The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-07-17
ADDRESS TO PEOPLE
OF the State of Michigan Sub.
hitting the Proposed Re.
vision of the Present -
/ Constitution.
Continued from last week. }

Sec. 70. Ire IeglsiaIure may auInorIze
the employment OF a chaplain for
EACH Of the state prisons; but no
money shall be appropriated for the
payment OF any religious services in
either house OF the legislature
No change from Sec. "a, Art. w of the
present constitution except as appears in
Sec. Of. The legislature may authorize
trial by "a fury OF less number than
twelve men.
No change froEa Sec. 49, Art w of the
present constitution.
Sec. 2S. The legislature may provide
by law for indetermnate sentences so
called. as punishment for crime, on
conviction thereof, and for the deten-
ton and release of persons imprisoned
or detained on said sentences.
NO change from Sec. AZ, Art, w Of the
present constitution except for the purpose
OF Improving the phraseology.
Sec 20. The legislature shall have
power to enact laws relative to the
hours and conditions under which
women and children may be employed.
The foregoing section is new one, and is
inserted in the revision for the reason that
doubt was expressed as to the power of the
legislature In the premises without such a
provision.
Sec. 80. The legislature shall pass no
local or special act in any case where
general act can be made applicable
and whether a general act can be made
applicable shall be a judicial question.
No local or special act shall take effect
until approved by a majority OF the
electors voting thereon in the district to
The foregoing is an entirely new section
designed to work wholesome legislative re-
form One of the greatest evils brought to
abuses practiced under local and special leg
islation. The number of local and special
bills passed by the last legislature was four
n n
and concurrent resolutions. The time de-
voted to the consideration of these measures
through the two houses imposed serious
burden upon the state. This section. taken
IN connection with the increased powers of
local self-government granted to cities and
villages in the revision, seeks to effectively
remedy such condition. This provision is
believed to be far-reaching in its conse-
Quences. The evils OF local and special leg
islation have grown to be almost intolerable,
Introducing uncertainty and confusion into
the laws, and consuming the time and energy
OF the legislature which should be devoted
to the consideration of measures of a general
character. By eliminating this mass of leg
islahon, the Work OF the legislature will be
greatly simplifed and improved.
Sec. 81. The legislature shall not au-
thorize by private or special law the
sale or conveyance of any real estate
belonging to any person.
No change from Sec. %, Art. ~ OF the
present constitution except TO transfer the
last clause to Sec. p. Art. VIII Of the re-
vision.
Sec. 49, Divorces shall not be granted
by the legislature.
No change from Sec. &c, Art. w of the
present constitution.
Sec. 33. The legislature shall not au-
thorize any lottery nor permit the sale
of lottery tickets.
No change from Sec. n, Art. Nv OF the
present constitution.
Sec a. The legislature shall not audit
nor allow any private claim or account.
No change from Sec. 81, Art. Nv Of the
present constitution
Sec. 49, The legislature shall not es-
tabllsh a state paper.
No change from Sec. S5. Art. w of the
present constitution.
Sec SO. Every bill passed by the Leg
islature shall be presented to the gov
ernor before it becomes law. If he
approve, he shall sign it.; if not, he
shall return II with his objections to
the house In which 1t originated, which
shall enter the objections at large upon
its journal and reconsider 1t. On such
reconsideration, il two-thirds of the
members elected agree to pass the bill.
1t shall be sent with the objections to
the other house, by which it shall be
reconsidered. If approved by two-thirds
of the members elected to that house,
it shall become a law In such case
the vote of both houses shall be deter
mined by yeas and nays and the names
OF the members voting for and against
the bill shall be entered on the journals
Of each house, respectively II any bill
be not returned by the governor within
ten days, Sundays excepted, afterit has
been presented to him, it shall become
a law in like manner as If he had
signed 1t, unless the legislature, by adj
journment prevents ITS return, in
which case 1t shall not become law.
The governor may approve, sign and
file in the office of the secretary OF state
within five days, SUNDAYS EXCEPT
ED, after the adjournment OF the legis-
lature any bill passed during the last
five days of the session, and the same
shall become a law.
This is a revision of Sec. Ia, Art. Nv OF the
present constitution, and omits In the first
line the words land concurrent resolution ex-
cept by adjournment" and thus eliminates
resolutions Under the present constitution
thi: distinction has given rise to much con
fusion. Concurrent resolutions must be
signed by the governor. and matters for
merly taken care of thereby, are more prop
srly cared for by bill, as proposed In the
revision.
Sec. 81. The governor shall have
power to disapprove of any item or
items Of any bill making appropriations
of money embracing distinct Items; and
the part or parts approved shall be the
law; and the item or items disapproVed
shall be void, unless re-passed accord
ing to the rules and limitations pre-
over the executive veto. ;.
The foregoing section Is new one. II
IL designed as check upon extravagant and
the responsibility for appropriations made Tor
the state upon the governor He must there
fore give careful scrutiny to each item In
the APPROPRIATION bills. Should this power
be arbitrarily exercised, which is not likely,
the legislature has the power to pass the
appropriation over the governors veto by
two-thirds vote Of each house The necessity
for this proyiso is found in legislative ex-
perience The mutual exchange OF courteses
by members Of the legislature whereby one
agrees to support the appropriations desired
by others in consideration that the others
will support those in which he Is interested,
has led to extravaganza and to many vicious
APPROPRIATIONS. The restrictions contained In
this section IL is anticipated will prevent
such practice with distinct beneht resulting
to the state. The granting of this veto power
TO the governor, while a departure from the
constitution of 1850, Is supported by abundant
precedents. Such a provision is found In the
constitutions of the following states, VIZ:
Alabama, Arkansas, California. Colorado,
Delaware, Florida, Idaho. Illinois. Kansas,
Maryland, Minnesota Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana Nebraska, New Jersey, New York,
North Dakota South Dakota, Texas Utahi
Washington, Virginia, West Virginia ana
Wyoming.
IL IS TO be noted that in all OF the states
where there has been recent revision OF
their constitution, the power to veto items
in appropriation bills has been given TO the
governor: and most Of the states where the
Sovornor docs not have such power are those