Nevada County picayune., 1888-05-02
md efficient system of free schools.

and efficient system of free schools. ." and at the same time provide q pal try two mill state tax with which to do the work? The school statistics show that with all the sources of rev enue permitted under the present constitution. the people in majori- ty of the school districts are unable to run schools an average of three months in the year, What are the poor people to do in these districts: The distinguished gentlemen are all in favor of free schools-carnestlv and sincerely in favor of them-but how are the poor people to educate their children without money? The candidates are nearly all opposed to federal aid to education. but here is case where thousands of childrcd are growing mp in ignorance simply be- cause the constitution of the state will not grant means necessary to maintain the schools And vet this same constitution declares that the .'statc shall ever maintain q general. suitable and efficient system of free common schools.
 If any of the candidates will show the people how they can have this general. suitable and efficient sys- tenn of public education without changing the organic act. we hope he will at once speak out. The people want to know.
 II. Is that a wise constitution which forbidS state or county, in d dire emergency, to levy tax sufli- cient to provide for the maintainance of its insane and it's convicts? Is 1t not fact undisputed that legisla- ! ture failed to make any provision for the insane of this state. leaving them to be chained in the jails or support ed by relatives, simply because the constitution did not permit 2 rate of taxation sufficient for the building of an insane asylum. And while the limitation of taxation is sound doctrine and q safeguard which it is we'll to incorporate in the organic act. will any intelligent man defend the extent to which it is carried in our constitution: If any candidate i for governor will do SO. the Demo crat will be glad to hear from him. - Is it not true. in at least thirty coun- ties Tn this state, the people have been subjected to great burdens, in paying for guarding and transport ing prisoners, simply because the continuation forbds them to tax themselves for building jails:
 l2. Was that wise provision of the constitution, which fixed the sal aries of all state officers for a period of only two years after the ratiiica- ton of the constitution Would it not be a wise provision, on the other ! hand. to fix them for a period of not ] less than ten years, and thus prevent the tinkering with them every two years by the legislature:
 l3. Instead of paying legislators per dlem and mileage, and limiting them to sixty days, would it not be wiser to pay them salary of say, four or five hundred dollars, and per init them to remain in session a> long, as in their judgment, the pulp lie interest required: Such pro- vision would certainly result in moro deliberate legislation, and the pres ent tendency to extend the session beyond the sixty days limit woulG come to an end.
 IA. While forbidding members of the general assembly to accept any office of profit or trust for the whole term for which they are elected, Ca wise provision why did not the con- stitution make the same reason for it:
 l5. The provision governing usury in our constitution, is harsh and very unusual. Of the thirty-eight states in the union. but two have a similar provision. This very fact is enough to make the subject one of statutory regulation-as it is in nearl Y every one of the states.
 l6. Would it not be wise to fix longer terms for most of our officers, state and county, and make them (except judicial oilicers,) ineligible, say, after two terms! Would not the people be the gathers ny such an arrangement
 There are many other defects of the constitution which we might point out. but the limits of an article like this forbids. We have suggest ed matters of vital import to the peo- ple-matters which ought to be dis cussed with view to bringing relief which most persons will concede to be most necessary, We throw out