more efficient executive,
legislative and judicial departments.
His recommendations to the legisla-
ture, touching amendments to the
Constitution. providing for a reor-
ganization in the manner of electing
and creating legislatures ought TO
be followed. His message on this
subject reads:
i respectfully recommend that a
Joint resolution be passed submit
ting all amendment to the Constitu-
tion of the state of the following
effect:
The Representative in the leg
islature to be elected for the term
of four years, one-half of whom
shall be elected every two years.
The Senators to be elected for the
term of six years, one-third OF
whom shall be elected every two
years. During the first session af-
ter members Of the legislature are
elecetd under these provisions, il
shall be determined by lot who shall
hold the longest term, and the term
of those thereby determined to hold
the shortest term shall expire at the
end of two years from the date OF
their election.
The legislature shall, by joint re-
solution, fix the mileage and per
diem of its own members at each
session,not exceeding five dollars per
day during the session, and five dol
lars for every thirty five miles in GO
ing to and from the capital by the
most direct route.
The Governor and Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor shall be elected for the term O1
four years, and the Governor shall
be ineligible for the same Office fol
the next ensuing four years after
his term shall have expired.
Notwithstanding the probable
near approach to the end OF the pre-.
sent session, 1 conceive it to be my
duty to present these amendments
for the consideration of your hon
orable bodies. l should have pre-
sentcd them sooner had [ antIci
pated q shorter regular session thar
usual, which has never heretofore
been less than three months, and
most generally about four months
The great advantage of having al
every session of the legislature {
large body Of experienced members
must be appreciated by every one
who has been in a legislature fol
only one session. The usefulness o.
a working member increases witt
every session from having acquired
more accurate and broader views o.
the operations of the government
and from his increased knowledge
of the forms of legislation.
One-half of the members Ol
the House of Representatives
and one-third. OF the Senators
being elected at every biennia
election would insure an infusion o
public opinion into the legislativ,
body from time to time sufficiently
to affect any change of policy thai
might be demanded by the wants O.
| the country.
The reasons why L favor the
amendment proposed in regarc
to the Governor, are that be
may have time to carry out any poll
cy which he may have aided the
legislature in adopting on the ONE
hand, and on the other hand, thai
he may not be tempted to use his
office to secure a recollection, and a
the same time be relieved from
the imputation of having done so il
the construction given to his acts
while in office.
These amendments taken together
would result in giving our state
government q stability i'll its action
in the regular and gradual promo
ton, as we'll as greatly facilitate the
legislation necessary for that pur
pose. These leading objects are
now already well defined, embrac
ing the proper execution of the lawt
to protect life, liberty and property
an equitable and efficient fnancia
system; an educational system
broad enough to meet the wants o
all classes with the incidenta
means of it's development; a rail
road system for transportation anC
travel to be encouraged as well a
regulated frontier protection anC
police service as long as it may b'
necessary; quarantine upon ou
coast and upon our interior border
when necessary; the stock interes
of the broad prairies of the ives
and the farming interests of Eastern
and Middle Texas.