The sun., 1884-01-06
Proposed Amendments TO the Federal
Constitution.


Constitution.
At least ten different joint resolutions pro-
posing amendments to tho Constitution OF
tho United States are now before Congress.
Three OF these relate to the veto power,
and arc designed to enable the President TO
object to one or moro OF the items In any ap-
preparation bill while approving tho re-
maindcr of It's provisions. One OF tho three,
however, also provides that all bills appro-
priating money shall specify in Federal cur
rency tho exact amount OF each approprla-
ton and the purposes for which II is made,
and that Congress shall grant no extra CON-
pcnsation to any public contractor, officer,
agent, or servant after the contract shall
have been made or service rendered.
We are clearly Of the opinion that the Con-
stitution should DO so amended as to permit
tho President to veto items in general appro-
printion bills; but we do not deem the pro-
hbition in regard to extra compensation suf-
flcicntly important to be introduced into the
fundamental law
Tho seven other proposed amendments
now under more or less serious consideration
relate to various subjects OF social and polt-
ical interests. Senator VOORHEES, of Indi-
ana wants all pOstmasters, revenue collectors.
Judges, marshals and United States attor-
neys to be elected by tho people Of the
States In which thoir duties nre to be per-
formed. and ho would empower the State
Legislatures to prescribe the manner of their
election. This proposition Is probably In
tended as joke.
Senator MORGAN of Alabama would give
the President power to approve or disap-
ntol, hN In md Hor
Dor bills The authority thus conferred
would be too limited. 1t should extend to
all appropriation bills, US would be tho case
under tho language Of the three amendments
first mentioned.
Another amendment Is advocated by Mr..
LApHAM of this State, as follows:
"srcrioSi The right OF citizens "r tho United States
to vote shall not be denied abridged by the United
States or by any state account of
"Snc . The Congress shall have power by appropri.
ate legislation to enforce the provisions of t, article
We arc in favor Of submitting this propo-
sition to the several States for adoption or
rejection. The question of woman suffrage,
Hike the tariff, should be settled and got out
of the way, for the time being at least.
A long amendment "in relation to alco.
hoic liquors and other poisonous beverages"
shire. 1t prohibits the manufacture and
sale OF distilled alcoholic intoxicating
liquors anywhere within the United States
or the Territories thereof, from and after
the year 1900, except for medicinal, mcchanl-
cal, chemical. and scientific purposes and for
use in tho arts, and also forbids the importa-
tion. expectation, and transportation of any
such liquors. There is no possibility that
this provision, or anything like 1t. will ever
be added to the Constitution OF the United
States. We doubt whether 1t would be rati
fled by single Legislature, and even II it re-
ceived the requisite approval of three-fourths
OF the States, it could not be enforced.
The Fifteenth amendment to the Constitu-
tion already provides that the right OF citi-
zens Of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or
by any State on account OF race, color, or
previous condition OF servitude Senator
BUTLER Of South Carolina desires to amend
this amendment by inserting the word "na-
tivity," so that it will forbid any restriction
of the suffrage on account OF nativity, race,
color, or previous condition OF servtude.
Wesuppose this is aimed at the distinctions
In respect to citizens OF alien birth still
maintained In some OF the States.
In the House OF Representatives Mr..
SPRINGER of Illinois has submitted propo-
sition to amend the Constitution by pro-
hbiting special Legislation by Congress. and
declaring that all local, private, or special
enactments shall be null and void. His
amendment also provides for the adjudica-
tion and determination of all claims against
the United States by such tribunals as Con-
gress may establish for that purpose.
Mr.. HERBERT OF Alabama has also brought
in an amendment directly affecting Congress.
1t provides that the House OF Representa-
tives shall be composed OF not moro than
three hundred and flfty-one members. We
doubt the wisdom OF any such restriction.
There can be no more important legisla-
tion than that which Is designed to effect
changes In the fundamental law Of tho land,
and tho people should study every alteration
In the Constitution which is seriously advo-
Gated, and make known to their representa-
tives their opinions In regard to each.