The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-01-06
VERMON1'S
CONSTITUTION
Proposals Of lmsntm nis Rlde
bl Official Comm sslol
TEXT Of REPORT TO GOVERNOR

Would Abolish Time Lock" Clause /,
Give veto Power TO Governor.
Change Date For state election and
Sitting Of Legislature Forbid Mem
ssrs Of General Assembly From
rakiag oif-s cessteo " Thsi Body,
1 pfohiai, ectri cfarisrs FOR Cor.
porstions etc.
His Escellenoy GEORGE y Prouty
Governor Of Vermont
The commission appointed by YOU,
under the authority ui Joint Reso-
tuition tNo 4isl approved Nov llth,
1905, To prepare and present TO the
next session Of the general assembly
proposals of amendment 10 the Con-
stitution OF Vermont, with suggestions
In support Of the same, have the
honor to present the following
PROPOSAL ONE
That Section Of Article t25) of
the Amendments to the Constitution
be amended to read as follows:
Article (25), Section I. At any
session OF the general assembly OF this
state the senate may. by vote OF
majority Of its members, make pro
possls Of amendment to the constitu-
.
I Continuing through Section the
same as now,
The change in our constitution most
/ needed at the present time is to re-
move the restriction which prevents
any proposals Of amendments oftener
than once in ten years. This prow-
sion is in the 25th Article OF Amend
ment, adopted in 1870, and is popu-
larly known as the time lock clause.
| IL ought not to- be necessary 10
change frequently the fundamental
law OF state Much OF the respect
accorded a constitution Is due to its
permanency. The accepted ways to
save constitutions from rapid changes
at the mere whim OF a majority are
to require that proposals of change
shall be adopted by considerable ma
jority OF the voters or be passed upon
more than once or be approved In
more than one way.
The constitution of the United
States was In the nature OF COM
promise contract and there were spe-
cial reasons for guarding II against
sudden and unnecessary changes; but
there il no restriction In II, except
q limitation long since expired, upon
the time when proposals OF amend
ment may be made Nor do we know
OF any other state that has attempted
to tie its own hands as the state OF
Vermont has done by the time lock
clause.
The great changes occurring In the
life of this state, in common with the
whole country, raise novel questions
which must be met as they arise.
We are utterly opposed to the spirit.
IN recent years manifest In some OF
the newer states. OF loading up a con-
stitution with matters that belong to
the statute books only. The method |
and number of times OF consideration |
requisite for constitutional changes |
should continue to be exacting; but |
being so safe guarded the people |
should be free to make such changes |
az the occasion requires. We are |
much more likely TO hold to conserva-
tive, safe and sane changes II the pos
sibility OF making them always exists |
than II every tenth year the legisla-
ture is compelled to propose all the
changes which can possibly be re-
qulred during the following decennial
The present requirement that pro-
posal cannot go TO the house OF repre-
sentatives except by a two-thirds vote
OF the members OF the senate is re-
strictiye in the same way upon the
right OF initiative. II is inconsistent
also with the fact that only major
ity of the senate In the next legisla-
ture is required to concur In the pro-
posal There Is no good reason why
the proposal Of constitutional changes
should be more difficult than their
adoption. Proposal One, therefore,
also changes the vote OF the senate
necessary to propose amendments
from two-thirds to majority. thed
same as is required In the house OF
representatives the first session and
in both houses upon concurrence the
next session. and OF the vote OF the
people upon final adoption.
PROPOSAL TWO
That Article (i1D OF the Amend-
nents to the Constitution be amended
TO read az follows:
Article ~. Every bill which shall
have passed the senate and house OF
shall. before il be.
comes law, be presented to the gov.
ernor: II he approve. he shall sign u;
" not. he shall return IL, with his OBJ.
Ieetions in writing. 10 the house, In
which II shall have originated; which
shall proceed 10 reconsider II. ~, up.
on such reconsideration, two thirds
Of the members present OF the house
shall pass the bill, Il shalt, together
with the objections, be sent to the
other house, by which II shall, like
wise. be reeonsioereo, and, II sp.
proved by two thirds OF the members
present Of that house. II shall become
A law ."
Remainder ~ Article the same as
now,
Our constitution contemplates that
he governor shall have voice in
egislaiion by means OF a veto power.
rhe veto power given him by the 1ith
lrsirle " the amendments Il not sub
iaufiA Aa0 srat iealss VI il4ie ei
eci The same majority which ori-
sinsiiy PASSED a bill tan pass Il over
10 objection The result Is that
,e,oes by governors have sometimes
received bat scsnt consideration snd
governors have often refralaed from
,lsking a veto which had 10 lltile e.
iecl