The Port Gibson reveille., 1902-10-30
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.


Al the election next Tuesday there
are three proposed amendments to tue
constitution to be voted upon. The hrs'
Is In regard to amending the coHs'i'u'
son and Il should be defeated. AT pres
emit a majority Of the qualified electors
Of the state, whether voting or not Is
required to amend the constitution The
proposed amendment specifies that q
majority OF those voting can amend, as
will be seen by the following extract:
. And n It shall
appear to the legislature that majority
of the qualified electors voting on the
ouesliou or amendment shall have voted
for the proposed change, alteration or
AN amendment, then Il shall be inserted
At the next succeeding session OF the
legislature as a part Of this constitution,
aud not otherwise; aud the decision OF
the legislature shall be fual."
The thinking man will clearly see
that this is dangerous amendment, one
which, II It passes, would make II possi-
bic for a few scheming politicians to
completely change our constitution.
The second amendment deserves sup
port. II makes It possible for town or
county 10 aid In The building Of a rail-
road, and wisely provides that only tax
payers are entitled to vote for or against
the issuance Of bonds for such a pur-
pose. The proposed amendment fol-
lows:
"Ameud section rs5 Of the constitution
so as to read as follows The legisla-
ture Of the state OF Mississippi shall not
authorize any county, city or town to
become a sockholder In or vote aid to
any company, corporation or associa.
tion other than railroad company, and
IL shall not authorize any county, city
or town 10 become a stockholder In OF
vote aid to any railroad company unless
a majority of the qualified electors
who reside therein and pay taxes upon
property therein, assessed at the value
OF one hundred dollars or more, voting
on that question In such county, or In q
judicial district Of county, or in a city
or town, at a special election, or general
election to be held therein, shall vote
therefor; nor shall any bonds or other
evidence, be delivered 10 such company
until the railroad shall have been con-
structed as obligated and in running or.
der, to the point designated in the prop
osiliou voted for; nor shall the stock
taken, or amount donated or voted be
greater than ten per centum on the as.
sessed valuation Of the property, real
and personal, In such territory. In case
a county be authorized TO become such
siockholder, or to vote such aid, by q
vote Of a judicial district Of a county,
then such district shall be made TO bear
the whole burden thereof. All authori.
" heretofore conferred tor the purposes
aforesaid by the legislature, or by char
ter Of any corporation, Is hereby re-
pealed."
The third amendment Is for the bene'
ftof the politician, as against the vel
fare Of the taxpayer. Il reads as follows
amend section SO OF the constitution
90 that Il shall read as follows: section
ton s6. The legislature shall meet al
the seat Of government Ia regular ses.
sion on The first Tuesday after the FIRST
Monday In January, 1904, and every two
years hereafter"
Every four years is often enough for
the legislature to meet In regular
session. A special session half way bet
ween Is provided, and matters Of i'm
portance can easily be attended to al
this.