, 1889-08-08
KEEP OFF THE GRASS


tional convention has appeared to re-
member that familiar legend of the pub
lie parks, "Keep or the Grass" Tho
spirit of this inhibition may be con-
tanned in some of the numerous prohibi.
tory clauses that have been brought
forward, albeit the exact language has
not been employed.
The public will tolerate vast amount
In the new constitution rather than re-.
jeot 1t at the polls, under the circumstan.
ces. The convention should properly be
reminded, however, that there is an
audible murmur all over the territory
with reference to the work of the con.
vention and that a widespread opinion
prevails among the people that there Is
too much disposition oh the part of the
convention to indulge in legislation.
Instead of providing for the state Of
Washington broad, liberal and yet a
strong constitution, IL Is feared that
the document that is being formulated
is going to be long, restrictive instru-
ment that will undertake. entirely too
ihNNa ~ NhV ihN,tSi VI '''S
state in its future progress In fact
many of the provisions thus far reported
read much like legislative provisions,
Much minutia and detail are contained
In the different sections, thus leaving
nothing for future legislatures to do
and mrking it impossible for
the representatives of the people
to change their tactics from time to time
shouldsthey find 1t to the public interest
ito do so. The fact seems to be over.
looked that the province of a constitu.
tion is to merely mark out the boundary
lines of the legislative, executive and
judicial operations of the state, rather
than to fill in the entire language of
statutory regulation. The plan of the
federal constitution Is apparently being
in large measure reversed-the main
tendency of the one being to confer
While no doubt most of the proposed
provisions would be wholesome as legis-
lative enactments it is believed that the
convention should not assume that leg.
islative representatives, elected by the
people may not be trusted to enact such
laws as the people may from time to
time demand. Constitutions (theoreti.
cally at least) are made for all time to
come. No change that may be desired
can be made without much
trouble and delay and the
very idea that the fundamental law Of
the land is to be made the subject Of
frequent change should be discouraged,
Viewed in this light it must be deemed
important that the constitution should
contain the structure walls rather than
the partitions and movable furniture.
The federal constitution provides for the
establishment of post-roads but does
not undertake to state how long the
mail train may stop at each postoifice or
how much the postmaster's salary shall
be.
II is always easier to look on and i'm.
agine that one may do thing better
than it is being done by another. No
doubt great many persons outside of
our constitutional convention are indulg.
ing in this familiar pastime. Perhaps
the REVIEW may be regarded as stand.
ing in the same attitude. Mindful of
this weakness on the part of the on
locker it wishes TO make the conces-
sion and caution others TO bear
the failing in mind in making
their structures. 1t is indeed to be ear.
nestly hoped by all that the constitu-
tion will be such as may be accepted,
and to this end the members of the con.
vention must patiently and fairly con.
slider the suggestions and protests they
may receive from the people outside the
railings. A few of these protests are be.
ing sent from this city and they are
such as may warrant careful perusal.