Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-03-18
Delegate BroomIieId OF Mecosta
County. Strongly Urges Its
Adoption.
IOEA0F THEfUMDAMEMTAL LAW
Every Voter IN the State Should Get
Thoroughly Posted on the Impor-
tant Document.

delegates to the recent state constltu-
tional convention has the following to
say of the work of the convention.
The article appeared in the Big Rapids
Pioneer of recent date
The constitutional convention COM
pleted its labors on Friday. February
2lst. and without dissenting vote,
adopted the complete revision which
will be submitted to the electors of
this state for their approval or re-
lection. When submitted to the
electors. if majority of those voting
thereon vote yes, il will become the
fundamental law of this state from
and after January /. 1909. In the
meantime. the careful critical exam
ination of the revision its invited,
and / feel confident that no one can
read its pages carefully without be-
coming IAN enthusiastic advocate for
its adoption.
The necessity for revision of the
Fundamental law of Michigan must
be apparent to every student of gov
eminent. No criticism will be directed
towards the constitution of 1880. IL
was framed by patriotic and capable
body of men and was well suited to
the needs of his commonwealth at the
time of its adoption SO years ago, but
the growth of Michigan commercially,
industrislly, numerically and intel
lectually has. exceeded the widest
dreams of our forefathers Then we
had a population of less than 400, 600
people; today we have over $500, 900:
then the largest city in Michigan had
a population of about 90. 900 people;
today that same city has a population
of 400, 600: then the assessed wealth
of the state was less than $50, 600, 900;
today il exceeds 81 ,654, 600, 600.
The constitution of 1850 is composed
of 20 articles containing 300 sections,
and in addition schedule of 30 sections
the revision of 1908 is composed of "
articles containing 22l section and in
addition a schedule of IL sections.
The process of formulating the revision
might be divided into two parts, viz:
Elimination and addition. The con-
vention took the constitution of 1850
as basis, and the revision contains
all that is good in the present con-
stitution Forty-two sections of the
old constitution were eliminated chiefly
because they were obsolete. But in
the constructive work of addition
to the constitution of 1850 is revealed
the merit of the revision which will
commend IL to the sober judgement of
an intellectual electorate. A few OF
those distinguishing features. not
contained In the constitution of 1880,
are as follows:
No local or special act of the legis-
lature can be passed in any case
where a general act can be made
applicable.
The evils of local or special legisla-
ton are familiar to all. it is expen-
sive to the state. results in confusion
in the laws, and oftimes results in
ssddlipg on community of law
of local application. which does not
meet the approval of majority of
these to be affected thereby. This
provision is far reaching, beneficial
and will shorten the sessions of the
legislature and In Uniformity in the
laws.
No local or special act shall take
effect until approved by majority of
the electors voting thereon In the
district to be effected. This provision
gives the people of any district to be
affected by any local law the right of
referendum the right of the majority
In the community to be final arbiters
as to whether such proposed local
law shall become operative. The jus
tice and wisdom of this provision
cannot be questioned The governor is
vested with power to veto specific
items in appropriation bills embracing
distinct items, and the parts approved
shall become the law and the items
disapproved shall be void This Sec
tion places greater responsibility for
appropriations upon the governor,
and will act as a determent upon ex-
trsvagant and ill-advised appropria-
tions. 1t will prevent the practice,
quite common in legislative bodies,
whereby one member agrees to support
an appropriation bill desired by
another member in consideration that
the others will support those in which
he Is interested.
No bill shall be passed or become
a law at any regular session of the
legislature until IL has been printed
and in the possession of each house
for at least five days. No bill shall
be altered or amended on its passage
through either house so as to change
its original purpose. One of the
greatest evils in lawmaking is found
in what is known as snap legislation.
Ii is found to be a common practice
In legislative bodies tc suspend 1.-THE
rules and put bill on its final passage
on the same day il is introduced, thus
preventing publicity or delibertior
mr. nm onporfunifv for the MANILA In re