The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-04-22
New State Constitution.

fawrHbH upon the paper read recently
before the Social Science club by Senator
A. O. Ebertart. The most salient fea-
ture Of this paper from The Journals
staadpoint is the need of new state
constitution. Senator Eberhart called
particular attention to the great mass of
trivial legislation that burdens our
statute books, and especially to the So
called general laws artfully drawn so as
to apply only to certain counties or
cities. This .evil is partly due to the
constitutional provision which prohibits
special legislation, and partly toanarrow
idea of legislative functions, which is
possessed by too many of our senator's
and representatives.
As Senator Eberhart says: eve need
legislatures with sufficient moral courage
to refuse the introduction and support
of measures calculated to benefit a few
at the expense of the many, even if the
few benefited constitute political work
ing majority in any Legislative district"
This log rolling in behalf of constit-
uency is a feature often deplored in
our national congress, and it is not to
be wondered at that Legislatures catch
the infectious example. 1t is hard for
a member to refuse the request of a
neighbor to pass 'just one little BILL"
which will not hurt any one and will
benefit several people. 1t is hard for
other members to refuse support to
such bill, when they have their own
pockets stuffed with similar fodder. So
half the time of the house and the COM
mittees is taken up with petty bills,
of which very few are necessary. Yet
there is urgent need for some one to
scrutinize every such measure for fear
of the elusive "woodchuck"
The experience of our state since abol-
ishing special legislation has been that
the prohibition does not prohibit, and
there is merit in the contention that
certain kinds of necessary special legis-
lation might as we'll be permitted out
right, as in New York. Our cities want
home rule, and should be allaowed to re-
tain it, but our county affairs are regu
lated by a multitude of special laws,
or general laws with special applica-
ton, and as the matter stands some
form of special legislation is needed for
the counties. -.
This is one change in the constitu-
tion that is worth considering, but there
are many others, that have been urged
from time to time. Some of them
have been submitted to the popular
vote, but have failed to attract the nee
essary attention. A new section on
taxation is needed, as every one adj
mits, but the present system of amend
ment ties our hands. About the only
relief in sight is a new constitution,
drafted by a special convention.
Early candidates for the legislature
are beginning to express their views on
these questions, and all ought to have
something to say about new consti-
sutton. By the way, why should not
more of our state solons follow the ex-
ample of the Mankato senator, and talk
these things over with their constitu-
ents between campaigns? The average
voter knows very little about state af-
fairs and issues, and even the most in
telligent citizens need to discuss them
and get more intimate acquaintance.
Members of the legislature, who have
had close acquaintance with problems
that need to be worked out, could awak-
en- new interest in public affairs if they
would pay little less attention to
their fences, and meet occasionally with
circles of their constituents for can
did talk on such subjects as tax legis-
ltaion, home rule, educa tional laws, good
roads, or election reforms. 1t would
not take very much time, and we waste
good deal.