The Mena weekly star., 1917-11-29
GOVERNOR TALKS
 ON CONSTITUTION
Declares Measure Cannot Be Meas ured in Dollars and Ccnts--GrOw- ing Evil of Local and Special
 Legislation.

Little Rock. Nov. 2. Two half days and one whole day were suf- licient for the Constitutional Con- vention to decide upon adjournment. By practically a unanimous vote, taken at ii:50 a. m. yesterday, the convention adjourned to re-assem- ble the first Monday in July, 1918.
 The president of the Convention is given twenty days to appoint his committees, of which thirty odd are provided. All proposals for the Constitution shall first be transmit ted to the Committee on Reference, to consist of two members, which shall, without delay, refer the same to the proper committee charged with the consideration of such mat ters. E..
 The President of the Convention shall call the various committees together at the state capitol not later than sixty days prior to the first Monday in July, 1918, and the committees shall submit their rec concentrations to the Committee on Phraseology not later than forty days before the rc-convening of the convention, and the Committee on phraseology shall cause the tenta- tive draft of the constitution thus made to be printed and distributed to the members of the Convention not later than thiry days before the Convention re-eonvenes.
 It is provided that the members of the committees who attend the meeting of the committees at the state capitol shall, during their at tendance, receive their per diem, and shall also receive mileage to and from their homes in attending same. Upon this point there was considerable debate. Col T. c. Me Rae raised the point that under the provision of the Act calling the Convention no provision is made for the payment of mileage and per diem for members attending com mittee meetings. He offered an amendment to cure the defect, that the Convention re-assemble on the first Monday in June, and immedi- ately take recess to enable the committees toltio their work. The Convention could adjourn from day to day, and. being in session. would be entitled to draw their pay. But Colonel McRae's proposi- tion was opposed by several mem bers and finally voted down. -- Clay Sloan, delegate from Law renee, and former state Auditor, subsequently, gave his opinion, that the delegates who attended the committee sessions provided for in the .resolution will not be able to draw any pay for their services.
 The adoption of the i, resolution was opposed by E, C. Mitchell of Boone, who said that he favored adjourning the convention sine die, and going home- He insisted that the old constitution of 1874 has done good service for 43 years and is good for several years more.
 Upon invitation Governor Brough appeared before the convention, and addressed the delegates upon his views.
 He favored the same guaranty be- ing given the rural property owners as that enjoyed by the city property in the levying of improvement taxes.
 He condemned the growing evil of local and special legislation and in- sisted that something should be done to check it.
 He said that under the interpre- tation of the courts the creation of offices and boardE is permitted in violation of the letter of the con- and this should be reme- died.
 He said the improvement district Laws which exempt personal prop erty from the burden of taxation is a farce.
 He advocated a rural credits sys- tenn.
 He said that elections are too fre- quent. that members of the legisla- lure should he placed on salary, that tenure of officers should be in- creased to four years and that they be made ineligible to recollection, and that it might be well to have session of the Legisla- ture.
 He favored adequate salaries for public officials. especially the judi ciary, and said that 1t costs gov ernor 5000 a year more than his salary to live in Little Rock.
 He expressed his unaIterable op- position to submitting the constitu- ton to a general election, which would involve it in politics. and de- clared that the saving of S30,000 would amount to nothing, since the value of a constitution is not to be in dollars.
 He favored the plan proposed by the Special Committee on recess. and urged that when the convention it shall then proceed 10 draft a constitution, for which duty they were elected by the peo- pie. A
 
 Came Here for Health.