Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-05

the election were not interested enough in
the question to mark their ballots, in spite
OF the torrents of fervid eloquence which
had flowed all over the state for months in
discussing this question. All the proposed
amendments were defeated.
Neglect of Voters.
In 1892 two proposed amendments were
submitted, one adding to the number Of
executive officers" and one permitting in
vestment of public school money in school
district bonds" On these propositions
about $4,000 votes were cast, while for gov
ernor, at the sam election, 1877, 473 persons
voted. Both amendments received a ma
jority of nearly 10000 Of the ballots cast
upon the propositions, but failed to carry
under the constitutional requirements.
Over 100, 900 voters cast no ballots upon the
questions.
The legislature of 1895, believing that
radical amendment to the constitution was
required, submitted to vote at the election
in November, 1896, no less than twelve
proposed amendments. These proposed
changes related mainly to changes in the
executive and judicial departments in the
direction OF providing for additional judges
and executive officers, and for increasing
the compensation OF such officers, while
others related to the government OF large
cities, to trial by jury, to financial ques-
tions and to submission Of amendments.
The highest vote cast upon any of these
was upon the proposition to increase the
number Of judges of the supreme court, and
their terms Of ONCE, upon which 122, AIS
votes were cast, and which received a ma
jority OF 1866 Of those voting upon the
proposition. At the same election 22S, 245
votes were cast for presidential electors.
and 217. 765 for governor. over 100, 900
voters did not vote upon the amendments
and the propositions were defeated by rea-
son of this failure to vote.
KILLED by CareIessness.
1t will be noticed that since 1881 only
two elections at which amendments could
be submitted have passed without an at
tempt being made to amend the constitu-
tion. This resume shows that while. a few
Of the proposed amendments which have
been submitted have failed to receive a
majority Of the votes cast thereupon nearly
every one has been killed by the careless
ness OF the average voter. Experience thus
has shown that it is well-nigh impossible to
amend the constitution as the provision for
amendment now stands. Realizing this fact,
the last legislature decided to submit to
the people of the state a proposed amend
ment dealing with the manner OF making
amendments TO the constitution and this
amendment will be voted upon at the com
ing election, The only change suggested
by the proposed amendment from the pres
ent manner is that In order to adopt a
proposed amendment 1t shall require "a
majority Of the electors voting at such cleo
tion on such proposed amendment" instead
OF as now, requiring "a majority Of the
voters voting at such election"
A simple Expedient.
The proposed change is reasonable anC
right. II should carry by a large majority
and II is in accordance with the method
pursued in a majority OF the states OF th'
union. II this amendment should fail Il
carry we will be left as we now are. trying
to adjust by questionable means twentieth
century conditions in a full developed stat,
to the limitations OF a constitution vel
fitted for us when We were in swaddlinl
clothes over a quarter Of a century ago.
II this fails the next plan will be by tn
expensive method of a new constitutions
convention. which would cost thousands o
dollars to the people Of the state and Nigh
prove a very unsatisfactory experiment
With a few amendments. which time ha
shown the need Of. our present constitution
may well last indefinitely. II this propose