The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-01-20

with which constitutional amend "
ments may be made. Whatever emer- e
gencies arise the constitution may be Il
altered only once in ten years. All a
changes must originate in the Senate, Il
ass that body by two-thrds vote and Il
receive the concurrence of major O
ty of the House. The proposed Il
amendment must be ratified by thu g
next Legislature, and then submitted n
to the voters for a final acceptance s
or rejection. While acknowledging b
that rapid and frequent changes are n
neither necessary nor desirable, the Fl
commission declares emphatically C
for the adjustment of the time lock C
The proposition also changes the vote h
of the Senate necessary to propose t
amendments from two-thirds to the n
majority which is required of the d
House of Representatives The COM t
mission has no quarrel with the Il
method and number of times of con-
sideration, but it is of the opinion
that 1--WE are much more likely co
, hold conservative, safe and sane
? changes II the possibility of making
, them always exists, than if eve. -
, tenth year the Legislature is REQ
ed to propose all the changes a.
must be required during ~
cennial." The farcicial char 80, 49, ~" -
q the gubernatorial veto No.. -
been apparent to o ,s,n.,,o,s 80
fof
r. tuition provides the ~,
Il jority vote, bill ma y N,o r.ssod ovor
h 're nv, Since, by this
arrangement, the e,,,o ,,,oio,,,+,,
Is which passes bill may veto it, The
r uo'e,noi - .eI9i'ived of the constitu-
" 'ioh''i par ia law making which is
ehJoseu w the Chief Executive -
r NAHUM Id of nearly every State in
ut the VI ION. The proposal of the com
II HISS ION is that two-thirds major
ity Of both House and Senate be re-
10 lnired to pass a bill over the Gov
- ieImor's veto.
g The third proposition is to hold
State elections in November and to
w." have the Legislature convene in jan
49, uary This custom is almost unani-
nous throughout the United States
=. 1t is urged that such an arrangement;
- would save the time and expense OF
two elections on Presidential years.
The winter months, too, would doubt
less be more favorable time fol
those who attend the Legislature tc
absent themselves from their regular
business.
+he The commission finds that the con
,ua stituton of Vermont and Delaware
o,,- alone allow any member of Legisla
a ~ tive assembly to call for a yea ant
and nay vote on any occasion ihie piN
"a, ilege is liable to abuse and is fire.
do quently used to consume the time o
to the legislative body for the purpose D
,re- retarding business. To expedite leg
nav, islation, the commission would in
4 to crease the number necessary to Sc
-bo, cure a yea and nay vote in the Hous
IL, and Senate.
I've The fifth recommendation has to dt
heir with the communication OF the sen
re- fences of those condemned to capita
v OF punishment, a practice which ha
hey been seriously questioned by tn
or State press and by many individuals
they The constitution does not allow III
CO... execution of any prisoner until til
so Legislature has had an opportunit
Gifts to commute his sentence of life in
ions prisonment. The opponents of thl
they law assert that the practice of allow
ever ing the legislative department pre-
Is cedence over the judicial is wrong /
isla- theory and pernicious in practice Tn
ouId commission would amend section =
Of chapter two of the constitution t
be read as follows:
the Section 20. No person ought /
ents any case, or in any time, to be Dc
ex. clared guilty of treason or felony,
lfter the Legislature, nor to have his ser
nm tence upon conviction for felony CON
ends muted, RENTED or mitigated by tn
so Legislature"
Q an Proposal six would make the men
bers of the Legislature ineligible
tnat offices created or enhanced by it {
Mia, within its power to fill.
shall 1t is believed by the commissio
both that the consideration of grantin
,ior- separate licenses to corporation
,an,o takes up time which should be d
orig voted to the discussion of publ
the questions. 1t would therefore pre-
nosi- vide for a general corporation la,
10 :, which will insure uniformity,
Stare away with special privilege and r
vem- lieve the Legislature from the tas
nv of special corporation legislation.
The last proposition provides f,
neral the simplification and re-arrang
cra- ment of the present constitution
Ybe that it may be easily understood.
n &c These recommendations are n
ecial claimed to be any thorough gener
hoe, revision of the constitution. Tn,
tba simply present to the public fe
,o,n changes which in the minds of Il