The record-union., 1897-03-26
A CONSTITUTIONAL MATTER.


That has come to pass which the
Record Union forecast. Repeatedly
it has said that at the rate the people
We're proceeding in amending the State
Constitution and converting it into a
a point when they would be called upon
to pass upon the proposition to convene
a new convention to recast the instru-
ment; to engage, in other words, in an
other peaceful revolution. While this,
we held, would result from the patch
work system INDUCED in since 1879, it
was also pointed out that it would be
due to original defects in the Constitu-
ton itself as originally adopted, and
which, it will be remembered, the Rec
ord Union" did not support, announcing
at the time that it would not be many
years before the people would regret
their precipitancy and move to remodel
the instrument The remodeling began
the third year succeeding the adoption,
and propositions on that line have been
made in every Legislature and voted
upon at nearly every State election held
since that time.
The late Legislature passed the ne
cessary concurrent resolution by two
thirds vote of each house submitting to
the people at the next general election
the question whether a State constitu-
tional convention shall be called If
the vote is in the affirmative then the
next Legislature must provide for the
holding of the convention.
We are not disposed to say at this
time whether the people should vote aye
or nay on the proposition. Whether or
not the instrument as now amended
is not better for the State than flight to
the possibilities that may lie within the
membership of another convention;
whether the State will be gamer by
passing through another constitutional
campaign are matters calling for more
deliberate thought than we have given
resolution not being a week old.
We notice that citizens of San Fran
cisco are being called upon by the metro
politan press to express their views upon
the subject, and that those who have
spoken are especially severe in their
condemnation of the Constitution of
1879, declaring that it is the cause of
most State ills of which we now COM
plain; that it has had the effect of
driving capital out of the State, and OF
preventing desirable enterprises that
root in the State.
We recall that eighteen years ago the
Record Union" declared that the Con-
stitution then before the people for
adoption or rejection would have pre-
cisely the effect it is now conceded it
has had, and that for such prophecy this
journal was roundly and harshly criti-
cised BIZ over enthusiastic contempor-
aries It is noticeable also that all the
people who have pet notions, new rang
led ideas about revenue, taxation, COM
monwealth ownership, single tax theor-
les and socialistic schemes, are solicit
Gus that a convention shall be ordered
in the hope that a footing may be OBJ
tanned in the organic law for a lot of new
theoretical propositions.
If there is real need for a convention,
however, it's probable assault by one
idea, and new idea people, is not suffi-
eient reason for opposing the call for It,
1t may be that in some of the new ideas
there are propositions worthy of ac-
ceptance. The real question is, is the
present instrument in condition, and
has its operation been of character
to warrant in cool wisdom reconstruc-
ton with a view of reducing it to
declaration of principles and saving 1t
from the fate of being what no consti-
tuition should be, code of laws.