Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-04
CARRANZA FAV0RS
LAND DISTRIBUTION
Mexican Chieftain Also Out
lines His Views of Other
Reforms.
ADDRESSES THE CONGRESS

Queretaro, Friday, Dec. l.-(Via
Mexico City, Dec. 2.)-In his address
before the constitutional congress to-
night, General Carranza outlined the
reforms he hoped to see embodied in
the constitution He said in part:
"The constitution OF 1857 was the
result of great upheaval, but it pro-
claimed only the general principles of
reform without putting them into prac-
tical form so that it is not possible
to administer the government with
this constitution. The history of the
country gives ample data to demon
strate this.
Il promise to conserve the liberal
spirit of the old constitution so that
the new reforms will merely eliminate
the dead wood and strike out articles
put in by former governments and
for personal advantage.
Human liberty must be guaran-
teed to prevent the government from
taking advantage of the excuse of
maintaining peace in order to commit
crimes. The old constitution was not
strong enough to do this, as the lib
erty. of the individual was at the
mercy of executives. / hope the new
constitution will provide severe pen
alties for wrong doing on the part Of
public officials. .l
Judges, heretofore, only the tools
of governors, should have the power
to investigate and punish wrong doing
>of governors. Guarantees for prison
ers accused of crimes heretofore have
been worthless. Prisoners have been
at the mercy of judges and third de-
gree methods. They should be allowed
bonds and limit should be fixed Ito
the time of trials. Good LAWYERS
should be provided for the INDECENT
and no arrests should be made with
out sufficient evidence to justify them.
Suggests Land Distribution.
"The old constitution provided for
the right of the government to oc-
cupy property for public benefit with
out the consent of the owners, by pay
ing an indemnity for the same. This
is sufficient to allow the government
to take large estates and distribute
them among the small owners so that
the only reform necessary in that part
of the old law is to provide that con-
demnation may be only by executive
authority and that judges may deal
only with indemnity.
:. Il ask you to consider whether it
is necessary to have every foreigner
who obtains title to real property, re-
sign treaty rights with respect to such
property and conform to Mexican
laws.
81 advocate divorce law which
will place the family on the basis of
love, not pecuniary interests. The ma
tlonality of children born in Mexico
TO foreigners should be clearly de-
fined.
You must consider whether the
vote should be given to all or limited
by educational or property qualihca-
tons. | think the vote should go to
all, but that it should be taken from
those making wrong use of it or those
who look with indifference on the af-
fairs Of the republic.
r Public instruction must receive at
tentlon because knowledge ensures
against either anarchy or dictatorship.
On the organization of the executive
power will depend that the legislative
branch shall not become an instru-
ment of the executive. Free discus
sion without following instructions
OF the executive or of governors must
be assured the legislators, but they
must not be given sufficient power to
curb the executive in proportion of his
rights. A parliamentary regime in
which the executive Is a fgurehead
and the cabinet is selected by con-
gress is not good for Latin-American
nations. The people will need strong
government, which is not the same as
a despotic government. Direct elcc-
ton of the president will give strength
to the government and the nation
and the president will not be at the
mercy of the legislative power. The
best power against parliamentary
regime is the object lesson furnished
by the United States.
81 advocate the elimination of the
office of vice president, providing that
the succession TO the presidency in the
event of temporary or permanent alb
sence shall be decided by congress.
There should be absolute inde-
~(