The Mena weekly star., 1918-05-02
CONSTITUTION
 MAKERS DO WELL
Committees in Session But Five Days and Outline Many Important Changes for Submission to the
 Convention in July.
(By Clio Harper)

kBy CilO HarpefJ.
 Little Rock--The committees of the Constitutional Convention were in session just five days Their propos- als have been completed and submit ted to President Tom NJ Mehaffy to be turned over to the committee on qualification and phraseology, which will put them into shape for the con sideration of the convention when it reassembles in July.
 President Mehaffy says that he con siders the work done by the commit tees as very thorough and conscien- tions, and that the proposed ccasti- tuition has many improvements over the present document.
 There are few outstanding fea- lures on the constitution upon which all agreed Chief of these is change Of the term of office for all county, district and state officers from two to four years. The Judiciary commit tee provides that justices of the Su- preme court shall serve eight years and chancellcrs six years.
 Among the features of the propo- sals in the hands of President Me haffy are the following
 For quadrennial sessions of the leg islature, the sessions to continue at SO days, and the members to receive $6 day for their services while in actual session.
 That the Senate be reduced from 35 members to not less than IS nor more than 25, and the House of Repreyen- tatives from 100 to not less that Sc nor more than 90.
 Until otherwise provided for, one senator to be elected from each os the present Judicial Circuits as now con stituted, and one representative from each of the present Senatorial Dis i tricts.
 The office of Commissioner of Mines, Manufactures and Agr:cul- ture is to be divided, and provision is made for the Commissioner of Mines Mining and Manufacturers, and Com missioner of Agriculture and Horti- culture.
 No restriction shall hereafter be placed upon the right of suffrage or holding office on account of sex.
 sStrict regulations are provided that it is believed will make the state. wide prohibition absolutely puncture- proof.
 The contract rate of interest is tc 1 be reduced from 10 to per .ent but whether illegal contracts shall 5e penalized by the forfeiture of interest and principal, as now provided, or il interest only, is still mooted point.
 A law for the protection of bank de posits shall be passed.
 Provision is made for a Board oi Pardons, consisting of state officers also a Budget Committee of Stat' officers.
 The Oregon plan of Initiative anC Referendum is adopted with few minor changes Counties are no given power of the initiative. The re call was rejected.
 Provision is made for the enactment of laws providing for a graduated tax
 The salary of the Governor is raised to $7,500, and the salaries of other state officers are raised, until the, may be fixed by the legislature.
 Cities are given the power of is suing bonds for internal improve ments, upon vote of the people.
 All warrants hereafter issued shal be numbered consecutively and re deemed in the order of their issuance
 Taxation for highways connecting county seats shall be assessed agains both personal and real property.
 The legislature is given authorit. to enact a workmen's compensation law.
 Provision is made for the off e o4 Lieutenant- Governor, who shall b' president of the Senate, and become governor in the event of the disab,lit! of that official.
 i Absolute prohibition of all loca legislation where a general law vii serve the purpose is provided.
 The operation of no general law shall be suspended for the benefit O i any individual, corporation, or asso citation
 1 No changes are suggested in thu existing laws for the regulation ol improvement districts. There shall be Board of Edu tion of seven members to be appoint ed by the governor, the presiding off cer being the Commissioner of Edu cation, the manner of whose selection shall be left to the legislature.
 AFTERTHOUGHTS.