Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-01-27
PURPOSE OF A CONSTITUTION

muIdl uhty W tdJH ftpit~~hNabiNs
elect 10 proceed at once 10 qualify
attend, and participate ia the wOrl
OF temporary organization.
The only guide for the organization
OF the house or senate is The constitu
tion OF the state, and 10 using that
instrument legislature that sits for
forty days is the sole judge and inter.
prefer Of the organic law, In that II is
the sole judge OF the election and
qualifications Of its members. It is
not intended that appeals can te per-
fected 10 the supreme court within
the forty days that limit the session
of the legislature oyer questions Of
constituting the constitution. II the
members disagree as ~ the construc-
tion they place on the constitutional
provisions relative 10 organization. IL
Is misfortune, but without unani.
nous consent no judicial opinion can
be had 10 help them out.
Every member ought above all
things 20 insist upon exact compliance
with the terms Of the constitution In |
forming the organization. as failure
10 do 20 would lead TO the grayest
dlnlculties, and would disturb the
legality OF the entire state govern
ment.
But the dificulty at Salem Is not a
question OF obtaining judicial op;n-
ion. IL isa political question. Let
us assume that Senator Mitchell we're
10 die or resign and retire from poll
ties. II Is possible the legislature {
would assemble at once. This would
be possible beyond doubt in case Of
Senator Mltchell's death, but for one
other obstacle. and that is the fear
that all the platform promises Of re-
form and retrenchment would utterly S
fail TO be redeemed, as has happened
before. Let US look at the last two
Republican legislatures for a moment. '
Were they not elected upon specific
platform pledges Of economy and re-
form? Were they not reckless In |
making appropriation aud expendl- A
lures for unnecessary purposes In
the last house majority composed OF
Anti-Dolph Republicans and Populists Il
we're able 10 block the vicieus legisla- @
Ion undertaken by the senate. That
majority also kept down the eVpense {
u clerk-hire, abolished the railroad ,
trimmed the frills OF the q
bill and then all these '
'hings we're restored by the senate. n
What assurance have reform major
~ OF the lower house this time that I,
{ they can organize aud pass remedial di
that the senate will con- ~
nry None whatever. Judging from -
xperience, nothing bat an indepen- :,
ent reform organization OF the house d,
: worth having. IL
Then why not organize = Here Is
he point at issue; the constitution
not for tho purpose OF burdening
he people with commissions and
buses. The constitution aims 10
rotect the people against extnya-
ance aud robberies. When consti-
ition only serves the purposes OF
Dodle IL Is unworthy the name IL
'ars. IL Is not constitution. IL Is %
Imposition. The legislature should :, -
seer be organized Ia either branch as hs
imposition on the people. The IN
institution Is 20 protect the people II,
Iainst impositionS. The only way y. y.
protect the people against unjust, IN.
'travaRant and illegal appropriations We
10 employ the constitution 10 pro- W. w.
o. them. Even the regular Repub- ~
an members In tho house and sen- =.
9 admit thls. They are Introducing ias
soFss Of reform bills, that they ,ss NJ
~ sneered al a Few years ago. ssl
Some AZ them are introducing these 10
ls sincerely. They have been edu- ~. sas
ed by .he pressure OF publlc sen- ,as
nent 10 demand things which few 30
Irs asp were oaly 10 be found Ia an, an,
palist platforms. They were tnally ss se'
20 Republican platforms, but we've IAs
put In for any other purpose but ihs
'aieh votes. Now when these gen - +
nen declared last that they are IN ~, ~,
d earnesis the people hardly knoN &c
J 10 take them. but judging from ga,