Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-08-25
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.


ember election. The following let
ter from w B. Romine, author OF
the bill, casts some light on various
points being discussed The News
will express its ideas on usefulness
or need for adopting any or all the
amendments at some future time.
"Now that the August elections arc
out OF the way and the race for United
States Senator has ceased to agitate the
public, it is we'll perhaps to give some
further consideration to one Of the most
important matters which has come be-
fore the citizens of Tennessee for sever
al years, that is the question OF amend
ing the state constitution.
"While each of the seven propositions
submitted to the voters at the Novem-
Der election is important, it is Of much
more Importance to establish the fact
that the constitution can be changed
by amendment,if the people desire a
change. The question is now SUBMIT
ed to the people, and II all the proposed
amendments should be rejected. the fact
will be clearly established that the
people generally are very we'll satisfied
with the constitution as it is. And the
fact has already been established that
the people do not desire some OF the
changes which have been most discuss.
ed by those iavoring a Constitu tionAl
convention.
at is not necessary to review the
whole subject. No doubt it would have
been much better If the legislature Of
1901 had bad appointed a committee TO
consider and carefully formulate pro.
posed amendments. When the PROPOSE
tion for a Constitutional convention
was finally rejected, each member who
was so inclined introduced such amend
ment propositions as be wished. 1t Is
altogether mistake to suppose that
any deep laid scheme or organized Of
fort on the part OF the Legislature was
back Of any amendment proposition.
No one perhaps knows all that was In
the mind of the author OF any amend
ment. But the disposition on the par
of the legislature WAS to submit to tbs
people such propositions as we're not OBJ
jectionable as to individual representa-
tives. About twenty amendments wer'
introduced, and those rejected by the
Legislature are no less signi6can
of public opinion than those pro
posed. Among those rejected b.
the Legislature of 1901 were one t
simplify the amending clause OF tn
> Constitution, one authorizing straigh
local option, and one locating the Su
preme Court at the State Capital.
8 "Including several duplicates, that il
different amendments on the same sui
ject, seventeen amendments were pr
posed by the legislature of 1901, adVe
/ tised six months previous to the ele
t tion OF Representative in 1902, ana {
= these seven passed the gauntlet of tw
thirds OF all members Of both house
and were submitted to the people
the legislature of 1909
"The effect OF these several amen
mentS. If adopted, will be:
b /. To make the Governors term
IT Office four years.
D. 2. To make the Secretary OF Sta
l. elective by the people.
Is 3. To make the term Of office
ID Sheriff and Trustee four years and
y provide that these officers and registe
shall not Immediately succeed theE
s. selves. (This amendment does not I
d feet the offices Of Justices Of the Pea
or Constables as had been erroneous
a. published by several papers.)
$, A. To make Treasurer and the OOm
9. troller elective by the people, and
he make the term Of office four years.
N 5. To authorize local legislation
is the subject Of roads, fences and DOM
In tfc animals.
to 6. To authorize municipalities a
ne counties to exempt from taxes for
period not exceeding ten years FRI
es the date of commencing business, ca
ty ital invested and used directly in
" business of manufacturing.
7. To limit bonded indebtedness
ut municipalities and counties to ten |
'u- cent. OF assessed values.
Ia THE sixth and seventh proposed
mendments are new sections; all
I'D others are amendments Of secti'
es- now in the Constitution.
ch "These proposed amendments are
nd voted on at the regular November el
les tion and each proposition should st'
~ or fall on its individual merit.
"a good deal has been said about
io- ballot to be used and the possibility
fer probability Of voters casting their }
en- lots for an amendment when they
I'm not intend TO do so. To understi
this phase Of the subject it is necess
to consider, first thatno opposition '
is necessary To adopt an amendm
ur- to the Constitution requires a posii
al. majority OF an votes cast for repres
re- tative in the General Assembly. II
aer votes are cast in opposition the 81
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