Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-05
Fnrm Lands change Owners.
CHANGING THE CONSTITUTIONS
Convention Seems the Only way by
which the Organic Law May
be Amended.

SARGENT, Neb., March 4.-To the Editor
of The Bee: More or less interest is. being
taken in the effort of the Legislature to
submit constitutional amendments. All
persons who know the condition of our con-
stitution agree that II should be amended;
that in some ways we have .outgrown our
constitution. In fact this has been true
for a number Of years. and amendments
have been submitted from time to time,
only to meet with failure. The result has
been large outlay Of expense to the state
of Nebraska without any corresponding re-
suits. The cost of publication has been
enormous. Every legislature for the last
four years has been confronted with bills
Of various newspapers for publishing these
notices and some OF them are not yet paid
The failure Of the amendment was not
caused by an opposition to the amendments
submitted; in fact all the people of the
state who understood the propositions were
in favor Of them. They failed by reason Of
the manner of counting the votes which is
prescribed by the constitution, which pro-
vides as follows:
Either branch of the legislature may
propose amendments to this constitution,
and If the same be agreed to by three
hfths of the members elected to each
| 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 newspaper is published. for three
| months Immediately preceding the next
| election of senators and representatives.
at which election the same shall be sub
mitted to the electors for approval or re-
, lection, and IL majority of the electors
voting at such election adopt such amend
ments the same shall become a part of
| this constitution. When more than one
amendment is submitted at the same cleo
! tion they shall be so submitted, as to ena-
! bic the electors to vote on each amend
ment separately.
The failure of the amendments has al
ways been due either to an ignorance on
the part OF the voters or their neglect to
vote upon the question at all. AS will be
seen by the above. the constitution pro-
vides that a majority Of all voters voting
/ at the election is necessary to carry the
proposition, and, while the sentiment in the
state has always been in favor of the adop-
! tion of the amendments, the neglect OF
the voter or perhaps his ignorance Of the
questions submitted. has invariably defeated
the amendments submitted for the consid-
| eration Of the voters of the state. II II
were possible under the constitution to sub
init these amendments at a special election
the constitution could easily be amended
but under the constitution the amendments
must be voted on at an election OF senators
and representatives at one of our regular
1 state elections.
Much ,as we may desire to have the con.
stttution amended, 1t is questionable
whether II ever can be done at a genera
election, for the reason that the interest II
the candidates for Office is so great tha
the ordinary voter neglects to express hi.
approval or disapproval of the amendment,
submitted.
The only other method left open unde
the constitution is by constitutional con
vention, and, while II may be a little NOR,
expensive than the submission to popula
vote, 1t is the shortest. and perhaps, tn,
only way that the constitution can ever b.
amended. OF course, the amendment
agreed upon by this constitutional conven
tion must also be ratified at the polls, bu
the wording of the constitution is differen
in that It provides that no amendment o
change of this constitution agreed upon b.
such convention shall take effect until tn
same has been submitted to the elector
OF the state and been adopted by those vot
ing for or against the same" The reade
will see that 1t does not require a majorit
of those voting at the election. but simpl
majority OF those voting for or agains
, the amendment. II article XIV, section
had the same provision the constitution
, would have been amended long ago.
The writer Is anxious to see our consti
l tuition amended in various ways, but
would seem to be folly to submit the ques
tlon under article XIV, section /, of tn
constitution, inasmuch as we have alway
, failed whenever 1t has been done, and 1t
/ doubtful II the constitution ever could b
amended under that section. Yours truly
{ F. NJ. CURRIE.