Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-03-17
PROPOSED

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given 10 the proposed amendments to
the constitution, which are TO be sub
mitted to the voters at the ensuing
election, though they are Of more than
ordidinary interest and Importance,
says the Palmyra (Mo.) Spectator.
One OF them seeks to provide for free
school books; another to create a fund
for the building OF a State Capitol;
one relates to the initiative and refer
endum; one recommends the establish
ment OF a national military park, and
another seeks 60 escape from the In
fluence the railroad pass is supposed to
exert over State officials, the Judicial
ry, members Of the general assembly,
officials Of the State Institutions, and
certain country officers, by compelling
the railroad companies to grant free
passes or transportation to them.
Taken In the order in which they
were adopted by the General Assembly
these proposed amendments are as
follows;
The first provides for the initiative
and referendum; that no laws passed
by the General Assembly and signed
by the Governor shall go into effect
until ninety days after the adjourn
ment OF such General Assembly; that
a number Of electors, not less than 10
per cent Of the total voting for Gov
ernor at the general election proceed
ing, shall, by ilinga petition with the
Secretary Of State, require that any
law passed by the General Assembly
shall be referred TO the electors Of the
State at the next general election for
their approval or disapproval. Each
Congressional District must furnish
its quota Of the 10 per cent. Of cleo
tors Us signers to the petition. For
initiating laws a Is per cent petition
Of the electors from each Congress-
ional District is required. For amend
ing the constitution q petition of 20
per cent. Of the electors must be filed.
Appropriation acts, laws for the i'm
mediate preservation Of the public
peace, health and safety and acts
passed by a two-thirds vote Of each
branch Of the General Assembly shall
90 into effect Immediately, without
regard to the general ninety days
prohibition.
The next is Senator Rubey's free
school book resolution. 1t provides
that a State tax of 5 cents on the 800
assessed valuation shall be levied and
collected annually Of all subjects and
objects Of taxation. All money de-
rived from said levy shall be set apart
and apportioned to the school districts
Of the State annually as other school
moneys are apportioned by law. Every
school district shall out of said mon
eys supply text books of orthography,
reading and English penmanship,
arithmetic, grammar, modern geogra-
ply, history of the United States, civil
government and physiology and n.y.
giene for the free use of children, II
any may be used for the purchase of
text books for higher grades for like
use, or for other school purposes.
Another of these amendments is one
to permit the pensioning Of members
Of police departments In cities Of 10O,.
BOO or oyer when such members may
become crippled or disabled or superan-
nuated, the funds to come from the
municipal revenue Of such cities. This
amendment effects only st. Louis,
Kansas City and st. Joseph.
One Of the amendments IL adopted,
permits the levy, for five years, Of an
annual tax Of 4 cents on the 800 val
uation Of the real and personal proper.
ty Of the State for the purpose Of crea-
ting a fund for the erection OF a new
State capitol.
Here is the one through which Rep
resentative Oliver, who introduced II,
hopes to minimize II not destroy the
influence Of the lobbyist. Every rail-
road or other transportation company
doing business in this State shall grant
free passes or transportation to the gov
ernor, lieutenant governor, secretary
Of state, attorney general, state auditor,
state treasurer, superintendent of pub
lie schools, railroad commissioners,
judges, Of the supreme court, judges
Of the st. Louis and Kansas City court
of appeals, circuit and common pleas
judges, members of the general assem-
bly,, sheriff, president OIL superintend-
emit Of public institutions supported by
appropriations during the Official term
Of said several officers.
Another recommends to Congress
the establishment of a national mill
tary park in Greene county, TO in
clude the battle field Of Wilson creek.