Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-15
FOR AMENDING
CONSTITUTION
Bill for Convention 10 be
Held in June.
(Fron the NEWS Correspondent.)

Trenton, Jan. 15.-The ~constitu-
tional convention bill, a measure
fraught with the greatest Importance
because of the possibility that 1t may
mean the changing Of the organic
law of the state in many particulars,
was introduced in the Assembly this
afternoon by Assemblyman Charles
OConnor Hennessy, of Bergen oun
ty. 1t provides for an election on
Tuesday, June 8, next, for the choice
of delegates to the convention, the
convention, itself, to convene on
Tuesday, September 8, next. The
convention is to be composed Of sixty
delegates apportioned among the
counties as the members of the AS
sembly are apportioned, except that
in the counties having more than II
delegate they are to be elected from
districts within the county as delin-
Gated in the bill. If the measure be-
comes a law in this form Middlesex
county will have three delegates.
The purpose of the convention, as
stated in the bill is to be "to revise,
alter II amend the Constitution OF
New jersey"
The nomination OF delegates is to
be made by petition to the County
Clerk, 1O8 voter being sufficient to
nominate 2 candidate. The form Of
a ballot Is to be similar to that now
In use In the Presidential preference
primaries, and sample official ballots
may be provided, as under the pres
ent election law. Designations OF
any character to be printed opposite
the of the candidates are pro-
hibited.
All persons whose names were on
the poll books last November will be
qualified to vote, and voters who did
not vote last November may be regis.
tered by affidavit filed with the NUM-
cipal clerk. The polls will be open
from l to 8 o'clock p. m, and all OF
the present provisions of the election
laws that apply to the election Of
delegates to national conventions are
to apply to this election.
The bill provides that after con
vening September 8, the convention
shall organize, and 1t Is given the
right by a majority vote to adopt
changes In the constitution. The
changes will then be submitted for
ratification or rejection to the people
of the state. The convention must
conclude Its deliberations before
February /, 1914, when It must file
the result Of it's work with the Sec
rotary of State. The measure pro-
vides a special election on the third
Tuesday of May, 1914, for the sub
mission of the work Of the body to
the voters of the state for adoption
or rejection, In whole or In part. 1t
is expressly provided that the revis-
ion must include every subject mat
ter treated in a separate article or
subdivision, so that 1t can be sepa-
rately accepted or rejected by the
people, and the convention must file
an explanatory synopsis Of each pro-
posed constitutional change.
With the advertisement provided
for the special election there shall
also be published a complete copy of
the revision, alterations. OF amend
ments proposed, and the synopsis
thereof. as well as a copy Of the bal
lot. An official pamphlet prepared
by the Secretary of State, containing
the proposed changes, together with
the explanatory synopsis, is to be
printed at state expense and distri-
buted by the several County Clerks
to the voters before the election. The
ballot to be used Is similar to that
employed in last years Constitution
al revision election In Ohio, whereby
the voter may indicate merely by a
cross mark his acceptance Or rejec-
ton of each separate proposal.
Persons who were qualified to vote
In November, 1913, and those regis
tered by affidavit will constitute the
legal poll list for the special election
on the third Tuesday of May, 1914.
The polls will be open from 1 to 3
D. M, the election to be conducted by
the regular election officers in the
manner prescribed for the election OF
delegates to the national conventions.
After the returns have been canvass
ed In each county and tho County
Clerks have forwarded them to the
Secretary of State, the latter shall
certify them to the Governor. The
Governor will then proclaim as
adopted by the people and as having
become a part OF the constitution OF
the state, every article, or sub-divis-
ion separately voted upon, which
, has received more votes In favor OF
its adoption than were cast in favor
of its rejection.
Each delegate to the convention is
to receive the same compensation as
is now paid to a member OF the leg
islature, namely, $500. and the con-
vention Is to have power to incur
such other expenses as may be neces-
sary. An appropriation OF $4,000
is made for the expenses. to be paid
out by the State Treasurer upon the
warrant OF the secretary Of the con-
vention,