Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-01-21
10 REVISE THE CONSTITUTION.

At Springfield Jan. ii the movement
for n constitutional convention for u
general revision of the State constitu.
ton was inaugurated 10y the introduce
ton Of the following resolution by Sen
ator Case and Representative New.
conner:
whereas. 1t has been many years
since the constitution Of Illinois has
been revised. and the organic laws of
the State are no longer adequate. owing
10 the rapid increase of the population
AMI development OF the resources Of
the state, to provide Just and eIuita-
BILE government; and
Whereas, In order to form more
perfect government. establish justice.
insure domestic tranquility, promote
the general welfare and secure the
blessings Of liberty to the people Of this
State ana their posterity. a revision Of
the constitution II deemed necessary:
therefore be IL
Resolved. by the House of Represen.
tatives Of the State Of Illinois, the Sen.
ate concurring herein. That cOnsti-
tutional convention to revise and alter
the constitution Of the State Is neces.
sary. and that there shall he submitted
10 the electors of Illinois at the next
general election n proposition tp hold
n constitutional convention for the pur.
pose of revising and altering the con.
stitution of the State In conformity
with the provisions of article II Of the
State constitution.
Chicago needs a constitutional con.
ventlon very badly, and II the rest of
the State will recognize ChicagO's
needs In this respect the time Is not far
distant when Chicago will cease to be
n source of friction ami worry to the
rest Of the State In the matter of legls-
latiOn made necessary by reason of the
special needs Of this community. Chi.
government, needs u charter In which
the many governing bodies shall be
consolidated into one. To make this
possible constitutional changes are nee
essary. The movement for revision by
n convention IL certain to he more sat.
isfactory than any attempts to have
the needed changes made piecemeal.
Especially Is this so because of the
great difficulty of securing amend
ments.
II the work of such convention Is
properly done It should be possible In
future for Chicago to control its own
affairs without the frequent appeals 10
Springfield thar have been necessary In
the past.
Tic changes needed ought 10 he
made Just as soon as possible. There
fore, IL Is important that the coming
Legislature submit 10 popular vote NJ
the next election the question Of calling
constitutional convention. As Il two
thirds vote of both houses Il necessary
10 secure submission II l. evident that
there must be substantial unanlmity In
order 10 have favorable results. Care
should be- taken not 10 antagonlz" 10y
suggestion Of radical reforms Interests
that can prevent the passage of sub
mission resolutions If they will. The
constitutional changes lmpcratlycly
needed are those In the interest simply
of more efficient government, from
which the most cOnscry alive interests
In the community have nothing 10 lose,
but much TO gain In the general i'm.
proyoment that viii inurc 10 the benefit
OF all.
Referring 10 his resolution for n con
sti,riional convention on Monday Sen
ator Case said:
1T has been proposed In Cook Coun'
~ 10 amend the constitution so rs "a
meet all requirements for legislation
affecting Chicago, but II is my opinion
\ that while this might be done II will be
found Impracticable. I think the only
way 10 get satisfactory organic law
for Cook County viii be 10 have con
stltutional convention, which viii be