The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-11
THE WEARIED BRAINS
The Idaho Convention Closes Its
LabOrS.
THE WORK WHICH IT HAS DONE.
The Principal Points in the Precious Docu-
ment Which VIII Never Go Into
Effect.


BOISE, Idaho Aug. 9, 1883 Especial
Core pondence of The HERALDI The
constitutional convention has adjourned,
nearly all the members have leltus and
our little city has resumed its wonted quiet.
The Republicans have gained some political
advantages, but not near as much as we
supposed they would have done. Besides
DISTINGUISHING the Mormons, they have
adopted the same tactics in the apportion-
ment article of the constitution, which
gives them an advantage of at least 800 in
the representation of their party in the
legislature If the plan of the Dubois ring
had prevailed, we should have had legis-
lature and state officers elected this fall at
the time of the submission OF the constitu-
tion. 1t was their intention to go to the
people representing that if a Democratic
state ticket and legislature was elected,
the work of the convention
WOULD BE OF NO AVAIL
and Idaho be kept out of the union.
It was presumed that the people
would not notice the unpatriotic.
mean and detestable principle involved
ner as would quickest conduce to bringing
about statehood. II was avowed by Willis
Sweet in a speech in the convention when
the schedule was under consideration that
such was a part of the plan. When the
morals of a political party get at so low an
ebb it is time for its existence to cease.
Mr.. Clagett, of Shoshone county, was OPP
posed to the scheme, perhaps not
because of its unfairness and lille
gality but he was against Dubois
and in favor of Clagett for United States
Senator. He needed time to set up his
pins and make ready for the contest He
is not very well acquainted IN southern
Idaho, and it will require another year to
make him a formidable competitor of the
young man from Illinois The north has
two other candidates for the same position
one is w. B. Hezburn, a railroad attorney
of ShOshone, and the other w. j. McCOn-
nell, money loaner of Latah. The prom
inent candidates in the Democratic party
are j. w. Reid, of Nez Perce; A H. My
hew, of Shoshone; Albert Hagan, of Koo-
tenai. and George Ainsie, of Boise. The
Democrats think they can carry the terri
tory if proper canvass is made, and your
correspondent is quite hopeful in the
premises
THE PRINCIPAL POINTS.
The following are the principal points in
the constitution as adopted by the conven-
ton: The preamble declares that the peo-
pie of Idaho are grateful to Almighty God
for their freedom. which we really hope is
the truth.
Article 1, Section 1, tells US that all men
are born free and equa and in the next
section ccomeS the declaration that all po-
litical power is inherent in the people,
which would undoubtedly be true if the
people would avail themnelves of such
right and exercise their power in proper
manner
Section DISTINGUISHES Mormons and all
Others whom it may please the legislature
TO disfranchise. The construction of
bitches fumes, pipes, railroads, tunnels,
etc, is declared to be a public use, ana
private property may be taken therefor
after appraisal and payment for the same
The legislative department is invested
with the usual powers embodied IN conSti-
buttons and provides that the house of rep
resentatives shall never exceed sixty in
number and the senate twenty-four. Each
county shall have one member of the lower
house. Sessions to be held biennially A
very few cases are enumerated where the
legislature may pass special laws. County
seats can only be changed by two thirds
vote of the people and county lines only on
che vote of the people Of the territory to be
detached and annexed. No act takes effect
in less than sixty days unless it contains an
emergency clause.
The executive department consists of
governor, secretary of state, state auditor,
state treasurer, attorney general and su-
periatendent of public instruction. They
held their offices for the term of
.tyO years. The governor may
approve part of an appropriation
bill and disapprove of the balance.
He gets 50, 900 per year, secretary Of state,
81 500; auditor, 81, 500: treasurer, 81. 900; at
tsrney- general, $1,000 and superintendent
of public instruction, 81, 800.
The judiciary report creates supreme
court of three members and district court
of five. Each of the judges receive 5000
per annum. The supreme holds four terms
of court per year-twO at Lewiston and
Two at Boise City. The legislature have
the right to establish other courts. Dis
trct attorneys receive 81, 800 per year, and
hold their respective positions four years.
Article guarantees an absolutely secret
ballot. Mormons are disfranchised, and
women can vote and hold school offices.
The legislature is empowered to use its
discretion in all cases in defining what
shall constitute the qualifications Of a
voter.
The fiscal year should commence on the
second Monday of January of each year.
Duplicate taxation on the same property is
prohibited. Taxation on real and personal
property shall not exceed ten mills on each
dollar until the assessed valuation shall
exceed $50, 100000; 1t then graduates as the
amount of property increases until the
amount of S300.000,0r0is reached, when it
can be no more than one and a half mills on
the dollar. The governor, secretary Of
state, attorney general, state auditor and
treasurer constitute a board of equalization.
Counties are enioined TO do business on a
cash basis, and may levy a tax for sinking
fund and buy in their own warrants at
discount.
The legislature shall not in any manner
create liabilities exclusive of the
debt of the territory at the time
of its admission of more than
one and a half per centum on the
assessed value of property within its
limits unless a submission be made to the
people and their consent be obtained, nor
shall the credit of the state be loaned TO
any Individual, association or municipality.
The school fund is declared to be in
violate and intact and nothing but the in
terest thereof shall be made use of for any
purpose The state treasurer is to be
Custodian of the fund. No school lands
shall be sold for less than ten dollars per
acre and not more than twenty-five sec
tions shall be sold in each year. Com
pulsory education is provided for.
The scat of government and penitentiary
are located at Boise City for twenty years,
the insane asylum at Blackfoot and the uni
Yersity at Moscow.
All towns and cities must incorporate
under a general law; no special charters
are to be granted. Railroads declared to
be public highways and subject to legis-
u ions 70