The Indianapolis journal., 1889-07-16
WORK OF THE CONVENTIONS
Features Which Delegates Hope to See
Inserted in the New Constitutions.
Considering the One and Two-House Schemes
in North Dakota-Progress Made Yester-
day in the Other Territorial Meetings

In the various committees on inc reports Ol
subcommittee occupied the earlier part of
the day, and few constitutional convention
delegates had much of any leisure even for
talking politics. In the meeting Of the
committee on judiciary, the court system
as blocked ont by Judge Garland, came
up for discussion, but no decision was
reached At to-day's session Mr.. Stevens
introduced, by request, the following:
Resolved, That the Constitution provide that
the legislative authority or this state snail rest
In single body, to be called the Legislative As
sembly, which shall consist OF not less than one
hundred hundred members. to De elected , 9y tne people; @
time to time. increase the number OF members as
necessity may require.
While the introduction of this proposed
article is further evidence that the friends
advocates of the older and more
generally known two-house scheme
are not idle. Last week two articles
were proposed, one of which provided
number for granted. To-day two more sim
liar resolutions were introduced. Mr.. G.
P. Parsons. of Roulette county, in an article
submitted. wished to provide for independ-
ent senatorial and representative districts,
while Mr.. Fay wished census to be taken
IN 1885, and every ten years thereafter. upon
which basis the Legislature must work in
making apportionment of the Senate and
House of Representatives. This might be
considered part of the fight against cor
scarcely deserves the name.
Today Mr.. Wallace presented a measure
looking to the taxation of mortgages. and
making such taxation lien on the proper
ty and security; If paid by the security, 1t
is added to the debt, but if paid by the
owner of the property it shall constitute
payment on the debt. Mr.. Wallace's propo-
sition Is the same that has been submitted
lan r%xrfr .t
Illinois. Mr.. Haugh varies the wording
of the article proposed by providing that
all taxes shall be equal, based on cash
values and the liens and incumberances
shall be deducted. Mr.. Richardson also
wishes to make notes and mortgages
taxable.
Prohibition of the liquor traffic came up
again, Mr.. Wallace desiring it incorporated
in the new Constitution, while Mr. Elliott
wished to have il submitted to vote of the
people, which last provision was also con-
tanned in resolution submitted by Mr..
Miller. These additional articles on this
subject have been brought in by instructions
of the members. and the result will be sub
mitted as an amendment, as heretofore,
stated.
Looking to the preservation of the credit
of counties and cities, Mr.. Fleming intro
duced the following:
shall hereafter become a subscriber TO the cap
ttal stock OF any private corporation or associa-
IOu, OF make any APPROPRIATION or 00ndtl0n TO
the same, or in any way loan its credit.
Non-sectarian schools are provided for in
an article introduced by Mr.. Richardson.
who also presented q preamble recognizing
God the Father, and declaring in favor of
the civil Sabbath. Suffrage was the sub
ject of several propositions, but none of the
articles made any departure from estab-
hshed laws of the older States. The Aus
tralian system of balloting came up and was
ordered printed in order to give members
an opportunity for studying 1T. The Gus
tomary exemptions from taxation were con-
tanned in articles introduced by Messrs.
Harris and Best, while Mr.. Elliott offered
proposed article TO punish the improper use
of public money. Mr.. Harris also desires.that
Legislators be made not eliglO Ole to appoint
ment to any office by the Governor, when
such appointment is subject to the approval
OF the Legislature.
The committee on the executive has de-
eided in favor of a pardoning power vested
in the Governor. and unlimited veto power,
the whole or part of any bill being subject
TO veto.
Petitioning for Woman Suffrage.
HELENA, Mon, July 15.-After a recess
from Friday afternoon until Monday, 4
P. NJ, the constitutional convention men,
bers met again and prepared for business.
Reports from the committees mostly occu-
pied their attention. The matter of uni
versal suffrage was sprung upon the con-
vention by the introduction by Mr.. Joy. by
request of petition signed by 14S citizens
from eight or ten small towns, in various
parts of the Territory. asking that consid-
Grafton be taken of the question. 1t was
referred to the suffrage committee, where
it may slumber. There were no prominent
names attached to 1T.
During the absence of the members at
Great Falls. at the reception, small printed
circulars headed Universal Suffrage;
Reasons why Woman Should Vote" were
pasted on every members desk, sticking so
closely that they could not be scratched
OH, and In every spot about the convention
ball where conspicuous space could be
found.
The prouosition relating to compulsory
education for children, between the ages of
eight and fourteen, was recommended not to
pass by the committee. preamble jim re-
gard to bill of rights and provision for
the publication of general laws. as passed
in the Legislature, was reported without
recommendation. Mr.. Watson said he was
not present at the meeting that had con-
sidered the pubiIcatlon OF the laws: and he
was given to submit the report at any time.
There may be a fight over this. The COM
mittee on labor asked for further time to
consider the propositions relating to
",
and discharged employees. A great deal of
interest is manifested in these matters.
X. G. Wylie. district secretary of the
National Reform Association, presented an
article. or proposition, in regard to a moral
principle in civil government, in which the
statments are made that nearly all the
state constitutions contain acknowledge
ments of Almighty God, more or less clearly
expressed, but the association desires some
thing more definite. God should be ac-
knowledged as the source of that authority
which IS vested in the majority. His will
should be taken for supreme law on all
moral issues In the sphere of political life.
The Lord should be recognized as the King of
Nations. Besides this, a foundation should
he laid Tor just and necessary legislation OH
tie questions OF ofmarriage and divorce, the
Sabbath question and moral instruction in
the public schools.
The committee submitted a proposition
for the establishment of bureau of labor.
and the appointment of q superintendent.
A delegate objected on the plea of being
absent. and he was gwen the privilege to
present n minority report. A provision
that no officers except Senators and Repre-
sentatives, under the law of the new State.
should hold more than two years, was sub
mitted. A resolution was passed that n
State examiner be appointed to investigate
the accounts of all officials at least once
year.
The Tide-Lnnd Question in Washington.
OLYMPIA, w. T., July 15.-There was a
smaller attendance than usual at the roll
call today thouoh IL WAS expected the