The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-01-04
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

The Constitutional Convention, for which
members were elected In November, will
assemble In Helena, Monday, January ID,
1884. Its duration Is unlimited, but 1t Is
not apparent why IL should exceed twenty
or thirty days. BY prompt organization,
the early appointment Of committees and
apportionnent of preparatory work the bust
ness of the Convention can be we'll under
way the first week. So far as we have
learned the sentiment of members 1t Is to
perform the work as expeditiously as may be
TO do 1t well, and adjourn. IL is to be re-
GREETED in some respects the prospects are
that . number of the delegations will be
small. During the past two months there
have been q number Of suggestions in the
press relative to provisions of the Constitu-
ton, but. with one or two exceptions no
radical departure from the more recently
adopted Constitutions Is suggested. II the
principal purpose Is to secure early admis-
sion, the fewer innovations there are on
established and accepted forms, the better;
II the primary object Is an advanced and
progressive form for State government, there
are number OF experimental suggestions
that would perhaps meet with more favor in
Montana than In Washington. Without re-
ferring specially to any of these we think 1t
would be well II the Convention would con-
fine itself exclusively to making Constitu-
ton, In the strict meaning Of the word, and
leave to the Legislatures the enactment of
the laws. The disposition appears to de-
volop In all recent Constitutional Conven-
tions to usurp, or rather TO assume, the pow
ers that properly vest In succeeding Legisla-
lures. TIL. Convention should also keep
steadily In view the formation of . charter
that will protect the people from burdensome
taxation and the State from excessive debt.
A State government might be organized for
be little more expensive than our Territorial
government, but unless zealously guarded
against II will be made burdensome from
the outset with multiplicity Of officers, ex-
pensive buildings and costly methods. This
should be prevented by absolute re-
striction Of expenditure and limitation of
per centage Of debt that may be incurred In
proportion to the listed taxable property In
the State and the several counties. II
should also be made fundamental princi-
pie that no subsidies shall be granted by the
State or any county or municipality therein
TO any individual or corporate enterprise for
the construction or maintenance Of lines of
transportation, and In fact subsidies Of what
ever nature, and exemptions from taxation
should be 80 limited and hedged with re-
strictions that the burdens OF government
will be equalized and the public protected
from the curse Of debt. If the Convention,
providing for 80 Republican form Of govern
ment" and keeping these objects primarily
IN view, can agree upon a Constitution, or
upon alternative articles TO be determined
ct the polls, We doubt not II will be ratified
at the general election in 1884, and the first
practical step be taken In the direction Of
what every good Mon.anian must aspire to-
the admission Of Montana to the Union a. .
State. II may not be Immediately. perhaps
II Is Is we'll that II shall not, but the wheels
are now set In motion and they will not rest
until contamination has crowned COM
mencement.