Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-21
HOWELL OYERRULED
ATLINCOLN MEETING
Fails to Get His Amendment Pro-
viding for Convention Plan
Through.
Is ONLY ONE VOTING FOR IT
mrcm a SAD correspondent.l

From a Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN, Sept. 9.-(Special)-T
meeting held yesterday to perfect plans
FOR carrying out campaign for e consti-
tutional convention was not all harmoni-
ous. As a general thing all present we're
anxious for a convention, but the way to
get u and the methods to be used brought
cut . great deal of discussion. although
aA the close all appeared to be in harmony
with the plan adopted.
The real fight Of the meeting came
when r. B. Howell OF Omaha opposed the
plans Of the committee which called for
the circulation of petitions calling upon
voters to express at the next election
their choice of whether they favored a
constitutional convention or not. the call
ting Of the convention to be governed by
the feelings of the voters.
Howell Opposes Plan.
Mr.. Howell opposed the plan and of
fered substitute that the committee
should at once draw UP a new constitu-
ton and submit II TO the voters at the
next election. He advanced the novel
argument In favor OF his plan that It
would not carry because the special in
terests" would be so much opposed TO
the new constitution that they would de-
feat II by promising the people that II
It was defeated that the legislature would
then go to work and call a constitutional
convention. He said the plan was a good
one because It would make campaign
Of education and prepare the people for
the adoption Of the new constitution and
besides the thing could be done in one
bali the time taken for the plan Of the
committee
M. A. Hall OF Omaha wanted to know
what authority Mr.. Howell had for as
suring the meeting that the special in
terests' would promise the people that
the legislature would call a constitutional
convention II the voters would vote down
the constitution prepared by the commit
tee and again II he thought the members
OF the legislature would vote for some
thing the people had rejected at the
polls. Some one else put a crimp in Mr.
HowelPs plan by telling him that the
legislature had no authority to call a
constitutional convention. but could only
submit the proposition of a convention to
the people.
When the vote was put Mr.. Howell's
amendment was defeated, Mr.. Howell
himself being the only one voting for his
plan.
The plan Of the committee as finally re-
Vtsed Ia as follows:
=, That Article Fifteen OS. entitled
amendments" of the constitution Of The
amended by adding thereto the nf oiloywip MS
section: S "Aue
Section J. A convention TO revise.
be held at the state capitol. beRinnin9
the second Tuesday OF October. 1919. and
eontinuing until the business of such
convention Is completed. The convention
ehall consist of as many delegates "a
there are members of the house of repre-
sentatlves. apportioned as now provided
chosen at the general election to be held
m November. 1918, in the manner pro-
the Revised Statutes Of NebraslSa, for for
IBIS for the non-partison choice OF Judges
except that cand dates for nomination in
petition signed by a number Of voters
greater than per cent of the votes
Shereln Tor governor at the last preceding
Each delegate shall receive as compen-
PATTON 5000 per day. not exceeding $4,000
pr the legislature. The convention shall
have the power to appoint such Officers,
s snployes ana assistants as 1t may deem
and TO provide for the printing Of its doc
uments, journal and proceedings The
convention CO.. shall determine the rules of
Ulcers and be the judge of the election
returns and qualifications of the dele
gates. Any elector shall be qualified
for election as a delegate to the conyen-
tion. Vacancies shall be filled in the
pane manner as for members of the
legislature.
"A majority of the delegates elected TO
the convention shall constitute a Quorum
ANY amendment to the constitution shall
% submitted to the electors when APP
proved by q majority of the delegates
voting thereon, provided those voting in
khe affirmative equal two-fifths OF the
nelegates elected to the convention, the
yeas and nays being entered on the Jour
nal to be kept.
Any constitutional amendment or
kmendments adopted by such a conven-
ton shall be submitted to the electors at
. time TO be provided by the convention
not earlier than three months after its
adjournment, and not later than the first
general election held thereafter and in
such manner that the electors NAV vote
on each amendment separately. and votes
cast thereon shall be counted separately
United. "'S SUI
Any amendment shall become n mart of
the constitution when approved by q ma
1ority of the electors voting thereon and
shall take effect sixty days after pr,Jcia-
nation by the governor which shall be
made within ten days of the completion
OF the official canvass. The vote upon
any amendment submitted BY the conven-
ZION shall be returned and canvassed in
the manner prescribed by law in the case
OF presidential electors