Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-01-28
TO REVISE THE CONSTITUTION.

general revision of the State constitu-
ton was inaugurated by the introduc.
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
to the rapid Increase of the population
and development Of the resources of
the state, to provide just and equlta.
bic government; and
Whereas, In order TO form a 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, revision of
the constitution Is deemed necessary:
therefore be It
Resolved. by the House of Rcprescn-
tatlvcs of the state Of Illinois. the SEN
ate concurrlng herein. That a cOnsti-
tutional convention to revise and alter
the constitution of the State Is neccs-
sary. and that there shall he submitted
to the electors of Illinois ut the next
general election n proposition to hold
a constitutional convention for the pur.
pose Of revising and altering the con.
stitutiOn Of the State i'm conformity
with the provisions of article IA of the
state constitution.
Chicago needs u constitutional con.
ventiOn very badly. and II the rest Of
the state will recognize Chicago's
needs In this respect the time IL not far
distant when Chicago will cease to be
n source Of friction and worry to the
rest Of the state In the matter Of lcgis.
latlon made necessary by reason of the
special needs Of this community. Chi.
cagO. for It's proper development and
government, needs u charter I'm which
the many governing bodies shall bc
consolidated Into one. TO make this
possible constitutional changes IRE nee.
essary. The movement for revision by
a convention II certain to bc more sat.
lsfnctOry than any attempts to have
the needed changes mnde plcccmeal.
Especially Ii this NO because Of the
great difficulty of securing amend.
mcnts.
If the work Of such n convention II
properly done II should bc possible In
future for Chicago to control it, owl,
affairs without the frequent appeals to
Springfield that have been necessary IN
the past.
The changes needed ought to bc
| made Just ns sOOn ns possible. There.
fore. It IL important that the coming
Legislature submit to popular vote nj
the next election the question Of calling
constitutional convention. As two
thirds vote Of both houses In necessary
to secure submission II In evident that
there must he substantial unanimity In
order TO have favorable results. Care
should he taken not to antagonize by
suggestion Of radical reforms interests
that can prevent the passage Of sub.
mission resolutions II they will. The
constitutional changes imperatively
needed are those In the interest simply
Of more efficient government, from
which the most conservative interests
In the community have nothing to lose,
but much to gain In tho general i'm.
provement that will inure to the benefit
Of all.
Referring to Ills resolution for con-
stitutiOnal convention on Monday Sen
ntOr Case snid:
ut has been proposed In Cook COun.
ty to amend the constitution 40 ns to
meet all requirements for legislation
affecting Chicago, but It II my opinion
that while this might be done It will be
found impracticable. I think the only
way to get satisfactory organic law
for Cook County will be to have u con.
stitutiOnal convention. which will be
able not only to consider one subject,
but everything which may be naces.
sary for the welfare Of Chicago ana OF
the entire State"
Representative Newcomer said: "Sen,
atOr Case ana myself are solely respOn'
sible for this resolution. The Civic
Federation committee. by n small ma,
jOrity, as l understand, decided tina,
all of the reforms which Chicago
needed could be secured by legislation
ana by amendments to the constitution
ana that no general revision of that
instrument was necessary. Senator
Case ana myself disagree with the
committee. We believe that existing
evils can be remedied In no other way
than by the holding of constitutional
convention, and we will urge this resO,
luton upon the Legislature" Acting
rs they believe for the best interests
of the people of this great State, Speak,
or sherman ana the following State
Senators ana Representatives are OH
record In favor of n constitutional con.
ventiOn:
Hon. L. Y. Sherman, Speaker of the
House.
Hon. Thomas Il. Milchrist, Fifth Dis,
trict.
Hon Scion ii. Case, Second District
Hon. ID. NJ. Baxter. Tenth District.
Hon. Isaac Miller Hamilton, Six.
teenth District.
Hon. ID. j. May, First District.
Hon. Geo. NJ. Boyd, Sixth District.
Hon. u. j. Brundage, Sixth District
Hon. ID. Il. Sullivan, Twenty third
District.
Hon. NJ. ]. Butler, Fourth District.
Hon. !. W. Drury, FOrty-elghth Dis
trict.