Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-10-14
TgURsDAY Y: EVENING. OCT. IA. 1909


conformity to section 1876 OF the consul
tuition which provides how amendments
shall be made, what it Is proposed 10 do'
and proper notification by three months
uublicstioD. A reference to the publ
cation will show that by joint reSoln'
ton Of the two houses Of the general as
sembly passed in session 1908 certain
amendments to the constitution are pro-
posed; bot are not to be voted on by tpe
people this year, and can only be mace
effective by the next general assembly
6rA considering them, and then each
amendment must receive, not majority
offs quorum only, bat mSjority OF all
the members elected to each house; thai
is. one more than one-half;then 1t shall De
the duty Of the general assembly TO SUD-
NIT such proposed amendments to the
peopIe. in such manner and at such
time as 1t shall prescribe; and II the
people shall spprove aud ratify such
amendments by majority OF the cleo
tors qualified to vote, such amendments
become part of the constitution. The
purposed amendments briefly stated art
a. follows: The constitution now limits
the terms of the commissioner OF revenue
for both cities and counties to four years
If elected BY the people, and as the old
law provided for such elections OF cour"
no commissioner Of revenue can be elect
ed by the people for slouger term uDles'
the constitution is amended, and one Of
the proposed amendments is to allow tina
Office to be voted on as are other oficts
All commissioners of revenue will serve
after January l, 1910, by appointment
of the circuit and corporation judges.
The constitution now provides for only
tro terms of four years each for city
aud county treasurers and makes then
ineligible for reelection or to serve as
d,puty treasurer. The tressurers no"
in Office are eligible for reelection OF
No yember 2nd next, and their term o
Office will not expire until January J,
1914. The proposed amendment as ID
that of the commissioner of revenue is 10
repeal the limit Of service. Another
amendment is 10 reference to presenting
bills, readings, references, roll calls, etc.
10 the general assembly. 1t is claimed
that The present method entails loss Of
much time and thst the reading OF bills
three times before they shall be PISSED
should not be required. The trainers Of
the constitution saw how perniciOus lave
were rushed through the Legislature snd
TO pot a STOP to such methods put 10 the
three readiogs clause, which it is hoped
vii be retained. Another amendment
Is to extend the sessions Of the general
assembly from sixty to ninety days. 1t
Is hoped that the Dext legislature will
decline to pass the resolution or bill to
submit this amendment. Too much
harm is possible 10 sixty days, and too
many laws are now on the statute books,
so with a ninety days session much
time would be lost at needless expend-
iture Of money. Indeed a majority Of
voters would prefer that the sessions were
curtsiled instead Of Heightened. The
Gazette has always oppressed these long
sessions, and shall oppose the amend
ment il It comes before the PEI pie and
hopes to have the assistance OF the news
papers Of the whole state. The iramers
of the constitution. were the very flower
of our state; its great lawyers, it,
splendid intellects, its forceiul, BRILLIANT
and eloquent speskers, and some prscti
cal business men gave almost year ia
framing our suprtme law. Mistakes
they may have made, and perhaps come
things done we're the result of compro
mise, bat of one thing there is no doubt
and that IL, taken as whole, The
men who composed the constitu tions
convection aud wrote the results Of theiI
deliberations we're the superiors in intel
lsct and ability to those composing sny
legislature that preceded IL or followed
it-since the war This is self evident
10 more places than one Ia our coDstitu'
tion, but it 1t no more strongly emphs'
sized than in section 46, which limits
the legislative session TO sixty days, and
yet the ink used 10 printing the cOnsti-
tuition Was hardly dry on it's sheets, and
members Of The general assembly scarcely
warm In their seats, when they proposed
amending The supreme law in some oil
its best provisions, expecting q; thai
very time to avail themselves OF the
change. Give the constitution a chance
The constitutional provision providing
for future changes 10 the constitution
reads as follows:
Section 1876. Amendments Any
amendment or amendments to the con
st,uiion may be proposed in the Senate
or House OF Delegates, add If the came