Smyrna times., 1892-07-20
On the Way to a New Constitution
THE PILLING AMENDMENT.

Governor Reynolds has given his
official approval to what is known as
the Pilling amendment to the state
constitution, and this measure has,
therefore, safely passed two of the
three constitutional stages required for
the amendment of the constitution by
legislative procedure. The Pilling
amendment appears as chapter 2 of the
Laws of Delaware for 1891. 1t was
introduced in the upper branch of the
General Assembly by State Senator
John Pilling, of New Castle county.
Republican, and was finally adopted
May 16, 1861, by constitutional vote
IN each branch. The provisions of the
constitution in regard to constitutional
amendment by legislative process, is
as follows:
The General Assembly, whenever
two-thirds of each House shull deem, II
necessary, may, with the appreciation
OF the Governor, propose amendments
TO the constitution, and at least three
put not more than six months before
the next general election of represen-
tatlves, duly publish them in print for
the consideration of the people; and if
three-fourths of each branch of the
Legislature shall, after such an cleo
ton, and before another, ratifv the
SAID amendments, they shall be valid
TO all lntents and purposes, as parts of
this constitution.
The Pilling amendment substitutes
for the famous and obstructive "unex-
ceptlonable" mode, stated in Article 9.
Tor calling a convention for the reyis-
ion of the constitution, the following
And the mode of making their [the
peoples sense known, shall be at anv
general election held for Representa-
tlves in the General Assembly, and
which shall have been prescribed bv
the General Assembly at its regular
session next preceding the said cleo
tlon, as the proper occasion for ascer- |
such sense, the citizens of this
state entitled to vote for representa-
tives, may vote by ballot for or against
convention, as they shall severallv
choose to do, and in so voting
the ballot shall be separated
from those cast for any person voted
for at such an election, and shall he
kept distinct and apart from any other
ballot so cast; and if at any such cleo
tlOn, the number of votes" etc. The
effect of the adoption of this amend
ment will be to permit any General
Assembly to designate the next gen
eral election as the time for taking the
sense of the people in regard to calling
constitutional convention. Its adop-
Jlon VIII abolish the existing provision
in regard to "a special election on the
third Tuesday in May, in any year.u
and will enable the sense of the people
On tSls question to be taken at that
lime every two years, when their minds
are occupied with political matters.
when they choose various state officers
md when, if there is a general convic-
Ion that a constitutional convention is
necessary, there can be no doubt that
he majority required by the constitu-
ion will be ATTAINED.
Two special elections have been held
recently in this state upon this uues-
,lon-oue in November, 1887, the ma
ority for convention at that time.
alling 1908 votes short of the vote
equired by the onstitution-and the
'ther in May, 1891. when 17,114 votes
we're cast for a convention. 1t still
emains to be seen what the next
General Assembly will do about the
'ote of 1891, but under a strict con.
truction of the existing constitution.
he vote of 1891 will have to be COM
jared with the highest vote cast at the
eneral election of 1890, when the
Otal vote was S5,297, a majority of
which is 17,649, or 535 votes more than
we're cast for convention in the spec
al election of 1891. We think that Mr..
llIing showed sagacity by introducing
his amendment, and we also think
hat Governor Reynolds has exhibited !
wise regard for the welfare of the
tate by giving his official approval to
ne amendment. The necessary ap-
roval of the next General Assembly :
ught to be secured without and diff
NesUs. c
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