The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-08-13
Amending the State Constitution.

tuition, whioh will appear In The CITIZEN
henoeforward until the election In No
yember, deserve careful consideration
on the part OF every citizen.
The constitution requires that every
proposed amendment, agreed TO by q
majority OF each branch OF the LeRis-
lature, email be Published In each county
for at least three months before the next
general election, and II agreed to by q
majority OF the Legislature next chosen
It shall again be publlshed In like man
per, and submitted to the people, for sp-
proval or rejection. The procedure in
the case is thus stated by the Supreme
Court -(Com. v. Griest, 1876 Pa. 496):
'These are the several stages In the
prooeedings to create an amendment
A proposal OF the amendment in either
House, an agreement to the same by
both Houses, q publication thereof by
the Secretary Of the Common wealth, q
second agreement by the two Houses,
second publication by the Secretary,
vote OF the people, which, II the major
ity vote tRyorably y, causes the amendment
to become q part OF the constitution"
The proposed amendments, therefore,
will not be directly voted on this year.
The object Of their publication, before
the election OF members Of the Legisla-
ture this year, is for public information,
that the people may, II they choose, vote
for candidates with reference to their at
titude In relation to the proposed amend
ments. Should a Legislature opposed
to the amendments be chosen, the fail
ure to again adopt the amendments ends
the proceeding. But should u LegislR-
ture favorable to the amendments be
elected, and agree to them, they are
again published, and the people next
vote directly upon the question Of their
adoption.
The proposed amendments are em-
bodied In three separate joint resolu-
tlons, with a schedule fixing the details
involved In putting them into effect.
The trst provides for the reorga
OF the courts Of Philadelphia and ALLIE
gheny counties. 1t affects only these
two counties, and there is no good rea-
son for any objection to 1t else where.
The second raises the limit OF county.
municipal and district Indebtedness from
the present rate OF seven per cent. on the
assessed valuation to ten per cent, but
leaves unchanged the existing provision
requiring a popular vote Ia favor OF any
Increase above two per cent. As the
question Of increase Is subject to the de
cisien OF the people, the only change
proposed Is In allowing an increase to
ten per cent. instead Of seven, wherever
the people desire 1t.
The third joint resolution embraces
ten amendments, which make the follow.
ing constitutional changes:
~ A vacancy In an elective office is ia
be Allied ut the next election for such OF
floer, unless II occurs within two month,
OF the election day, in which case II is to
be filled at the next succeeding election
aud meantime 1t is to be filed by ap
pointment by the Governor. This mere
ly reduces the interval between the hap
pening OF the vacancy and the election
to two months, instead OF three as
present..
(D Changes the terms OF the Audito
General and State Treasurer from thre
aud two years, respectively, to four, will
Aproviso that the State Treasurer elect
ed In 1909 shall serve for but three, an,
his SUCCESSORS be elected in 1912 and ev
cry fourth year thereafter.
(3) Changes the terms OF Justices o
the Peace and Aldermen from i've year
to siX.
(D Changes the terms OF magistrate
Ia Philadelphia from i've years to six.
(5) General elections to be held bi
ennially, on the Tuesday following TIL
hrst Monday of November, in each even
numbered year, instead OF annually us u
present.
(0) Municipal elections to be held b
snnlaily, on the Tuesday following til
hrst Monday of November, in each ode
numbered year, instead OF annual
on the third Tuesday OF February a
at present; Judges OF the several j.
dioiHl districts, and county, city, war;
borough and township officers, for regu
lar terms Of service, to be chosen at mt
nieipal elections; State Judges to b
elected at either general or munioipI
elections, AS circumstances may require
(7) Judges and inspectors OF election
TO be chosen biennIally, at the munioipl
elections, with a proviso that the LeRi
laturo may provide for their appoin
1nent.
80 state officers to be chosen at gel
eTal elections, aud local officers at muni
ipRl elections, except when special ele'
tions are required to MI unexpired term
() County officers to be chosen at mi
niolpai elections, for the term OF fou
years, Instead OF three ms at present.
uO) County Commissioners aud Aud
tors TO be elected In Nj aud every iourt
year thereafter.
The schedule provides for the change
90 the length OF official terms made net
essary 10y the amendments directs the
the municipal elections la 1910 shall b
held la February ag heretofore hIes III