The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-10-31
CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS
PERTINENT POINTS
FOR THE VOTER
CONDENSED REVIEW OF THE PuR'
POSES OF EACH OF THE EIGHT
CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENTs THAT ARE UP
FOR DECISION.

sembly at SOU annually, luVluulu6
mileage and other expenses incident
to the office; except that committees
officially visiting institutions, outside
the capital, shall receive actual ex'
penses for such visits.
The pay of legislators now Is 81
for each day of regular sessions OF
10 days, and for special sessions. Ev.
cry 10 years a revising session OF l2U
days is held, which also pays SIS per
days-S1 per day is allowed for SEES
sions that run beyond the regular pro
vided length of the session.
The present allowance Of mileage,
rs we'll as the $50 a session for sta
tionery, would be discontinued.
COUNTY GOO BROAD TAX.
No. 2. Gives County Courts discre'
tionary authority to levy a tax Of rs
cents on the $500 valuation for road
and bridge purposes exclusively. This
levy is not obligatory. 1t only removes
the constitutional limitations which
withhold from the county and town.
ships the power to raise by local tax
alton ample road revenue.
This amendment is Endorsed by both
Democratic and Republican platforms
as we'll as by the State Board Of
Agriculture, and is simply a local op
ton or home rule measure for building
and maintaining good roads and
bridges. Do you want good roads,
Vote yes.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
No. 8. The people who framed the
Constitution of Missouri had the Ref
erendum principle in mind to safe
guard their rights and liberties, be
aus they reserved to themselves ex
elusive power to make and amend thu
Constitution.
WHAT Is THE THIRD AMENDMENT
The Initiative gives the voters thu
right to propose a law--to call for
decision by a majority of the people
The Referendum reserves to the vot
ers the right of review over the act
Of their Representatives at all times
to have the people to sanction or YETI
any of their acts.
1t is an emergency provision, per
hitting veto Of the majority, over the
Legislatures acts,
WHAT 1T WILL DO.
1t destroys the power of legislator
to pass laws for personal or selfish pr
vate ends.
1t makes the interest Of the Law
giver coincide with Justice-thui
blending power with public good.
1t operates, not because 1t has to b.
APPLIED, but because the possibility o
It's application serves the purpose.
1t is in operation in five states, beef
decided constitutional by five Stat
Supreme Courts-and also by the U. S
Supreme Court.
1t guards Representative Govern
ment, by eliminating MIs-Represents
ton.
The Legislature that refuses to pas
a measure the people desire; or, tina
passes a bad law the people oppose
can be corrected through its operation
The People always select their rel
resentatives. Why should they not n
serve power to pass upon their acts
The strongest argument used agains
the Referendum is that its broadenin
tendencies might be dangerous to pr
vate ownership of special privileg,
TO INCREASE SUPREME coUR'
JUDGES.
No. 4. This Amendment increase
the number of judges of the Suprem
Court from seven to nine, provides fC
three divisions of the court instead
two, for calling in a circuit Judge !
case of sickness or disqualification
a Judge Of the Supreme Court, an
equalizes the salary of the judges
the Supreme Court and Courts {
Appeal.
This Amendment has been indorse
by the Bar Association Of the Stat
The Supreme Court is now three yea
behind its docket falling more an
more behind each year, and tn
amounts in many cases to a denial
: justice, as a poor man can not affol
to wait for justice, while the rio
corporation can. The increased e.
pSnse is a mere trihe in considerable
of l'he right Of the people to a prom
administration Of justice.
"A peculiarly excellent feature OF tn
amendment is that Of calling in circu
, Judges in case of the disqualihcatiC
of the judges of the Supreme Court
Courts of Appeal. This e~xpedient h
been in successful operation in h
Federal Courts, and would add II
mengely to the efficiency of the cou
at very little extra expense.
EoME RULE IN TAXATION.
No. 5. This Amendment is the !
4 suit Of the thorough investigation
the system of taxation by two no
partisan State Tax Commissions, o.
appointed by Gov. Dockery in 49,
and composed as follows: Judge w.
> Williams, Attorney Generay Edwa