The Dickinson press., 1917-01-27
Proposal to Revise Constitution
Before Legislature
APPROVES MEASURE
Declares IL Special Message That
Proposed Legislation Is Of
Greatest Moment.

neuvering and sparring at the Capital
City was the introduction in the house
by Representative A. M. Hagan of Bot
tineau county of house bill No. A., the
delivery of Governor Frazier's special
message before a joint session of the
assembly and the passage of the two
woman suffrage bills introduced by
Senator Lindstrom. House bill No. a.
is a concurrent resolution submitting
to the people a revised constitution
to be voted upon the last Wednesday
In June, 1917. It has passed the third
reading In the house and has gone to
the senate, where it must be reported
out Of committee within seven days.
The proposed revision of the consitu-
ton has held the center Of the stage
all week, though rivaled somewhat by
the other issues mentioned. The pro-
posed changes in the basic law are
not 80 radical as was expected, and
yet they are liberal enough to permit
the house majority and the political
element it represents to carry out the
proposed state ownership program.
The principal changes are found in
new sections "a, 1853 and 172.
< 4 +
The first mentioned section permits
the state or any subdivision thereof
to engage in any occupation or bust.
ness for public purposes that an indi-
vidual or a corporation may. Section
1853 provides for increasing the bonded
debt limit from 100000 to $500, 900.
Section 172 reads as follows: THE
state or any political division thereof
may issue or guarantee the payment
of bonds in excess of the debt limit
specified in this article, provided such
bonds are secured by first mortgages
upon real estate, Or upon property Of
public utilities, enterprises or indus.
tries"
The governor in his special message
to the joint session of the assembly
urged the passage of house bill No. a.
as the most important measure that
will come before the legislative assem-
bly,. "This resolution" proceeded the
governor, "has for it's object the sub
mission to the people Of a new consti-
tuition for u state for their approval
or rejection at a special election next
June. This new constitution is prac-
tically our old constitution with a few
additions of progressive measures,
which, I believe, will work for the bet
terment of u state" The governors
message was received warmly and I'M
mediately after the joint session dis.
solved a concurrent resolution passed
both houses providing for the printing
and distribution Of 1000 more copies
Of house bill "A.
+ !. 4
EARLY in the week the two suffrage
bills came up in the house for final
passage. These bills originated in the
senate and No. ~ provided for limited
franchise, taking effect in June, SINH
lar to that now enjoyed by Illinois
women, and No. 10 proved for a con-
stitutional amendment which will be
passed upon by the people and, If ap-
proved, become effective in 1920. On
the day of the voting suffrage workers
packed the gallery and waited impa-
tiently for the disposal Of other mat
tiers on the calendar. Some uneasiness
was created by the report that Repre-
sentative Rott had lined up forty
votes against the measures. But the
report turned out to be unfounded and
the bills were passed without debate.
The suffrage bills are the first to pass
the assembly and receive the govern
or's signature. It is probably the first
time in American history that legfsla-
ton looking to the extension of the
franchise to women has passed q leg
islative body so quickly and with so
little opposition, bill No. IL passing by
a vote of 80 for, 10 against and 6 alb
sent or not voting. Those voting
against the bill were Blanchard, Gel
ger, Geiszler, Isaak, Roller, Kunkel,
Larson of Cass, Mackoff, Moen of
Trail, Nathan, Olson of Cavalier,
Rott, Schrag, Storstad, Turner, Weber,
Mees, Meyer and Wiley. Those absent
and not voting YER Ebel, Gunhus,
Hoghoug, Martz, Lageson and Wright.
On bill No. 10 there were twenty
votes opposed, the new recruit to the
opposition being F. H. Kelley of Ram
sey. Mees Of Morton explained that
he was voting in accordance with the
sentiments Of his constituents, and
voted no.
i. SIS
The new administration is up in
arms against the recommendation of
the budget board which proposes that
the capitol street car line be discon-
tinued., The budget board points out
that the enterprise is q financial fail
r and that further extensions can
not be made, and that it is run ille-
gally now, the stats having no author
tty to engage in internal improve.
ments. The new administration re-
plies that the capitol street car line
can be made to pay Il operated as .
business proposition and II the lines
are extended % ID to take In the pen.