The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-04
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

can TELL Inc lenSrh or the session
Will depend upon the disposition and
ability of the delegates TO attend
strictly to the business for which they
We're elected. Mere oratory and
partisan appeals for applause from the
populace win be out of place in this
! convention It is called for a specific
purpose and that should be kept in
view from the beginning to the end.
| II is to be expected that as the
party which proclaimed its intention to
have a partisan convention is in the
majority. the organization will be
made on a partisan basis. It would
be a graceful thing to include men of
both parties in the officers of the con-
vention, but that can scarcely be an
tieipated now. When the organization
is completed and the committees are
appointed, close work ought to be
| Immediately commenced and that
ought to take up the Chief time Of the
assembly.
We suggest to the Democratic mem
| bers that there should be no faatious
opposition or attempts to ohstruct on
partisan grounds. At the Game time
they must be on the alert to detect any
partisan attempts by the majority.
The instrument to be framed should
I be of such character that it will
secure &c every citizen Of the state
equal rights and privileges before the
law. There must be no favorttism to
parties or TO individuals.
( Unity Of effort among the delegates
is essential to full success. Harmony
should be promoted but not. at the
sacrifice Of principle. The constitution
must be Republican in form. 1t must
secure religious as well az political
liberty TO the people, keep church and
state distinct and separate, and pro-
hibit the practice Of polygamy in the
state
But it must be remembered that
! what Is wanted is an organic law, not
a, code of statutes. Some liberty must
be left to the legislature and some
drawn, however, beyond which that
liberty and power shall not pass a
constitution is to limit as well as be-
STOW powers on the different depart
! mepts Of the government, TO preserve
| the proper freedom. without exceeding
it, which the local government shall
| exercise IN administering public affairs,
viii require d nice discrimination ana
Just balance
One of the most important Of the
important things to be kept in view. is
| economy in government. The multi
plication of Offices and Che fixing of
high salaries for public servants would
spoil the best constitution in other
respects which could be framed. We
do not urge stinginess but the people
insist on prudence in these matters
The fee system should be so far
abolished in the state that every public
officer shall be remunerated by salary,
and that such fees as are necessary
shall be covered into the treasury OF
I the city. the county or the state as
the case may require,
Taxation should be kept as low as
is consistent with the public service
ably and thoroughly administered.
The state can afford to pay fair prices
for au that is done by it's authority,
but there should be no high levies to
provide for extravagant OUTLAWS. Pub
lic funds should be appropriated
wholly and solely for public purposes.
One OF the things which will be
watched with more than common
scrutiny viii be the districtfng and APP
portionment of the state If that Is
| done on the principle of population
and contiguity. there viii be no fault
found by the citizens, however that
may result to the respective political
parties. But If there Is an evident in
tent to juggle with this matter, to
shoestring districts and gerryrnander
them on a partisan basis, there will
be trouble and perhaps the defeat of
the constitution. which will mean the
indefinite postponement OF statehood,
Let this thing be done honestly and
fairly. for the public and not for
party welfare.
With the experience Of the4past in
notwithstanding. with many pat
terms from other states. there ought
to be no difficulty in selecting the very
best provisions that should enter into
a constitution, adapted to the needs
of the people for at least a-auarter of
a century without important amend
ment. Brevity should be studied, but
not 70 such extent that the meaning
Of any article or clause shall be OBJ
scure
The Herald hopes that patriotism
and not partyism viii sway the large
majority OF the delegates to this con
vention- They should remember that
their work will be on view for all time.
That their course viii be ecanned
eagerly by the entire people OF the in
cipient state. That theys wiz be re-
garded with admiration and respect or