Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-07-04
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

Following up the suggestion made
in my last communication, | wish to
point out some Of the alterations that
experience and observation havetaught
mo should be made in the present
constitution of Kentucky. First it
goes without saying that all the obso-
lete provisions in regard to slavery
and free negroes, should be elimi-
mated. These were subjects that
deeply Interested the people and
largely engaged the attention of the
delegates to the conventions Of 1893
and 1919 but now settled forever, and
in a manner not dreamed of by any
of the trainers of the constitutions
under which we have lived. We can
now say to slavery Vale, rdte, ,iongitm
oaie; we no longer say come and he
coneth, nor go and he goeth, but TO
these chattels OF snte-bellum days,
we now say my colored feitoc citi-
zens" and in conjunction with
white fellow citizens we will talk to-
gether little about what provisions
we shall engraft in our revised consti-
tuition.
Under the End constitution Of Ken
lucky, which was superseded by the
one of 1850, all the state and county
officials were appointed either during
good behavior, OF for term OF years,
except the Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor, Senators and representatives,
and whilst this mode of filling the of
fees may, and probably did secure as
good and efficient incumbents as the
elective system, yet the people be-
came restive under it and demanded
that all officials should DO elected by
the people and hold their places for
short periods and thus we went from
one extreme to the other, and for the
last forty years our people are con-
stantly being excited and stirred up
by too frequent elections. Experience
as we think has demonstrated that
our elections are quite too frequent.
It's tendency is TO corrupt and de-
bauch the soter and place in office
unworthy and incompetent men.
would therefore suggest that suitable
restrictions as to eligibility to Office
should be engrafted in the constitu-
ton, and the terms of office should be
made longer, thereby giving more
time to the incumbent to become quail
lied and efficient in the discharge oi
his duties; and in regard to minis
terial offices such as sheriffs, would
make the incumbent ineligible to .
second or succeeding term; by this
means he would be free from the
temptation to prostitute his Office IL
order to stand for second election
and would be in better condition L
reap the legitimate profits of his Office
In regard to the Legislative depart
ment OF the government, it seems Il
mo that experience has demonstrated
that biennial sessions OF the legisla
ture are not only not necessary for th'
public good but are absolutely hurt
full. 1t has grown into custom TO
that honorable body to remain in SOS
sion for four or five months, and thel
to adjourn rather in obedience +
public sentiment than desire to re
turn to their constituents and resum
the role OF private citizens. Each ses
sion OF a Kentucky Legislature cost
tho commonwealth about one hun
dred thousand dollars, but this is PEI
haps not the greatest objection t
these extended biennial sessions th
acts passed at the preceding sessio
are many of them either repealed 9
amended az tho succeeding sessio
and that too before the public has ha
an opportunity 10 become familiu
with their provisions, or to tost the
value. Too much Legislation IS a ban