Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-04-09

cis,onS by Legislatures -~ Theorists
Ride Hobbies
Washington. The aEuatjon IN con
grcss for the passage VI resolution
submitting t. the states an equal sur
fragr amcudmcut 10 the federal ConSU
tuition has directed attention tr the
many attempts that arc being madc 10
change or supplement- the Fundamental
law Of the land Every now and then
resolution Nt this character IS drop
ped into the hopper in congress. but Ii
is not until the cutirr hatch Is collected
and laid out IN rrNiew that one is i'm
pressed with their real Significance.
There have been periods Of unrest
and agitation before, hut never has
such 4 variety Of changes heru pro
posed to congress- rs nov MANY OH
cials in WASHINGTON even would I've
surprised 10 learn that there are forty
resolutions pending before congress
providing for changes in the federal
constitution
The amrndrrS want to change almost
everything the executive, legislative
and judicial departments Of the gov,
eminent and they want to write into
the Fundamental law also good many
things that cannot he interviewed With
10y amy part of the government. They
want To settle things for all time. and
the strange feature is that many Of the
proposed changes were considered 10y
a. a
mony with the scheme Of government
which they We're seeking 10 establish
Of all the propositions Of this charac
ter now before congress that of Repre-,
sentative Doolittlc OF Kansas Is prob
ably the most unique. He proposes to
amend article = Of the federal consttn.
ton
He has n method for the recall Of IN
dicial decisions by referendum to the
state legislatures and not to the PEG.
Pile. Mr. Doolittle Is a Democrat and
direct descendant OF the first colonial
governor OF Virginia
Representative Iafferty. Democrat,
from Oregon. suggests an amendment
by which proposed amendments to the
constitution may be submitted to the
states by n majority vote OF the two
houses Of congress and be ratified by
twothirds OF the states.
Representative IIardwick Of Georgia
proposes the repeal of the fifteenth
amendment and all after the first sen,
tcnce In the fourteenth amendment. So
that all he would have remain of those
two celebrated amendments would be
the declaration that "all persons born
or naturnli2ed in the United States ana
subject 10 the jurisdiction thereof are
citizens of the United States and the
state wherein they reside.
Another group OF proposed constitn
tional amendments Is directed NJ the
courts. Representative Cullop. Demo
crat. from lndann. proposes that all
judges of the supreme court of the
United States shall be elected ut II
presidential election, four Of whom
shall serve for four years and five for
eight years After that first election
the term OF the Judges shall be eight
years. The court shall elect chief
justice. clerk and marshal, ana their
terms shall be four years.
Representative Hull of Tennessee
proposes to amend the constitution and
give congress power to abolish any In
ferior court OF the United States nnd
to remove any judges OF such courts
by twothirds vote of both houses
Representative Raker of California.
Democrat. proposes an amendment that
the judicial power of the United States
shall not be construed to extend to any
suit In law or equity commenced oI
prosecuted against any state hy citi
Zens OF another state or by citizens or
subjects Of a foreign state or by reason
Of the citizenship Of amy corporation.
Mr. Rakcr wants to keep the ,Iapa
nese question ont OF the United States
courts and leave that whole question
to California.
Representative Nelson Of Wisconsin
Republican. wants an amendment Civ
Ing congress the power to define. pre-
vent and suppress monopolies, com
binations and agreements In restraint
Of trade
Representative Edmonds a Kcpub
lean from Philadelphia. suggests that
Congress be empowered 10 establish
uniform laws Of marriage and divorce
and provide penalties for violation Of
the same.
Representative Peters Democrat
Of Massachusetts, proposes 20 give con
grcss the power 10 regulate the bust
ness or commerce OF insurance through
out the United States and It's terri
tories and possessions
Representative Henry. Democrat
from Texas, proposes an amendment 10
change the date Of inauguration Of the
president to the last Thursday in April
and the date for the assembling OF con
gress to the second Tuesday In Jan
uary.
Prohibition is the subject Of an
other group Of amendments Senator
Works Of California proposes 10 pro
hibit In the United States the sale,
manufacture and importatlou Of dis.