The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-08-14
lliu ,eM Constitution.

la an article published IN the Times.
MON, Mr.. pasco gives u clear ami able
inaN s,- nf the new constitution, com
parlng il principal features with the ex-
lst,ng constitution and netting the points
Of difference and the features in which
hr regards the new as being better than
the obi. It il ON " in this way that an
intelligent view Of the question can be
had, and II citizen, ,iesiruus Of forming
a correct ltidmrnt as tn his duty ON the
question ut ratification ur rejection, can
weigh tir True merits nf the questions
involved and IL make up his mind rs to
the vote he will EAST.
l'uu,r the l2th head Of his notes, Mr..
Plsco gives the following statement az to
the changes made in reference to the city
and town governments, matter in
which w. are especially Interested, and
which experience has demonstrated
which would in our ease have been lcne.
Htm IA times past. ndcr the present
constitution, there must In entire un-
lfnrmity ia the charters of all towns,
great ur small and no ileNihilty or alap
tation to local circumstances. | nder
the new constitution. the subject ia left
free for Legislative action, untrammeled
hy constitutional provisions. Such
anomalies ns taxing districts and mum
nlial /, r,ivers will he unknown It the
new constitution is adopted.
Under the 18th clause Ut Mr.. Pasco's
notes. the public school system, as amen
,lrd hy the new constitution, IL referred
to, and again We find special provision
made to enable the inhabitants of an in
curpuratcd town to increase its tduca-
liunal facilities, extend the period of its
| schools aud elevate the X a,lr Of teaching
hv permitting them to levy an additional
taN for s,hool purposes, To he applied to
schools within the corporation. This
Iowrr is usual IN other states. u may
he u question whether Il bare majority in
| elusive ut such larS" proportion Ut non
| TAXPAYERS and ignorant persons as We
| have ~ ulr municipalities. should have
the right to tax the property holders by
| u simple maloiity vote.
In ms III, note Mr.. l'asro discusses
| the important matter ot the mode at
amrndIug the constitution. The purpose
uf the trainers ut the existing constitu-
ton Wa rvlontl, to make 1t hard to al
ter it, pro, lsunS. rwo successive legis
latnr,N must agree upon u proposed
amendment bv u two-thirds vote of all
the tnrmlaf- elected, aud 1t then goes 81
the IruI,le tot final action. AS there ar,
hnnn,al sessions. this wostp"ncs any
change tuI upwards Of three years. | n
der the new constitution, II three hftis
1T the iva houses If the legislature
agree t. an amendment, II gues To tn,
pruIlr for a,t0uu at the next general
rlrrtiuu. Ihr - an Improvement.
Mr. fieru h,ng- forward the question
Of the election of judges and of d
poll tan. arI simply says, ~ W. ha>.
heretofore uanr. that II was u forvet
compromise l,twecn tw" opposing ell
rm,nIs 1t, the convention giving til,
election If the supreme court Judges I,
the people and the appointment ut cir
Cmt court uil.,r~ To the Governor, AN,
RENTING the question of poll tax I,
the legislature. Which will reflect tn,
popular viii. Mr.. Pascn, we think, cor
rrrtl> SAYS IN his closing paragraph,
Lacking back upon the history vt tin
past. IT j. hard To see how these diver
gent views ruuId have been better u
more faily r,ruucilrd. And If new
convention should asssrinl,lr. the SAM
difference " uld have t. he encour
tered
While Vr ate not satisfied with SOM
Of the provisions 1T III" new cohstith
ton. we h,Iic,"it better than the rresen
A 4.