Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-08

Z tne late election on the proposition to I
hold state convention to revive and
amend the constitution has aroused
much interest at the capitol and eisa-
where in the holding Of such a conven-
ton should 1t be favored by q majority
of the electors voting thereupon.
As in the case Of the biennial cleo
tions amendment q simple majority OF
the votes cast on the proposition Is snf-
fcient to carry, 1t. Should 1t be deter
mined to hold constitutional conYen-
ton to revise and amend the constitu-
ton, 1t would give rise to all mannerI
Of interesting questions involving need
ed changes In the organic law Of the i
state and the method OF making UP the |
I convention.
Section 8, OF article 10, sof the consti-
tuition. directly governs the holding of
constitutional conventions. II says:
& At the general election to be held in
the year one thousand eight hundred
and seventy, and in each tenth year
thereafter, and also at such times as
the general assembly may, by law, pro-
vide, the question Shall there be q con-
i vention to revise the constitution and
amend the eame? shall be decided by
the electors qualified tovote for members
of the general assembly and in case
majority Of the electors 90 qualified, vot-
ing at such election for and against
such proportion. shall decide in favor OF
q convention for ouch purpose, the gem
eral assembly, at its next session. snail
provide by law for the election of dele
gates to such convention
From this 1t Is apparent if ouch a
ov1ff Inn IT, ~
held until 1902, after the next session Of
the legislature. It would devolve on the
next legislature to determine the num-
bel Of delegates to be chosen and the
basis OF representation in the conyen-
ton
1t has been forty-three years since al
convention to revise and amend the con-
stftution vac held in Iowa. It consist
ed OF thirty six members. one from each
senatorial district. It met at Iowa City.
then the capital of the stae, January 10,
1867, and continued in session until
March 5. It was representative body
OF able Iowans and the debates in the
convention were powerful. Numerous
important changes were made in the
constitution by this convention. Among
them were the following:
II was provided the general elections
should be held the second Tuesday In
October. date subsequently changed
by an amendment.
The date for beginning the Biennial
I: sessions OF the Legislature vas fixed on
the second Monday in December.
1t was provided 1t should require the
votes of a majority OF the members
elected In each branch of the general
assembly to pass a bill.
created and he was made president OF
the senate.
The supreme judges were required to
be elected by the people.
It was provided that banks might be
established under laws enacted by the
r general assembly, provided these bank
Ing laws We're approved by the people
at special election.
The limit of the state debt was
changed from 100000 to $25OOOO
The number OF senator's in the gem
eral assembly was fixed at fifty and
8 the number Of representatives at 100
state board Of education was pro-
vided for.
The permanent capital OF the state
was fixed at Des Moines and the state
/ university was located permanently at
Iowa City.
Another provision was to submit to
the people q proposition to strike the
word white" from the article on suf-
frage. the effect OF which would be to
N permit the negroes to vote IL adopted.
Ss 1T was adopted some years later. in
q 1863.
The bltterest fight, however, that
Il characterized the convention OF 1857
WAS In connection with the location of
the capital at Des AIoines. Iowa City
was given the state university as a
peace Offering, but 1t was SO bitterly
Opposed to the change that 1t contested
holctng the convention vigorously.
MaTshalHown. which was seeking the
capital. was also opposed to holding
the convention AT that time the con-
veutton followed Immediately after the
/ session Of the legislature.
The submission OF the constitutional
amendment calling for biennial instead
Of annual elections In Iowa has caused
considerable speculation as to the effect
Its adoption would have on the fury
system. In Iowa the statute provides
that at each general election the Judges
Of the election shall certify to the coun-
ty3 auditor the names of certain electors
S In each precinct for jury purposes, SO
many for petit jurors and 80 many for
grand Jurors. The number to be GER
titled from each precinct Is determined
on the basis OF the vote cast at the pre-.
ceding election by the county auditor. Il
1t has been maintained by some that
in the event there is no. election In low
next year because OF the adoption Of
the amendment the workings os the
jury law will be 90 sinterfered with that
1t Will require q special session OF the
legislature to amend or there will be no
way for drawing jurors for service in
!. 1902. as 81 XII s5 !,
The manner of selecting, those liable
for jury duty is determined by section
337 OF the code. It provides that where
the Judges Of election neglect to certify
the proper number OF names for jury
duty that then the board OF supervisors
when 1t meets to canvass the returns
may select the requisite number for
Jury duty from the names appearing in
the poll books and return them 10 the
auditor the same as the election board.
& County Auditor NcQuiston says that
he has been considering the matterSand
has submitted II to his legal advisers
M for their opinion and believes that
III norton OF the statute 9rantinr the