Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-07-21
AMENDMENTS
SHOULD CARRY
-Four Proposed Changes i'm the Con-
stitution Mean Much to Growth
and Progress of the state and the
Welfare Of Its Citizens.


There are large number Of con.
stitutionai amendments for the peo-
pie to vote on at the coming election
but out of that number there are
a few that the News believes should
be adopted, for the welfare of the
state and its growth industrially,
comm ereially and otherwise.
Tax Commission
one Of these is House Joint Reso-
luton No. II, which proposes an
amendment to Section 21, Article 10,
Of the Constitution. to create State
Tax Commission of three members
to adjust or assess and equalize the
valuation of real and personal prop
erty between counties and sssess all
railroad and public service corpora
tion property and to exercise such
other power relating to taxation as
may be prescribed by the Legislature.
Abolishes State Board of Equaliza-
ton as now constituted.
If passed by the people the Gov
ernor would appoint the commission,
one to be a successful business man,
one a successful lawyer, and. the
third an expert economist. This res
olution creates the commission. but
leaves lot of latitude with the Leg
islature in adding to or taking from
its powers. We believe this amend
ment will bring about more equita-
bic distribution of taxation.
Limiting Public Debt
Senate joint resolution No. 20 pro-
posed an amendment to Section 27,
Article 10 OF the Constitution, relat-
ing to limitations upon the indebted
ness of Incorporated cities and in
Icorporated towns, limits sucn muni-
/ eipalities as to Indebtedness in addi-
tion to the amount allowed under
Section %, Article 10. Constitution,
to only per cent Of the assessed
valuation of the property therein.
for the purpose of purchasing, con-
lstructing or repairing municipal
owned public utilities; such addition
al Indebtedness to be authorized by
three-fifths of the property taxpaying
voters at an election. and this limita-
tion not to include indebtedness in
Cured under Section 27, Article 10,
prior to adoption of this amendment
This seems to be a good thing
There is now no limitation upon the
Indebtedness that may be incurred
by each subdivision OF government
and without the limitation, public
credit will sooner or later become
impaired
Consolidation OF Courts
One of the most important of all
is Senate joint resolution No. 18,
which would amend the Constitution
so as to, consolidate the Supreme
Court and the Criminal Court of APP
peals as now constituted. The pro-
posed amendment authorizes said
Court to sit in divisions of at least
three justices; one Criminal Divis-
ion to which appeals in criminal cas-
es shall be taken; authorizing Legis-
lature to provide for nomination and
election and may reduce or increase
the number of justices of said court
and change the districts; appeals to
be limited; relates also to rules of
practice, decisions and organization
of tn ecourt.
AS it Is now, we have two higher
courts. and twelve Supreme Court
Commissioners, working at double
expense to the State and practically
duplicating lots of each others work
Court Procedure
Senate joint resolution No. %
would so amend the Constitution as
to provide that juries in courts OF
record other than county court
shall consist of men, except in CAPT
tai cases to consist of IL men; jur-
les in county court and courts not OF
record to consist of mon; in al
civil cases and criminal cases less