The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-04-20

their object in the titles of the amend.
ing bills.
(By Alfred d. Cridge, Of Hanford,
California;
AS will be seen, three out of seven
were defeated. The amendment ex-
empting shipping from taxation, was
a good one, but had no agitation in
its favor and considerable opposition
from the element that is opposed to
exempting the railroads from taxa.
ton and by peculiar wording, it
exempted ferry-boats and transfer
boats. There was no concerted action
In its support and little discussion.
The one extending the sessions of
the legislature was a good proposition
with a bad tail to it. The extrava-
gance and venality of the previous
legislature had made it necessary to
regulate their power for graft and
SO the amendment was drafted but
provided for such an increase of sal
aries and unnecessary clerks, ETC., as
to actually perpetuate bad condition
OF affairs by constitutional amend
ment and the people were in doubt
and defeated it. 1t will probably be
taken for permission for unlimited
grating and genuine d. l.. will alone
put stop to it.
The lawyers were behind the last
one, but the people were in doubt and
its defeat was close. It was an evil
proposition and would have permit
ted the passing Of laws by the hun
dred without debate or consideration
once in ten years.
The amendment exempting personal
property up to 500 from taxation was
vigorously opposed during the last
days OF the campaign by the big news
papers, but some one dubbed it "the
poor mans amendment" and though
It was vaguely defined on the ballot
and only had part of the country
press in it's favor, IT, passed with
$4,000 votes majority.
California has voted on more con-
stitutional amendments than any 9TH
er state, and it is curious to see how
we are getting thereby crude and
awkward direct legislation. To what
little things we descend in constitu-
tional amendment can be seen when
we fix by it, that clerks salary shall
be "a a day. Of course this is bet
ter than no submission but it is a bad
state OF affairs and should be rem
edied by complete direct legislation
and then the vital subjects would
come up. DR.. Haynes of Los Angeles
is sending out thousands of leaflets
calling for workers to take up the
D. l.. amendment and the prospects
look good.
Florida.
A first glance at the seven consti
tutional amendments voted on in
Florida, would seem to Indicate that
there was little discrimination as after
the second one, the total vote declined
regularly to the end The second was
the only one carried and it stated that
counties should levy tax of not less
than. three mills and not more than
seven mills per dollar of taxable prom
erty for school purposes This is very
significant in what is considered an
educationally backward state. But
when the percentages are worked out
for the votings and the character of
the amendments considered, ones
opinion must change on the question
OF discrimination shown.
Thus the percentages in favor were
As, So, SO, "a, As, 80 and AZ. If a nom
discriminating vote was cast, these
percentages would be nearer uniform.
Several of the amendments were un-
important and technical and the last
two were very long A study of this
and OF past votings in Florida con-
vinces me that the people of Florida
will vote down any long and technical
amendment which is hard to under
stand. Thus No. 6 relates to the
courts, it takes nearly a column and it
is utterly impossible to understand it
without careful comparison of what
it was intended to replace 1t received
the smallest in favor of any. The law
yers opposed it and several bar asso-
Citations have passed resolutions
against it.
Two of the defeats are very signifi- |
cant. The first one extended the terms
Of county officers to four years. The