Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-03
TO THE VOTERS OF UTAH,

The Deseret News has received nu-
merous requests 10 explain the purport
OF the proposed amendments TO the
State Constitution, 20 be voted upon at
the general election. We have several
times touched on the questions therein
involved. but for the benefit Of our
readers we will do so again. There seems
to have been very little attention paid
to these important subjects, during the
campaign now coming 10 a close. Yet
they are likely TO seriously affect the
people Of this state, II the amendments
proposed shall prevail.
The first proposition IL TO amend the
Constitution so that authority may be
given TO the Legislature, TO provide
that the taxes OF the INDECENT poor may
be RENTED or abated. This was omit
ted when the Constitution was framed,
although II was provided for under
the laws OF the Territory Of Utah for
mans years The Discretionary power
to abate or remit the taxes OF very
poor people who own a small piece OF
property az a residence, has been Of
great benefit in the past and would no
doubt work Just as well in the future.
The amendment ought. In our opinion
to pass. Voters who wish the amend
ment to prevail, should put q cross In
the square on the ballot furnished
them. opposite the words For amend
ment proposed TO section 3 OF Article
49," etc. Those who are opposed viii
put a cross opposite the words Against
amendment to Section 8 Of Article
49," etc.
The second amendment proposed Is
TO provide for the taxation Of city prop
erty, for the support and maintenance
Of public schools in the county, outside
as we'll as inside OF cities Of the first
and second class. That Is, that the tax
payers OF Salt Lake City, for instance.
shall not only pay for the schools IN
the city controlled by the board Of
education. but contribute By taxation
to the maintenance Of the district
schools Of the whole county. This the
Board OF Education regard as unjust
and burdensome TO the taxpayers with.
In the city limits, and an address Will
be seen In another part Of this
paper setting forth objections to
the movement. Voters desiring TO
support the proposition viii put a cross
IN the square opposite the words For
amendment proposed 10 Section 6, Ar
ticle 10 Of the Constitution" etc Those
who wish TO defeat the movement and
20 have the present law prevail for the
maintenance Of city schools separate
from the schools In the county, Will
put cross In the square opposite the
words Against Amendment proposed
10 Section 6, Article 10 Of the ConstItu-
ton" etc.
The other amendment proposed Is 20
provide for direct legislation by the
people. This. in effect, Is 10 give power
to the legal voters or a fractional part
thereof" authority 10 make laws direct
and submit them 20 a popular vote, also
to stop the enforcement Of anv Law the
Legislature may pass, until sub
mitted to a popular vote. The
effects Of this may be readily
seen by thinking people But there
are many persons who do not think
for themselyes,and they may be carried
away by the influence which Is tending
towards an excess Of popular direct
management OF public aHairs. The
legislative branch OF our system OF
government is entrusted with the law
making power. and 10 is In control Of
the majority Of the voters. The prop0-
siti0n now submitted Is to take away
the vital part Of that power and thus
cause a great departure from our leg.s-
latye system Those who wish 20 sup-
port that departure. viii put a cross Op
posite the words For amendment pro-
posed to sections 1 ana o. article G. Of
The Constitution ETC. All who are
opposed to this radical change should
pu, O. cross On the square opposite 90
The words against amendment pro-
posed 90 sections and 90, article 6 of
the Constitution" etc.
As a rule. IL BE- very unsafe TO tam
per with The fundamental law OF a
State or Of Nation Changes should
not Doc made a Constitutions except