Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1890-11-22
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONvEN.
ION

IL seems to be o settled fact that the
people of Nevada have decided to hold
a Constitutional Convention to revise
the State constitution. The end sought
is a radical reduction in the cost OF
maintaining their State and county
governments. 1t is apparent to the
most superficial observer that taxes
must be reduced full City per cent or
we shall in the near future be com.
PEELED to abandon our State govern.
ment. If we are to live here at all We
must have lighter burdens.
We are hardly prepared to believe
that the Republican Legislature will re-
sort to so high handed a proceeding as
10 defeat the will Of a majority Of the
people by refusing to authorize the
meeting of the convention as provided
by the plain letter of the constitution.
To do SO would be equivalent to an
abandonment Of the doctrine Of free
representative government in this State.
1t would be to set the minority above
the majority Of the people and substi-
tute might for right In our local gov.
ernmental affairs. If it be even con.
templated to undertake such a revolu.
tionary scheme the people should rise
in their majesty and proceed to Car.
son and hang the last boss and the
last member of the Legislature engaged
in the scoundrely plot. But we have
not lost all faith in mankind. We can
not bring ourselves to think that the
conspiracy suggested by the Virginia
Chronicle is seriously entertained by
respectable Republicans, for the latter
have as much interest in maintaining
correct government as the Democrats
have, although they are not noted for q
close observance of the plain mandates
of written constitutions. Let US, how.
ever, believe well of everybody until
the contrary be shown.
We take it, therefore, that the conven-
ton will be authorized, and this brings
US to the suggestion of a single detail
Of the bill. The convention should call
in council the best brains Of the State,
irrespective Of party. Men should be
brought together who are familiar with
the old constitution and who under
stand the reforms needed in our State
and county systems. 1t will be an oc-
casion calling for practical, rather than
theoretical, ability. There should not
be too many lawyers and the conven-
ton should be composed largely Of
men who know all about State and
county affairs. To this end every
citizen should be made eligible by the
bill to go as q delegate to the conven-
ton. The holding Of another Office
should be no bar. If there be Q County
Commissioner. or any other county
officer, who is specially qualified by rea-
son Of his superior knowledge Of county
business. let him be eligible to give the
convention the benefit of that knowl.
edge as one Of its members. The con.
vention, if it deliberate in a conserva.
tive and patriotic spirit of sound econ
omy, will be productive Of great and
lasting good to our State, but If it incor-
porate in the new organic act provisions
to help special interests at the expense
Of the masses and to promote jobbery
and trickery by future Legislatures, it
will have its trouble for its pains. The
new constitution must go again to the
people for their approval and unless it be
honest and fair and makes way for q rad.
ical reduction Of expenses. the people
will knock it higher than q kite.