Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-11-03
THOSE AMENDMENTS AGAIN.


1t seems a number of editors of
newspapers in Idaho have awakened to
the Importance of the changes in the
state constitution that the voters are
asked to give authority for next Tues
day. Several Of our exchanges have
editorial comments on the matter, and
every one opposes the amendments. 1t
appears the people of Idaho in general
have found no fault with the state con-
stitution as it was drafted by the faith
ers of Idaho. This being true it must
be that the changes are asked for by
certain interests, and politicians, who
will profit by the change.
1t is up to you, Mr.. Voter, to show
by your ballot whether you believe in
the honesty and integrity of the men
who laid the foundation for your state,
or whether you will be led away by men
of the present to make changes that
are intended to satisfy their greed for
money and power.
Adam Aulbach in the Occur d'Alene
Sun denounces the constitutional amend
ments in the following manner:
eve do not favor single one of the
amendments. The first one on the list
is perhaps the least Objectionable 1t
proposes to authorize majority Of the
qualified electors of counties, cities,
towns, villages and other subdivisions
of the state to incur public indebted
ness. The constitution now provides
for two-t thirds vote. 1t should be ap-
parent to every intelligent elector that
this is wise safeguard, especially to
investors in the state.
''The second proposed amendment is
an extremely vicious proposition, which
no sane people ought to indorse. 1t
permits counties, cities, etc, to vote
bonds in aid of railroads and other cor
porated enterprises. This is forever
prohibited by the present constitution.
Are the people of Idaho going to tear
down the wall of protection and allow
the corrupting influences of bond voting
to engulf them? A fouler proposition
was never thrust before voters.
1.-THE third amendment is another
link in the chain to perpetuate office
holding. While we favor four-year
term of office all round, we do not favor
the systematic raid to extend one Office
at time. Practically the same amend
ment was defeated at the polls two
years ago.
1.-The fourth amendment is amply
covered by the present constitution.
The amendment is slick dodge to rob
the counties of the fees of public officers
which the present constitution says
shall be paid into the respective treas
uries.
1.-THE fifth amendment is one of the
most rascally that could haye beer
framed by the ingenuity of a bfazer
lobby. It proposes to exempt new rail.
road enterprises from taxation for g
period of not to exceed ten years.
"The sixth amendment proposes tC
break down the constitutional limit Of
state taxation, so as to open the door tt
any kind of levy the office holders may
see fit to fix to burden the people.
1.-THE makers of the constitution were
able men, the wisest we had in the
state at the timeAs They framed {
strong fundamental law for the protec
ton of the people frold. irrational Law
makers. 1t is now proposed to breal
down and remove all safeguards so tina
the impudent Hobbies, which infest al
legislatures nowadays, may run riot
1--WE have not noticed that one singl,
speaker of any party in the state or an,
newspaper, outside of the Sun, oppose
any Of these amendments, or explain
their nature to the voters. The peopl
are apparently expected to vote TO
them blindly or discover their purpor
unaided
I'VE have briefly shown their viciou
tendency, and it behooves the voters
irrespective of party, to look up tn
constitution and see what they are u
against. 1t is no trivial matter. N
question is more important to the stat
than the preservation of the constitu