Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-05-30

The constitution of the new state of
Utah was adopted as a whole by a
unanimous vote, and in the presence Of
vast crowd Of spectators, beneath a
canopy Of flags of the union, John
Henry Smith, president of the conven-
ton, and the delegates thereto affixed
their signatures 10 the engrossed in
strument. Thus the people of Utah
have completed, so far as they are
able, until President Cleveland has
signified his approval or disapproyal
of the document, the organic law and
great charter of the new political do
main. Considered as a whole, the con
stitution is not a very able or extra
ordinarily strong document In some
respects, however, it is a powerful in
strument. 1t is modelled somewhat
after the constitutions Of Montana.
California, Nevada, and other western
states. 1t is composed of twenty-four
articles, the longest of which is the
article on executive and the shortest
that which provides for the care of the
forest lands of the state. The distin-
tive features of the constitution are
the provision by ordinance whereby
polygamous or plural marriages are
forever prohibited and the granting of
the right of suffrage to women.
The first effort of the delegates to
the convention was 10 make consltu-
ton that would give to the new state
a very economical government. In
pursuing chat idea as many offices as
possible have been eliminated and the
salaries Of those remaining are fixed
exceedingly low. Some of the com.
pensations provided for state officials
are of such a minute figure as TO bor-
der on the ridiculous. the Importance,
responsibility, ana duties Of the Office
considered. The fixed salary bill is as
follows; Governor, $1,000 per annum;
secretary of state, $4,000 per annum;
state auditor, $1,000 per annum; state
treasurer, $1,000 per annum; attorney
general, S1,J00 per annum; superin-
tendent Of public instruction 81 800
per annum. These sums are in full
compensation of all services. the fee
system being done away with almost
entirely, none Of the officers named be-
ing entitled to fees. All other state,
district, county, town, or school otii-
GERS. it is provided. shall be paid Il
fixed salary. the only exceptions being
notaries public, boards of arbitration,
court commissioners, justices of the
peace and cunStableS.
The constitution makes it impossible
for the new state to increase its pres
ent Indebtedness in excess Of $500, 900,
and forbidS the legislature forever to
permit counties. cities. municipalities.
or the state itself, to take stock i'll en-
terprises, corporations, Or companies of
any kind, or in any way. direct or in
direct, to create Indebtedness or lend
credit for the furtherance Of any spe-
cial enterprise. All reasonable re-
straintS are drawn around corpora
tions. the article governing their for
nation and conduct being modelled
upon the ground nearest to protection
for the taxpayers, while doing justice
to the stock company.
In the judiciary article some of the
most radical changes are Eoted, freeing
Utah from the old, mus ty traditions
and nrecedeuts handed down from the
common English law. How judicious
and wise these changes will be time
alone can tell. The office of probate
judge is abolished and the duties Of
that office are put upon the district
courts. The state IS divided into seven
judicial districts, with nine judges, and
under the constitution a term of the
district court must be held at the seat
OF government Of each county, Of
which there are twenty-seven in the
state, at least four times year The
supreme court, it is provided at pres
ent, shall consist Of three members,
and the supreme court and nine dis
trict judges will have all of the legal
business of the state to attend TO ex-
cept rs such petty cases as shall be
tried by justices Ut the peace and COM
misSioners. No doubt when the state
is admitted one federal district Judge
will be appointed.
The grand jury is done away with
except whore, iii the opinion Of some
district judge public necessity requires
the calling 81 one, and In that case he
IS empowered to empanel jury Of
seven persons five Of whom must CON
eur to find an Indictment All offenses
now prosecuted by Indictment shall
hereafter be by information ordinarily.
The petit jury Is cut down from twelve
to eight persons i'll number. and three
fourths Of these may return a verdict
except IN criminal actions, when the
verdict must be unanimous.
The legisla ture, I'D ii provided. shall
consist OF siXty-four members, divided
as follows Senator's, n; representa-
lives, 81 Utah will have no Lieutenant
governor the secretary Of state par-