Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-11-01
A COMING

Tho omnifarious constitution which
has been constructed for the new
state Of oklahoma, and which ha:
been the cause Of a great deal of pro-
found discussion and more or less
Amusement, Is about to be indicated
rho staid. old fashioned state of
Michigan has called together a con-
yention for the purpose Of construct
ing q now constitution for that COM
monwealth. and among the features
to DE incorporated In the forthcoming
charter We find the following.
Prohibition Of the sale Of i~ntoxicat-
ing liquor; prohibition % the employ
ment Of children under fourteen years
except In agricultural work On the
farm ms a member ~ The family; COM
puisory education; juvenile courts
standard Labor day regulation Of all
public utilities by commission elected
by the people. uniform laws govern
ing municipal corporations prohibit
ton Of enactment Of any law limiting
the cash value of human life. aboli.
ton Without reservation Of all free
passes on public utilities. authorize
ton Of municipal ownership of any
public utility operated wholly within
the limits Of such municipality, state
pensions for school teachers and
Judges over seventy years old who
have served twenty years; state life
insurance; extension Of the civil SER
vice laws ana the placing of them be-
yond impairment by the state %legisla-
turc.
II Is also proposed 10 grant unre-
Hirictcd female suffrage; to Fix the LA
bility OF employers for accidental IN
jurlcs TO employees, to revise the gem
eral banking laws and to prohibit
trust companies and building and loan
association from receiving deposits
subject 20 check
when the Oklahoma constitution
was first brought before the public,
with It's numerous provisions for trim
ming down the powers OF the state
Legislature, there was a general dispo-
sitlon 10 regard the document as a
huge Joke, but the more the American
people think about and study the out
put of the Oklahoma convention, thr
more that document comes 20 be re-
garded by them as merely "a 'pointc""
10 what ail the states Of The union Will
sooner or later come. Tho character
or the average state legislature, 10 the
present era. IN not a matter that Il
state ran he very proud ~. With the
number ~ men who seek and too
often Inc soats In such a body on ac-
count % what there Is in a. and the
number Of those who go or are sem
because they have certain personal OF
corporation axes g. grind the aver
age legislature becomes r. scramble
for tho promotion Of certain private
Interests. rather than "a dclibcrative
body Tor the purpose of safeguarding {
and promoting the public good. {
Take, FOR example. the history Of
our own legislature for the last eight :
ten years with -hcadquartcrs of e
the "machinp' established hcfuccr q
the two houses. armed with authority e
20 command and with funds Co buy
what chance was there 90 secure any
in tho Interest ~ the people E
unless &c carried with "a y big rake
OF" fpr che machine9 The various &
bosses by working together as E
they always did. were able 20 shape
legislation in their own interest and
condemned and dcspised 10 {
home by the whole people. as were
those in This coanty. they had power I
10 manipulate iho territorial laws ln .
manner az to onable them to dis >
pose ~ the county offices and the =
county funds iu their own way. and
utter and unconccaled coutomp
the viii 70 the people.
But view MeKico dld not stand I
ilone hy ans means. boz this regard !
.uch rfaeiices have prevailed 10 ]
treat many ~ ODE states and Do stin g
The bosses arc generally more 7"
nieIiEcnf than ours Ue-e however O.
md da nof resort to such crude and q
lumsy methods bot thr shrrwdcr %
hey are the harder be- io catch
hem. and the practice H e%sscntaliy q
be -s1e q
ln FIeu 20 these facts BE- o.. nnt at an G
irarre tnai there D. b~esirnln- to b. %
Doh a good many ~ thr states q y
movement in favor 80 uim- az
ming doNn ths powers of toe IeelsIa- r.
urf verr severely and u looks very
.rahabie that in ihe course nf q fea "
ears such bodies vm have terv uuis 60
3 o. beyond making provision fot fht -
rmirifrarrt " rhn tarous state in. 81
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