Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-29
ZEE coNgT1TUT1ONAL DEBATE.

The San Francisco Chronicle takes W
the constitutional debate that has engaged
the attention of the REcoRD-UNIoN anc
its evening contemporary, the Bee, anC
after full consideration, concludes that the
position of the REcoRD-UNIoN is sound
While it admits that Section of Article
XI Of the Constitution provides how the
charter Of city may be amended, it calls
orr contemporaries attention to the fact
that the earlier provision of the same sec
ton cannot be ignored, to wit: that "al
charters must be subject to and controlled
by the general laws of the State" 1t goe:
still further, pursuing the same line o.
reasoning followed by the RECORD UNION,
and points out that even the adoption Of
the constitutional amendment to be voted
upon by the people in few months more
will not remove the doubt that hangs
about the question, but that if the indie.
pendency of cities is to be set up, there
must be further amendment specifying
just what general laws of the State shall
be suspended in favor of the charter, and
which shall remain operative. 1t was this
same suggestion, made by the RECORD
UNION, that brought on the present profit
able debate, and out of which, let us hope,
the public will gain the information
needed to insure an intelligent vote on the
subject, at the polls and in the next Legis-
lature. The San Francisco paper says:
1t is evident that it is mere mockery to 20 to
the trouble and expense of adopting a charter
only TO have its efficiency wholly destroyed by
one or more general laws. Until the cities can
be assured that their haudiwork will stand un.
altered by the consent of their own citizens
Charter-making viii languish,
In a degree this is a sound conclusion
but as we have already pointed out, cities
Can so on preparing their new charters for
submission to the next Legislature, for
when that body assemblies the necessary
constitutional amendments can be proposed
and submitted to the people before the
time can possibly arrive for any new city
charter to go into operation. In other
words, the present involved condition Of
the constitutional question need not delay
BY so much as an hour, the preparation Of
new charters, nor will the adoption of the
necessary amendment, or its rejection
change the necessity for Charter revision in
any city, where it is believed to now exist.
But, OF course, the question of removing
cities wholly from the operation of State
laws in regard to all matters treated in the
charters is one of grave importance, and
involves one of the most delicate questions
of State craft We believe that the solu
ton of it all will be this: The State will
clearly express the exclusive jurisdictional
powers Of cities, and to that extent will
make charters impregnable to Legislative
assault, bat as to all matters concerning
which exclusive power is not expressly
granted, the State will by affirmative ex
preston retain the right to legislate Il
it is said that it does this already by the
use of the word Inconsistent" we reply
that that is not enough, since the doubt
vii! remain as to whether past or future
laws, or both, are meant.
HUMANE nations will presently feel il
incumbent upon them to rise in the inter
ests Of common humanity and put some
one in power in Hayti who can run the
government of that rebellious isle on Z
line Of policy that will insure peace. Nc
sooner IS Hippolyte fairly seated as Presi
dent, after a long and bloody war, charac.
terized by the most outrageous cruelties
than the news comes that an uprising
against him has taken place, and thai
5000 rebels are already in the field. The
Haytians are possessed of enough of pri
NAL savagery to make them subjects fol-
She interference of civilized nations and il
is about time the hand of humanity wa;
mailed and extended over this fermenting
people.
We like the spirit of the "young
peachy-eheeked, red-lipped, lustrous-eyed
girl OF sixteen" of New jersey, who re
iected the Princeton Freshman who
fought a duel recently with rival college
mate to determine who should Woo anC
win the young lady. As rule the girl o
sixteen is not possessed of any surplus o
practical wisdom, but this one has set an
example to her sex. She not only re
jeeted both the parties to the duel, buf
gave her heart and hand to young fel
low who was sent to intercede for the vic
tor in the conflict of arms.
Now that the forces of Emin Pashs
have been driven out aud that the Mahdi'
attention is no longer turned in that diree