The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1918-11-01


ed to women. This franchise grant
would be only an extension OF th4t
grant made by the Arkansa legisla.
| ture when it gave women the right
to vote in primaries. The resolution
to submit to the state ain equal
suffrage amendment TO the federal
constitution, which had passed the
house, failed by only two votes 60
! get the necessary two thirds majority
in the senate, there being So ayes TO
81 noes. Both Senators Robinson ana
Kirby of Arkansas voted for it, Also
| qualified voters in the American mili
| taTy service would be allowed to vo,e
in time of war, wherever they might
| be stationed and without payment of
poll tax.
BECAUSE the general assembly
would be relieved of the great flood
| of local Legislation and left free to
| devote its time to important general
| legislation. But ample means are
| provided by which counties and local
communities could handle all matters
of local legislation.
BECAUSE bone dry prohibition
would be providei for, bat authority
would be left with the legislature to
fix penalties for violations of he
prohibition laws.
BECAUSE the present tax commits
sion and the present railroad commits
sion would be merged into corpora
ton commission with jurisdiction
over all public utilities.
BECAUSE. with the purpose of pre-
venting abuse of the pardoning pow
er on the one hand and on the other
OF giving the governor the benefit of
aid and counsel in passing on ques-
lions involving mems liberty and
even their lives, board of pardons,
consisting of the attorney general,
the secretary of state and the auditor
would be created
BECAUSE state officials would be
elected every four years and limited
to one term. 1t is generally agreed
that Arkansas has too many elections
The new plan would save time and
money and should contribute to the
efficiency in the public service by
giving each official four years of un-
interrupted tenure. County officers
would be elected only every four
years but the legislature would have
, power to change this provision.
BECAUSE the legislature would
meet only every four years for gen.
eral legislation, but would meet be-
tween the four year sessions to con-
slider general appropriation bills for
the maintenance of state institutions
and to examine into the conduct OF
such institutions and the accounts OF
state officers If some matter OF
great importance demanded attention
at the time of an intermediate ses-
sion it could be acted upon at a
special session called upon by the
governor, which would in effect be
an extension of the short session.
BECAUSE of the provision of a
lieutenant governor. to be elected by
the people, would prevent the office
of governor from becoming vacant by
death or disability of the governor
| BECAUSE two justices would be
added to the supreme court, to enable
that tribunal to dispose with iitiga-
ton with promptness, while giving
| full consideration to every case.
BECAUSE the provision to author
ize verdicts by five sixths of a jury
| in civil and misdemeanor cases would
prevent many mistrials and make for
speedier justice, This would not be
a radical departure, for many OF the
other states of the Union now allow
five sixths of jury to return a
verdict.
BECAUSE the fee system in the
office of prosecuting attorney would
be abolished and a fixed compensa-
ton submitted.
BECAUSE while counties and cities
as well as the state would be pro-
hibited from spending more money In
any wear than the revenues for that