San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-05-08

W m. i. GOOuelt, Vi OhOuudSd1 anu
Daniel II. Mcmillan, OF Erie.
Some of the same quest ions
which came up before the s ixth
Constitutional convention and
subsequent constitutional commits
SONS will come up again this
wear, and it is likely that there
will be much discussion upon one
of the most important questions
before the first Constitutional con-
vention; that is the extension OF
the suffrage. The suffrage, origin
ally limited, has been successive
extended until now it is practical
w manhood suffrage, wit h
out tax and other quafitica-
tions than citizenship and rest
dence. Within the past few years
there has been the recurrence OF an
attempt to limit the suffrage in
voting on matters of local taxation
and improvement, but it is hardly
likely that this question will be
seriously considered by the conven-
ton.
One of the most important ques-
lions will be the revision Of the
judiciary article. The Legislature
has felt the need of some such re-
vision for years. AS a makeshift
the constitution has been amended
several times. The last time, in 1888,
the amendment provided for the
creation of an additional branch of
the court of appeals, in order that
cases might be determined more
speedily. The creation Of the ad-
ditional court resulted in the clear
ing of the calender, and, the USE
fulness of the second court having
expired, the Justices went back to
their different departments. All
these changes were in way
makeshifts. for they were not part
of the permanent judiciary.
A commission composed chiefly
of lawyers was constituted by the
legislature and the governor which
presented several amendments to
the judiciary article which did not
meet with general favor and were
dropped. The main changes pro-
posed to the judiciary article have
been made with the intention Of
simplifying and cheapening litiga-
ton. One suggestion made is to
consolidate in New York City
the Court of the Common Pleas,
the Supreme court, and the
Supreme Court. These courts
have overlapping jurisdictions and
general terms of their own which
may make conflicting decisions.
Another suggestion has been made
to increase the size of the Court of
Appeals and to enable it to sit as
two separate bodies whenever the
calendar becomes crowded. These
changes are of interest chiefly to
lawyers.
The proposed changes of the
most popular interest are in regard
to taxation and local government.
There will be an effort to incorpor-
ate in the constitution the main
provisions of a bill which has been
introduced for several years and
failed to pass through the opposi-
ton Of the rural members. This
bill is in line with other proposed
amendments in regard to home
rule for localities. 1t is proposed
to insert in the constitution a
provision that the Legisla-
ture may pass only general bills
relating to cities, and that it may
not alter these general provisions
by passing acts that apply to par
ticular localities only. The pro-
vision in regard to taxation, other
wise known as the Local Option
Tax bill, extends the powers of
local authorities, so that they may
determine on what classes of prop
erty they will lay the burden of
taxation.
The tendency of most of the pro-
posed changes will be to restrict
the power OF the Legislature. That
has been the tendency of recent
constitutional amendments. The
Legislature of New York may not
now pass any private or local bills
change the names Of persons, legis.
late in regard to highways OIL
draining swamps, locate county
seats, change the venue in law
! cases, regulate the rate of interest
conduct elections, give a corpora
ton the right to lay down rail
road tracks, regulate the election
of members of boards Of supervis
ors, audit claims, or interfere il
several other matters. So far al
has been heard in the discussion o
the proposed amendments among
lawyers and in the various politica
clubs and associations, no sugges
ton has been made to increase tn
| ,oyroro Of tbo 1ooiclat ura hut ra N