The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1884-07-05


THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE
or MONTANA.
The long looked-tor Constitution OF the
State of Montana, which was adopted 0y u'e
Constitutional Convention held AZ Helena
last winter, is at last in cIrcuiat'on' IS"
thousand copies of the document nave W gu
printed for distribution among the voters OF
Montana Territory. The TRIBUNE Is
favored with an advance cory. non. Joe
A. Browne and Robt. Il. Smith, Esq, del
egates from beaverhead County TO the I'm
yrntion. will circulate the Constitution
among their county constituents. Accom- ,
panying the Constitution, which Is prin.eo
in passably neat pamphlet form, IS the "
dinance providing for submission o. ''e
Constitution and the address tothe voters
of the Territory of Montana" prepared oy
a committee of the Convention appointed
for that purpose. Under the provisions OF
the Ordinance the Constitution is I" be SUP
mitted to the people Of the Territory tor
their ratification or rejection at the genera
election to be held in November next, at
which the qualified voters will pass Juog-
ment ON the instrument. There is ample
time between now and the day OF eiection
for every voter to become posted IN regard
to lie provisions. and there will be no ex-
cuse for anv voter who can read Tor not De-
coming familiar with what is to be or what
is not to be our State Constitution. In
hastv review and reading OF the Const'tu-
ton we can not more than submit to our
readers, at the present time, brief outline
of its impcrtant features. 1t is republican
in form, and in many respects II is mooei'
ed after the best and most enlightened con-
stitutions of the well-governed States o.
the Union. Little Legislation is to be found
in the Constitution, vet some is Observance
The declaration of rights guarantees per-
feet Freedom and federation in religion, but
does not extend to or include the abcminab'e
practice of pclygamy. The grand jury
system is retained, cutting it down to
twelve, Of whom nine may find true bill.
In the Legislative provision State Senators
are to BIZ elected for four years and the Keep
resentatives for two years and the Senate
rial changes are to be made biennially. The
executive department is made to consist ot
a Governor, Lieutenant Governor; Secrcta.
nv of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer.
Attorney General, and Superintendent OF
Public Instruction, whose tenure OF office
is fixed at two wears, with moderate sala-
ries. The judiciary is vast improvement
on our present Territorial system. A SUI
prere Court is established with Judges cleo.
ted by the people for terms OF six years.
District Courts are provided for with sub
stantially the same jurisdiction as the Ter
ritorial district courts of the present. -Four
district are established, which may be in
r,ft he "
demand. In the place Of Probate Courts
are substituted County Courts Police and
Justice of the peace courts are provided, and
the judiciary system does not seem to be
Objectionable in any essential particular.
The right of Suffrage is restricted to cltl-
zens of the United States, or to males
who have declared their intention to be-
come citizens not less than four months
before offering to vote. Women may vote
at school elections, and women may hold
school Offices, provided the Legislature SO
enacts. As the experience OF mankind has
demonstrated that the happiness, prosreri-
ty and permanencv of country is Meas
ured by the intelligence of its people, the
educational provisions Of The Constitution
amply provide for an advanced system OF
public schools. The constitutional restr!c
ton on revenue and taxation secures an IN
expensive State government from the start.
Public Indebtedness is prohibited beyond
FIVE per cent of the taxable property of the
state, county, city Or township. The pow
er to regulate and control by law railroad.
and express companies is
relegated to the Legislature. Stringent
provisions are made against the issuing to
or receiving by the public officers of free
passes ov. r railroad or transportation lines.
Concisely these are the paramount features
of the State Constitution. In some respects
the Constit ,tion is open to adverse criticism
ard it is vulnerable 10 vigorous attacks, but
on the whole it is an admirable document,
and as such it will command the thought
full attention and candid consideration of
the people before whom it is now placed
tor Endorsement or defeat. The Address
pointedIv recites the provisions of the Con
and makes its advantages plail. to
the people, closing witl,---"Our maturity and
have the first opportunity to as
sert themselves, and the people Of Mon
tana are permitted to take the first step to-
ward enlareing their liberties and securing
the blessings of Statehood"