The Mena weekly star., 1918-12-12

RES OF state 0xffccfS are raised, that
two new judges of the Supreme
court are provided for and that the
people are to be allowed to vote
special levies upon themselves and to
vote bonds for public improvements.
Many other provisions, such as the
abolition Of the fee system in the Of
flee of prosecuting attorney, author
izing verdict by ten Jurors in civil
and misdemeanor cases, placing the
state, counties and cities on cash
basis and the consequent destruction
of speculation in warrants or scrip,
providing for elections only every
four years, the consolidation Of the
tax commission with the railroad
commission and the consequent abo-
lition of three state officers, the alb
olition of the special bin evil in the
legislature and relegating local mat
ters to the people in the localities
concerned, the more liberal provisions
for use of the initiative and ferer-
endum, are concededly good and are
popular with the people.
In as much as we have state wide
prohibition already and as this ques-
tions seems to be settled in the minds
of the people, no objection seems to
be made to making the provision
constitutional, nor does there appear
to be any serious opposition to the
provision extending the right to vote
TO women. 1t seems to be recognized
that the extension of full rights of
citizenship to women Is a foregone
conclusion for both state and nation
and thoroughly in keeping with the
democratic spirit Of the times.
There are those who in fact do OBJ
ject to the two latter provisions, but
owing to their popularity those who
object to the new constitution on
these grounds voice this opposition
by criticism of other features. They
hope to get the people stirred up over
the question of taxation and to lose
sight of other matters Of vital con-
concern and thus indirectly encom-
pass the defeat of prohibition. woman
suffrage or such measures as might
not be defeated by direct methods.
Personally, there as some minor
provisions of the proposed new con-
stitution to which | object, but do
not propose to allow these to obscure
my view of the more vital and inn
portant provisions to which | do sub
scribe most whole heartedly. Per-
haps there is no one provision that
could receive the unanimous vote of
Fall the people. but on the whole the
new is certainly vast improvement
over the old constitution
Personally, do not believe In uf-
duly large salaries for any officers,
state, county or city / think | have
amply proven my position on this
matter by my action when as MEM
ber Of the legislature | had the Off
GERS of Polk county placed on reas-
enable salaries, yet am aware that
owing to the increased cost of living
salaries that were liberal and fair a
few years ago may be entirely in
adequate and Unjust at the present
time. Some of the state officers
ought to have better salaries than
are now provided by law. Possibly
some of the salaries provided in the
new constitution are too large, but il
they are the legislature or the people
by initiative act. may reduce them.
If these salaries were irrevocably
fixed by the new constitution | should
object most strenuously. but In as
much as this is not true / expect to
swallow this small Objectionable pro-
vision for the sake of obtaining the
other changes which to my mind are
so vital and important to the contin-
ued progress and future welfare Of
the state and its people.
am not crazy about having big
bond issues foisted upon the people
for useless public improvements, but
| do think that when the people want
to make needed public improvements,
which cannot be made by levies of
taxation which would be burdensome
to bear at one time they ought to be
allowed, in other wards, they ought
to allow themselves this privilege.
Under the new constitution such bond
issues are not authorized except by
vote of a majority of go per cent of
those voting at an election held es-
pecially for passing upon such issues.
Nor can any special tax ieyies as pro-
vided for be made without the ex-
press sanction of the people. In other
words, whether bonds for any pur-
pose or increased tax icvies may be
made beyond the maximum already
allowed in the old constitution, are
matters that are not to be forced up
on the people but are TO be left en-
tirely up to them. Under this pro-
vision am sure that bond issues
might be proposed which personally
i would oppose and that additional
tax ievies might be submitted which
might think unnecessary and un-
duly burdensome, but II this should
happen II would be my democratic
privilege to express my disapproval
by my vote, but I believe the people
ought to have what the majority of
them want and should the majority
overrule my wishes in such matters
/ do not think I should complain. I,
for one, am willing to trust my fellow
citizens. They cannot. and do not
think, have the disposition to thrust
upon me burdens which ] am unable
to bear and which would bear equal
ly hard upon them.
IL the new constitution allowed
rIIste-.~I 49, le..t--