The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-04
Under the Dome.


q bill to amend the constitution SO as
to relieve the General Assembly OF
a great deal of its work. The measure
is one of the most far reaching of
any bill introduced this session.
Mr.. Warren talks Interestingly
about it, and in the course of an in
terview gave the following statement
of the features of the bill and rea-
sons why it should be adopted:
This bin should pass by all means.
It's failure to do so would be we'll
nigh a public calamity. It's object is
20 prohibit the Legislature from pass
ing local. special and private bills in !
order that the two Houses may be- !
come in truth and i'm fact delibera-
tive bodies. TO weigh and consider
questions of real public interest, and
not mere machines to grind out bills
Of q local character in which the
state at large has absolutely no in
terest: and il will also enable the
various committees to give the proper
attention to the matters referred to
them. There will probably be intro
duced at this session 1000 bills, and
it is not unreasonable to believe that
the number introduced al the next
session will be 5000. As is we'll
Known TO everyone, it is beyond the
physical or mental power of the Leg
islature to give thep roper considra
llOH 10 lIlS NUMBER Oh ildSuFeS IN lile
tine allotted. A lengthening of the
session would increase rather than
diminish the evil, ana the only remedy
is to eliminate such matters as are
not of a public nature and can be
regulated better and with less expense
under general laws,
THE bill provides for three separate
amendments. They are to be voted
on by the people at the next general
plnPtIOn
or expense, either one of them may
be adopted or rejected by the people,
and no harm can com from the sub
mission of the questions. The bill
covers three points:
First. The temperance amendment,
which simply prohibits the Legisla-
ture from passing any local, special
or private act regulating the manu-
facture and sale Of liquor but permits
it TO regulate the same under general
laws. It is called a temperance
amendment simply as q means of
designating the subject. II is not for
or against whisky, dispensaries or
prohibition and will not affect adj
versely either Of those subjects. The
general laws may be passed with as
stringent or rs lax provisions as may
be deemed wise and just It's adop-
ton will not only save the Legislature
much time and the state much OK
pense, but it will save the Democratic
party and the people at large endless
trouble, strife and confusion.
Second. The treasury amendment
which provides that no money shall
be appropriated from the public treas
ury except for a public purpose, and
that no money which has been law
fully paid into the public treasury
shall be refunded. This may be the
law now. but it is not generally SO un-
nd inc
mist be evident to every one.
Third. The corporations amend |
ment, which provides that the LegiS- |
lature shall not have the power to
create or extend the charter of any
corporation. except those of an educa- |
uonal, penal, charitable or reforma- |
tory character in which the state is !
to have and retain control. by special |
act; but that it shall provide general |
laws for the creation and government |
of same, and that the Legislature may
at any time repeal the charter of any
corporation. This provision will be |
round in the constitutions of probably |
three-fourthS of the states. 1t is |
perfectly evident that the creation |
of private and municipal corporations |
can be done better ana with less cx-
penSe under the general law than an |
der special acts The adoption of this |
would relieve the Legislature Of an !
enormous amount of work and the |
state OF large item OF expense. This |
2mondmcnt also correctS a typograph- !
lcal error in section two, article eight |
and also places in the constitution |
what is now the Law, that stockhold- I
ers of banks shall be liable in addi- |
ton TO their stock for an amount |
equal to their stock.
1t is quite certain that these amend |
mentS would lessen the labor of the
Legislature fully one-half and the
members would have more time to-
originate and study bills of really
great public Importance The saving
OF expense to the state would be a
large sum.
There is absolutely no one who has
q personal or professional interest in
the passage of this bill, no one has
been employed or paid one cent for
originating, drafting or promoting the
bill, and it has been brought forward
simply and solely for the public. It'll
is not intended nor will it have the
effect of favoring or hinderjne any
of the great public or political cues
tions which are dividing the General
Assembly and the people. We are
simply putting ourselves i'm line with /
the great current of thought in the
matter of constitutional dcyelonmcnt
At the present time we prohibit spe-
c1al legislation on only four subjects
namely: Divorce restoration to
citizenship changing of persons
name, and making legitimate a child. |
Many Nttaes prohibit speciai iegisIa-
ton on as many as Twenty-Five to
thirtytlve different subjects. Did we
now not have limitation on the four
subjects enumerated above, il is prob /
able that the Legislature would have
to deal with 500 or more special hills
upon those subjects.
1T is earnestly hoped that the Leg
islaturc will adopt this BILL If it hasl
any political effect at all, il will help
rather than hurt the Democraticl
party. But it is believed that all
parties and all of those acquainted |
with the pressure of work now upon
the Legislature, that such amend
ments to the constitution have become
an absolute public necessity"
The anti-jug law passed the Legis-
latlre but StanIv is on the largo list