Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1885-04-02
C0NNTITUTfoNAL PEoBADIl
lTIKS.

For nearly two years preceding
the last election, the Times-Review
earnestly advocated the calling of 8
convention for the purpose of fran.
ing a new State Constitution. The
proposition was defeated at the
polls, partly through the interest in
the Presidential contest, which di-
verted attention from matters Of
local interest, but mainly through
the action of political managers in
the interest Of the corporations,
who manipulated the printing Of
the tickets in such manner as to
prevent a fair expression of the
people upon the subject. We con-
fdently believed that convention
was the only means by which con-
stitution fitted to the present
wants and condition of our COM
mon-wealth could be secured, and
the reports Of the proceedings of
the last LEGISLATURE by no means
tend to convince us that we we're
mistaken in our judgment. The
four amendments adopted by the
previous Legislature fell to the
ground at the last session, because
Of their failure to appear on the
journals of the Senate and Assem-
bly, which first passed upon them
While we most sincerely hope that
the changes agreed upon last Win
ter will pass successfully through
the ordeal of the next Legislature,
and two years afterward be ratified
by the people, we confess our fears
that such will not be the result.
The chances of technical and cleri-
cal errors the number Of changes
necessary to be voted separately
upon, but which have to be adopted
in a body to effect single result !;
the interference and manipulations
of designing politicians in conven-
tions and on State and county COM
mittees, are among the dangers
which have to be successfully en-
countered before the proposed
changes can be made in our funda-
mental law. The adoption of these
amendments in a body is, however,
the only chance for constitutional
reform, within at least the next
four years, and the Times-Review
will do all in its power to work
them safely through to a successful
termination. The resolution again
submitting the Constitutional Con-
vention question to the people, in
troduced by Mr.. Dennis in the
Senate, passed that body BY the
necessary two-thirds vote, but be-
ing defeated in the Assembly, that
method of relief is denied us, and
unless the amendments are adopted
we will have to continue, for an in
definite period, to bear the consti-
tutional burdens imposed upon US
by the present defective instru-
ment. The Joint Committee of
the two Houses appointed to pre-
pare and present the amendments,
p erformed its duty faithfully and
we'll. The members labored ardu-
o usly, and bestowed much time,
care and attention upon their work.
It was by far the most important
matter of the session, and the re
suit so far is most certainly a sue
cess Some of the changes pro-
posed, may appear upon casual Pc
rusal to be too unimportant or even
frivolous to entitle them to serious
consideration, but the reading Of
the others, and a careful compar
ison with the original sections, will
show the necessity for their
adoption, to harmonize with those
which are apparently Of greater i'm
portance. The amendment of one
section frequently necessitated the
changing Of half a dozen contin-
gent ones, and the defeat of one
seemingly trivial might nullify the
most important reform proposed in
the entire batch. We believe that
the amendments adopted at the
last session will meet the require
ments of the times, and that they
come as nearly filing the bill as
any that could De prepared in the
same length of time by any legisla-
tive committee. We hope they
will not be tinkered with by the
roxt T.o0;elaturo Int that thew will