Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1889-04-26
THE CONSTITUTION.
Judge Edgerton Reviews the Oljee-
tions Raised to the Sioux Falls
Constitution.
Cnanswerable Proof that 1t Is the
Constitution for the People.
Argument In Favor Of the Document
p BY Dist. Atty Andrews.
Food for Thought" that will moi
Physic the Reader.
DR.. kelsey's Views on the Subject.
DR.. Kelsey's Views on the Subject.
EdgertOn's Argument,

n low OoJoStono haNo oOCh "'"u'
to this constitution which, so far a
the same have come to my knowledge
will discuss. 1t is claimed by some
that it contains too much Legislation
From the standpoint Of ths oldsr oGn
stitutions this objection has been vel
taken. Formerly the people insisted
on few limitations in their state con
stitutions. The experience Of the
past few years has constrained thu
people to apply more safeguards il
the organic law of the commonwealth
and consequently every constitutions
conyentioni whieh has assembled fo
some years has curtailed the power o
the legislature by embl acing in tn,
organic law of the state more limita
tions. The Legislation complained o
consists almost entirely Of Limitations
upon the poypr Of the executive ai5
Legislative departments of the state
The Sioux Falls constitutional con,
yention followed tho lssi Of the con
ventions Of Pennsylvania and Illinois
The most notable piece of Legislation
in this constitution is the article or
the school lands. 1t guards this trus,
fund so carefully that it vii, nafle
cor, upt Ingenuity 10 squsndsr the
same, every safeguard possible is
thrown around it, and yet this is q
part of the so.called Legislation. II
these safeguards are preserved, the
generations yet to GONE will rise ul
and call you blessed. But If you are
opposed to this Legislation you will
strike out this limitation snd leave
the whole subject to the legislature
and possibly in few years you will
not be burdencd with the care AID
custody of this magnificent fund
entrusted to your keeping for the
education Of the people | will call
your attention to
OTHER MATTERS OF LEGISLATION
in this constitution: "The legisla.
ture shall have no power to release
or e1tinguish, in whole or IN part, the
Indebtedness, liability or obligation
of any corporation or individual tc
this state or to any municipal corpor
alton therein. The Legislature shall
not authorize any game of chance
lottery or gift enterprise, under any
pretense or for any purpose whatever
The legislature shall not delegate .c
any special commission, private cor
poration or association any power tc
make, supervise or interfere with any
municipal improvement, money prop
erty, effects, whether held in trust OIL
otherwise, or levy taxes or select q
capital site or preform any municipal
functions whatever. Any person
who shall give, demand, offer, directly
or indirectly, any money, sesti,n""'-, =, =,
privilege or personal 81 @ ...a'
! ." .a.ue to any executive o
judicial officer or member Of the leg
ls!ature, to influence him in the per
tormsnce of any Of his official o
public duties, shall be guilty of bri
berry and shall be punished in sncl
manner as shall be provided by law
The otfense Of corrupt solicitation O
MEMBERS of the legislature, or O
public officers Of the state, or an,
municipal division thereof, and an,
effort towards solicitation of sai'
members of the legislature or officer
to influence their official action, shal
be defined by law and shall be pun
ishable by fine and imprisonment.
DO you want those pieces of legisla
tion elimir sted from your constitution
Are not these sections wise An,
wholesome restrictions? "The max
ing of profit, directly or indirectly
out of state, county, city, town O
school district money, or using tn
same for any purpose not authorized
by law, shall be deemed felony, an,
shall be punished as provided by Law
The Legislature shall never grant an
extra compensation to any publi
officers, employe, agent or contracto
after the services have been rendere
or the contract entered into NO
authorize the payment of any claim:
or part thereof, created against tn
state, under any agreement or con
tract made without express authorit
Of law, and all such unauthorize
agreements or contracts shall be nul
and void; nor shall the q.
COMPENSATION NoFANYPuBLICo OFFICE
be increased o. diminished durinl
his term Of Office; provided, however
that the Legislature may mske apprc
pristions for expenditures incurre
in suppressing insurrection or repeI
ling invasion" Are these matters G
Legislation Objectionable to you
The governor and other state an
judicial officers, except county judge.
justices Of the peace and police mag
istrates, shall be liable TO i,Dpeact
ments for drunkenness, crimes, col
rupt conduct or malfeasance q
lnisdemeanor in office; but judgemol
in snch cases shall not extend fnrthe
than to removal from Office and dis
qualification to hold any office c
trust and profit under the state. Th
person accused, whether conyicte
or acquitted, shall nevertheless !,
liahl-, I" indictment, trial jadg-mr,
and punishment according To Law
All officers not liable 10 inp'sci
men.shslibs s,,ii.cr Ia removal r.
misconduct, malieasanc-, crime 9