Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1884-07-12
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

The advocates Of Constitutional
coivrption urge that 1t is necessary to
dispense with superffnous State officers.
This can be done as easily by the
Legislature. The following, from
Attorney General Murphy's report of
swo years ago, is.self explanatory;
1would suggest that II it is for the
purpose Of reducing expenses by dis
pepsing with unnecessary State and
county officials it can be done much
cheaper and just as quickly by the
incoming Legislature proposing the
amendments. entering them upon their
respective journals, and referring
them to the next Legislature. If that
body should approve of the amend
nents let them submit them to a vote
Of the people at an election to be
called for that purpose, and il the
people should approve and ratify such
amendments, then there will be no
necessity to elect the officers whose
services have been dispensed with
four years hence.
Regarding the comparative expense
Of Legislative amendment or Consti.
tutional revision and the time required,
The following is convincing enough to
any person who does not hope to'draw
pay as member of the Convention,
or who has no scheme to further by
means of change in the organic law
BY the calling of Convention to
frame nep Consultation it will neces-
sarily entail an expense upon the
State Of at least one hundred thousand
(e100,000) dollars, and perhaps more,
without the prospect Of any benefit be.
Ing derived therefrom, for we must take
into consideration that that instru.
ment must be submitted to the people
for their approval, and we take the
chances Of having the work of the
Convention rejected. Then why not
pursue the same course we have here.
tofore! II any amendments are pro-
posed, let the incoming Legislature of
1883 propose them, have them entered
upon their Journals and referred to
the next Legislature in 1885, and have
the notice published as required by
Section of Article XVI of our Con
stitution If the Legislature of 1885
should agree to such amendments as
were proposed at the session of 1888,
then let them calla special election to
be held in the month of April, May or
June, 1885, and il approved and rati.
ned by the people, they then become,
and are, part aud parcel of the fun.
damcntal law of the State, and without
any additional expense to the State
whatever, and in less time than you
can calm Constitutional Convention
and have the acts of that Convention
ratified by the people.
II = Convention is called, the Legis-
hturc Of 1888 must determine that it
h necessary to cause revision Of the
Sntire Constitution; they must recon.
Rend to the electors at the next cleo
Mon, which will be in November, 1884,
IN vote for or against the calling of
Convention. If the people should be
In favor of calling Convention, the
Legislature of 1885 shall fix time
within six months for holding the
same. Al the time of the enacting of
The law TO hold the Convention, the
Legislature must determine the nun.
Der of delegates, which cannot be less
'tubu tuht VI uotu DIdnCuce VI tne
Legislature; they must also provide
BY Law for the holding of a special
election for the purpose of electing
delegates to attend the Convention.
That body of men will be in session
thirty or sixty days, if not longer,
They will have to provide for the call.
lng of another special election, to
submit the proposed Constitution for
re approval of the people, If they
40 not call the special election TO sub.
nit the question to the people, then it
MIL have to be submitted to them at
Ne general. election of 1886.
II the amendments are proposed as
! suggest, we save from six to eighteen
months. time and $780, 900 in money,
which is quite an item in our present
SHANGHAI condition, and ono which
should be taken into consideration by
ths incoming Legislature.