Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-03-17
coSsrIrtr,oxAL coSvESrIoN

Tie Last legislature adopted a re
eolutinn calling for n vote Mt the neS
general cleo N up N lie ques ,nn -
holding a constitu iopal ccnyen'imr
Tie question has been three time
submitted to the people. Twice IL
uas defeated because uf the omis'
zion OF many voters. IN the excitement
Of the general election, Ia afiix @!es
or mo- to the nor Is Of the tick-i
-For q Constitutional Convention
Both times the affirmative lad q
three-tourtb majority ove the neg.
alive. but as i. required a maiorit.
OF all Of the votes cast to carry. ever!
blank <ns practically a NC sur
thus the call was both times defeated
10 1852 the Democratic State cow,
ton Rd pied a resolution favor "a.
a consii II utional convention. and tir,
State central Committee requested the
different Democratic oounty commit.
.ss throughout the State TO have
printed on The ticfets YES upon the
convention quesaus. which sugGeS-
ton was adopted by the party rpre-
sepstives In most al the counties
The Democratic State ticket WAS de
feaied that year, but the ~coayentin,s
question carried Icy a larger major
ity than any State candidate vas ever
elected since the admission Of tine
STATE. But noiwithl auiinG this
most emphatic expression OF the voi-
CTS, the measure WAS lost thorough
the refusal OF the Judges Of TIE Su-
preme Court, who GU siitu;ed the
State Board Of Canvas-es, 10 eau.
vass the vote, upon the ~techaicaiit.
that the statutes did not mention. i'll
SO many worI-. the csnTassing 0 a
constit utional election vote as a part
OF their duties. although two nf them
had performed that @nuiy' when the
measure q known to be defeated.
The technicality has since been or
rectei in the statutes and, in all
probability. the wishes of the people
will be carried out in 1900.
The greatest objeclou to n constitu-
tional convention that ha- been urgeI
by its opponent is the expense. FMS
Is simply nonsenical. When the or
iginal constitution WAS forme | the
members Of the convention re >eived
only three dollars per day. pa! able IN
greeDbacss, which were worth at that
time about forty cents to the dollar.
The convention was composed OF the
brightest meo in the State. including
2 large proportion 81 tirst class law
!ers. who willingly sacrificed their
tune IN the interest 81 the proposed
commonwealth. The cous,it unoual
convention now IN question: need lie
composed Of but forty.6ve members.
Which Is the number OF the member !
snpoi both Branches ~ tie legis!z- /
iurs- The requisite changes coz Il
easily be made IL tSeniY days 50 the
per diem would Only amLunt 20 81
q at the srD rate that WIS paid to
members IN deprecated curnen'y II
tie Aush times q 1864. There L. no
question b1i 4 sufbci mt number "
COMPETENT pers7Es wouI 1 lie wIllGug
to sscntio@ their time for three weeks
to insure aD intelligent member-hip
70 the proposed conven IUu. lbs le.
lsiatGre Of 1901 wlnld arrange for the |
meeting, name the per dieu aud pro-
Dde Tor all the requirements in regard
TO expenses, which need uot exceed
to.uu from the issuance ~ the pro-
cismaton to the Adjournment OF tie
So much for the ex
penSe. Why, il womb not o |
hall ss much as the last legislature
hiss ore than thrown away in ap-
which could not have
been made under a constit ution adj |
apted to the population and condi-
t1ns in the State at the present time. |
Inc present constitution was framed |
c everything WIS bonming and
when Appearances indicated a pop
ulauon in a few years n hall a mil
lion, and our fundamental laas were
enacted in view Of that condition. |
AS it ", it Is better adapted TO a
State like New York or Penusylyen;a
a little common wealth o! les
than 45. 90 souls. M general or u.
feciive system Of ecOEnmic reform
can be establi shed under u presen,
constitution. Whenever an atteupt |
Ia made to lop oil an unnecessary ex.
pense' eoms constit u;imtai upsif uc,iop
Ii sure to arise to preveui its rnnsum.
nation. Tho Journal will advocate
this measure and it pledges itself Ia
prove beyond The possibility oi donbt
that npder a constitution I'd Ipctl 10
existing conditions, a better State
government can be secnred and nj 81
per cent less expense than the present
one.--Reno Jonrnst.
-
The Ma~rrisx. Lac,