Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-05

IL the same be agreed to by three-ffths Of
the members elected to each house, such
proposed amendments shall be entered on
the journals, with the yeas and nays, and
published once each week in at least one
newspaper in each county where a news
paper is published for three months i'm
mediately preceding the next election Of
senator's and representatives, at which cleo
tion the same shall be submitted to the
electors for approval or rejection and If a
majority of the electors voting at such cleo
tion adopt such amendments the same shall
become a part Of this constitution. When
more than one amendment is submitted at
the same election they shall be so sub
mitted as to enable the electors to vote on
each amendment separately"
This provision reads fair enough, and If
the attention of the electors could be con-
centrated upon the proposed amendments
which are usually by far the most important
matters submitted TO their franchise at any
given election, much more so than whether
Jones, Brown or Robertson Is elected to an
oflce-then the theory of the provision
would work out in practice. But In fact
this never happens, the clamor made by
parties and by candidates diverts the public
mind from the more important question of
a change in the constitution and, since a
large proportion Of the voters voting at the
election never vote at all upon the pro-
posed amendments, they are usually de-
feated. not by active hostility, but by apathy
and neglect. The constitution is thus in
fact rigid and self-perpetuating.
The fatal provision in the section relating
to amendments Is that requiring the adop-
tion to be by "a majority Of the electors
I ..otgn. - a,,ch oIanfann - To tho lam nuIv
required "a majority OF the electors voting
upon the proposition at such election" then
whenever a majority Of the electors, who
cared enough to think about the matter,
signihed their assent an amendment could
be made.
Experience with Amendments.
The history of the submission OF amend
ments to the constitution in this state has
been as follows; The first amendment sub.
mitted under the 1875 constitution was in
1882, and provided for the extension Of the
electoral franchise to women. This amend,
ment failed to receive a majority Of those
voting upon the proposition. and was de-
feated by a large majority.
In 1894 two amendments were submitted
one relating to an Increase in term and
salary OF legislators. and one to the crea.
tion Of a board Of railway commissioner
The amendment relating to the legislator.
received a majority OF S4,193 Of those vot,
ing on the proposition. while the othel
proposition was defeated by a majority o
%. 191 Of those voting thereupon. Sine
A. los more persons voted for governor a
this election than voted on the proposition
both amendments were defeated.
on November 2. 1886. a proposed amend
ment was submitted Increasing the days o
service OF members OF the legislature, 70
which they should be paid. and increasing
their compensation. This amendment wa
declared lost by the canvassing boards. Blu
after the legislature met q recount wa
ordered by that body. and after the recoun
was completed the amendment was de
clared carried. A certain amount OF doub
has always existed as to the CORRECTNESS
OF the recount most people doubling tina
the legislature could be more nearly correc
than disinterested officers Of the election
II was too much like making a man judg
In his own cause to look we'll,
In 1890 an amendment was submitted. 70
gether with four others, to prohibit tn
manufacture and sale OF intoxicatin
liquors. This question was much agitate
and discussed. The total vote cast on thi
amendment was 1874. O1O. while the total vOt
a. the same election for governor va
2l4.O72. over 10000 voters who voted :