The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-12-03

| Third-We have entirely too many
elections. These should be consoli-
dated, the terms of Office made uni
form so as to lessen constant po-
litical turmoil.
Fourth The ballot box should be
better protected, SO as to make it a
crime to buy poll tax receipts and
gather up registration certificates
with which to debauch elections.
Changes should be made in
our system of taxation, SO as to
equalize the burdens necessary to
support the governments, State,
county, and city. Much can be said
on this subject.
Sixth No one can be found who
will defend our present fee system,
which impoverishes the people and
makes insignificant offices vast po-
|litical footballs to the corruption of
the ballot. Two bills on this subject
have been declared unconstitutional.
Standardization should be made
SO as to eliminate our cumbrous and
expensive system of grand jury in
dictments and trials of small misde-
meanors, thus saving thousands of
dollars and expediting justice.
Eighth-There are entirely too
many county offices required by our
present constitution. Several of
these could be consolidated, as in
other States, thus making for econo-
my and efficiency.
Ninth-Criminal prosecutions cost
more in Tennessee than probably any
State in the union, and we cannot
boast of any efficiency. The fault
lies embedded in organic law.
Tenth-The State should have the
power to exempt State, county and
city bonds from taxation, is it is de-
sirable for our own people to hold
these securities, especially as they
are not taxable in the hands of non
residents.
Eleventh-Some means must be
devised to curb what is now called
It'private" legislation. The general"
acts of 1913 cover 743 pages whereas
the private" acts cover 1885 pages;
again, the private" acts of 1911
contain 2,127 pages, as against only
$50 pages of "public" acts. In other
words, "log rolling" has gone wild
in the Legislature, and even the most
vicious legislation is put over with
out any opposition, provided it is
what is called "a local bill"
Twelfth-The Governor should
have power to call out the militia in
case of riot or insurrection and thus
preserve the peace without first as
sembling the Legislature; and other
wise make the office of chief execu-
tive more efficient.
Thirteenth-There should be
constitutional board of pardons, so
as to relieve the Governor of this
duty, except in capital cases, and
thus give more opportunity for in
vestigations in applications for par
dons.
Fourteenth = The constitution
should be modernized so as to place
the government in closer touch with
the voters, thus enabling them to
declare their will and enforce it with
more expedition than can now be
done, as exampled in the initiative
and referendum and direct primary.
Amendments should be adopted to
bring about reforms in our civil
jury system; regulating expert testi-
mony in criminal trials; providing
for the summary removal of derelict
officials; for a change in their jul
dicial system; throwing safeguards
around primary elections; providing
for the organization of boards of
education; placing a limit upon the
State Indebtedness; providing for
double liability of bank stockholders,
and for inspection of private banks;
providing more speedy means of sub
hitting amendments to the constitu
tion; besides many other amend
ments not necessary here to mention.
In some instances two or more
amendments may be required to eff
fectuate one change; for it is diff
cult undertaking to engraft changes
on an established and old system of
organic laws.
The foregoing will serve as birds
eye view of some changes that will
be advocated. Other changes of
many kinds will be brought forward
in due time from various sources.
some wise, some unwise.
Among those that will be sure to
be advocated by many will be woman
suffrage; that is, to give an oppor-
tunity to the men in Tennessee to ex-
press their views upon the question
as to whether the franchise should
be extended to women.
No doubt an effort vii be made
also to abolish capital punishment,
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