Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-30
THE AfoyE FOR Reform.
'rhe EtreODlns ,ha alton of Ihe W M.
%. Giub,s COMmiAftee.

Alta recent meeting OF the Young Mems
Democratic Club committee, consisting OF
Willard salisbury, Jr, j. Frank Ball,
Patrick Neary, Horace q. johnson and O.
Q. Montgomery. was appointed to consider
the question Of constitutional reform and
report what alterations should, in their
Judgment. DO made In The present cpnstitu-
rinn of the State. The report OF the COM
mittee was presented at the regular meet
ing Of the club, last evening week.
The report Is yoluminous document and
discusses the various suggestions at length.
II opens with a recommendation that the
next legislature pass u stringent law legal
izlng primary elections, with penalties OF
fine and Imprisonment for fraud or cheat
ing at such primaries. 1t next recommends
such changes In the judiciary system Of the
State as may be- recommended by the MEM
bers Of the bar, wh1 are most competent to
deal with this subject. 1t also favors dis
trict representation and the allotment Of
two senators and four representatives to
the city of Wilmington.
On the general qIestion of amending the
present constituuJn or adopting all entirely
new one, through the medium Of conyen-
ton, the report details at iongth the diff
culties and delays 70 be encountered,
Amendments proposed Mt the coming ses-
sion of the Legislature cannot be mate
effective until the ensuing session, In 1883,
while a constitutional convention u pro-
posed by tho coming session and approved
by tho pnople at u special election in MAJ
next, cannot convene until at least after
the general election of 1880. when the dele
gates would lie chosen. The report suggests
that Article X OF the present constellation,
which regulates these Mates, be stricken
out, and the following Hdopted In lieu
thereof:
"Section l, The General Assembly, when
ever two-thtids Of each house shail deem
lt necessary may, with the upprohation OF
the governor, propose amendments to thus
constitution, aid nt least three and not
moro than elk months before the next
general election of repre' eutatiyes duly
publish them In print for the consideration
of the people, and IL at the said general
election II mnj jority OF the voters al said
slectinn shall ,ute for the adoption OF such
amendments and ratiiy the same, they shall
he valid to all intents 8nd purposes as parts
Of this constitution. No convention shall
be called but hy the authority OF the people,
and In the year one thousand eight hun
dred and ninety and each tenth year there
after ut the general election for representa-
tives held In said year, the legally qualified
voters of this State shall vote for or
against convention to alter or re-
wise this constitution or propose u
new one, and II majority Of the
voters at such election shall vote for con-
yention, then the next Legislature shall
make provision for holding special eltc-
tion on the third Tuesday of May in the
year succeeding that In which the said gen
'eral election was held, for the election of
delegates to such convention. The delegates
shall be elected in separate districts as the
General Assembly shall provide, and shall
not be less than 80 In number. The dele
gates SO elected shall meet in convention at
Dover on the first Tuesday In the month of
December following their election, and
shall prepare a constitution to be sub
mitted 10 the people for ratification, and
at least three and not more than six months
before the next general election for repre-
sentatives duly publish 1t In print for
the consideration OF the people, and II a
majority of the voters of the State vote for
the adoption of such constitution, prepared
by said convention, and ratlty the same,
then the said constitution shall be, and
become, the constitution and fundamental
law of this State, aud shall go into opera
tion in accordance with a schedule sub
mltted by the convention which prepared
said constitution. The majority OF the
voters OF the State shall be ascertained by
reference to the highest number of votes
cast In the State at the general election for
representatives, when such constitution is
voted on, and at the last preceding general
election for representatives.
Section 2. The General Assembly shall
carry the provision of this article into effect
by appropriate legislation"
The report concludes with some eal nest
arguments In favor OF this amendment.
After the reading 1t WIS accepted, but the
question of It's adoption was laid over until
next Wednesday evening, when II will be
thoroughly discussed and carefully con-
sidered.