The age-herald., 1901-10-15

Legislature to create courts and elect new judges is curbed and restricted. If the new constitution be ratified. City Courts or Courts of Law and Equity can- not be established in any county which has not at least 200OO inhabitants and l $3,500,0O0 of taxable values.
 2. Not only is there provided a limita- ton on the creation of new courts but the Legislature is authorized to change or abolish any of the courts now established, except the Supreme Court and Probate Courts, and it may confer on the Circuit Courts, Chancery Jurisdiction.
 B. No salary of an official can be in creased during the term for which he was elected under the new constitution.
 g. The Legislature is to meet every four years, instead of biennially, as at pres ent. The doing away with one session each two years results in net saving of about $60,0O0 to the State. which Is the cost of each session. This change also 1 gives the people time to become familiar with the laws and test their operation and efficiency, before the Legislature can meet and try to make changes in them.
 10 The Legislature cannot spend its | special legislation under the new consti- tuition. No special privileges or charters can be granted; no corporate powers ex- tended by special of private act; no per son or corporation can be exempted from I the operation of the general laws; no city. l town or county can be authorized to issue onds, except upon the vote of the quail
 fled electors of such city, town or county no liens, by special law, can be created i; no property can, by special act, be ex- empted from taxation; no county seat can be located or changed by the Legislature, out can by vote of the people; no liabil- | ty of an individual or corporation to the l state or county or city, can be released l except upon full payment; no divorce can l be granted, and no minor can be relieved l of the disabilities of homage by the Leg islature, nor can 1t grant special immu- nities to administrators or guardians, or relieve them from making their settle ments with the courts.
 Many and stringent provisions are in- l corporated to cure and prevent the evils that have flowed from special and local l legislation. Some idea of the magnitude | of this evil can be obtained by noting that the General Assembly of 1S9S-99 passed general laws, covering less than l two hundred pages, and local and special | laws covering about 1900 pages; whilst I the last General Assembly passed general laws covering about 200 pages, and spe- 1 cial and local laws covering about 2600 pages. The cost of publishing these spe- cial acts in book form is considerable | nd iO for of ha fa e. ury, the benefit conferred by the special | acts accrue to the favored individual or corporation. This provision for quad rennial. instead of biennial sessions of l the Legislature, and the taking away of the power to enact special laws and grant | special privileges may be distasteful to the professional lobbyist, whose occupa- tion will be gone and whose presence on the floor of either house of the Legisla- ture except by consent of all of the mem bers, is forbidden by the new instrument; but the people will not suffer because of his absence from the halls of legsla- ton.
 Il. The Governor cannot succeed him self, nor can he be elected or appointed to State office or to the United States | IOT dC leaSl one year dIleT HIS term of office ends.
 12. The pardoning power is hedged about to prevent it's abuse and a board of pardons is provided for, which is com posed of other State officials than the Governor, and whose salaries are not in creased on account of having to dis charge that duty.
 13. A Lieutenant Governor, to be elected by the people Is provided for, and he Is to preside over the Senate; but his only salary is the per diem allowed the Speaker of the House and he Is to be paid only during the session of the Leg islatrre. except when he acts as Cover nor. This provision secures in case of a vacancy in the office of Governor a suc- cessor elected by the people.
 IA Under the new Constitution there will be a limit beyond which neither cities nor counties can issue bonds and 1t will require an affirmative vote of the electors to obtain the issue.
 15. A limit to the grant of franchises to water. gas, electric lights and street rail- roads. through public places. by munich pal authorities, is fixed
 16. The examination. by public officer, of the resources and liabilities of State and private banks is required, and the security of depositors thereby in- | creased
 | IT. Corporations are required to pay a franchise tax, based upon the amount | of capital employed.
 IS. Railroads are forbidden to issue passes to legislators. or judicial officers.
 19. The new Constitution does not create a large number of new offices, as has been falsely charged. There are pro- visions allowing the Legislature to change the system of circuit solicitors to that of county solicitors If 1t be hereafter found beneficial to do so. The only new officials actually created are those of Lieutenant Governor and the three reg istrars for each county, to register those entitled under the temporary suffrage plan. These registrars will end their labors and go out of office by 19O3
 20. The new Constitution safeguards legislation by careful provisions intended to control the introduction and passage of bills. There can be no surreptitious legislation and the crimes of bribery and corruption In office are strongly dealt with, both as to giver and taker of the bribe, or the party guilty of the cor. ruption.
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