The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-23

The constitutional convention spent
all day yesterday on one section OF the
bill of rights. The bone of contention
was the question as to whether juries
must remain at the traditional twelve
in civil cases or whether they should
be cut down to a considerable degree.
The debate lasted for three solid hours
and was interesting throughout if it
did cost in the neighborhood Of $3.50,
which Is the amount the convention is
using up every day. During the dis
cussion there were several sharp pas
sages. Thurman roasted Pierce for
changing his mind too often, while
varian vented his spleen on the COM
mittee on Judiciary. At the end
Evans proposition for nine jurors in
the, district court, six in county courts,
and three in justices courts. was
adopted.
MAJ ney, of Weber offered a resolu-
ton lring the afternoon pledging the
conveEIon to make no debt for the
peopllsFSo pay. The convention decided
it would not make a special order and
give woman suffrage precedence, but
that the article on suffrage must take
its proper place on the calendar. A
member each from Salt Lake and Og-
den were added to the committee on
schedule, which is about to consider
the prohibition question. There was
come discussion on this and recrimina-
ton passed.
The Proceedings.
The convention was called to order
at 2:0I1s by President Smith. Assis-
tant President McGurrin was at he
reporters table and the president
looked relieved. The roll call showed
ninety-three members present.
Rev. Josiah McClain, of the Presby-
terrain church, was invited to offer the
opening prayer.
There were no corrections to the
minutes The clerks seem to be get
ting acquainted with their work.
Call presented a memorial from 1875
citizens OF Davis county, asking for
woman suffrage. Referred.
Bowdle. of Salt Lake, presented a
petition from 267 citizens of Salt Lake
county, asking for the prohibition
clause. Referred.
- More Queer Ruling.
s. Tvs showed how murder will OUT
He 9eminded President Smith of a
ruling made a long while ago. when
il was decided that such things as
these were propositions for insertion
in IL constitution" instead of petit
tionN and could not come UP under
the head of petitions and memorials
President Smith looked over the petit
ton and, by some mental hocuS- pocus,
decided that it was a proposition.
WINS protested against such a thing.
but it went through.
Woman Suffrage Article.
Chidester, from the committee on
elections and suffrage, presented the
article on that subject. The full text
of the report and proposed article will
be found in another column.
5Chidester asked that the article be
fe the special order for next Tues
Kiesel objected to any action He
said there was 10 be a minority report
and he wanted ample time in which
TO prepare il.
varian showed President Smith
what rules should be followed by sug-
gesting that it was not out of order
for the convention to fix special order
for the committee of the whole.
Thurman asked Varian to fully ex-
plain his position on that point, and
was endeavoring to clear things up
when President Smith, who seemed to
have suddenly acquired an idea that
he must rush things, broke in hastily:
There is nothing before the house,
he said.
Thurman faced around hastily and
asked:
can we not come to an understand
ing on such an important matter as
th;s?"
President smith-was there mis-
rrS,,,,.,,,.,,- Nf no,,rse t7,era x,as ar
,2$2d not have spoken.
"a Fight For Precedence.
The matter was settled as va:ian
had held and Richards moved to sus-
send the rules and make the article the
es,eciai order for Tuesday. He said so
many propositions were coming in that
the suffrage article was likely to be
crowded back and not receive sufficient
consideration.
Thurman said he was anxious to have
the matter disposed of at once. He
could speak freely. This was not
party question. All were agreed on it
1t should be put out of the way. He
wanted the special order.
Roberts said he thought the gentle
meg who were favoring the report did
not show they were very sure OF their
ground. or they would not be SO anx-
fous TO shut off full discussion of the
question. They should be willing to
give the minority full time to present
their report He did not think full
courtesy had been shown the minority.
After some further discussion the
motion. for special order failed by a
vote of 55 to IS, and the article goes to
the regular calendar OF the committee
of the whole. where it will come up in
its order.
Tie report OF the committee on rules.
making it necessary TO lay proposed
articles over for one day in the COM
mittee Of the whole, was adopted.
Prohibition Battle.
Mere was something of a fight over
the proposition to give Salt Lake and
Ogden representatives on the commit