The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-29
NEW CONSTITUTION
 MAY BE REVISED
When Convention Conveues Delegates May Reopen Any Proposition Much Yet to Be Done-Synopsis
 of Work Accomplished.
(By Clio Harper)

Little Rock, Aug. 26.-The fact that the constitutional convention has com pleted the consideration of 130 pages of printed proposals, and adjourned until September IS, does not mean that the work of the convention has been concluded. The Phraseology Committee still has plenty of work to do, and when the convention recon venes, it is possible that it will re- quire several days to wind up the business.
 There is nothing to prohibit the convention from reopening any old proposition or introducing new ones. The recess resolution placed no re- striction whatever upon the conven- tion, and if two-thirds of the member ship should be in favor of reopening any proposition with a view to strengthening it, several days may he spent in perfecting the draft of the proposed instrument.
 As t now stands the constitution is to be submitted Gas a whole" or en bloc, rather than by sections, as some had advocated It is known that there will be at least one proposition for the submission of separate lection, that of the graduated land tax. J. R. Will son of Bradley, chairman of the special committee appointed on that subject, endeavored to get his propo- sal considered in the closing hours of the convention but failed. When it reconvenes, he will ask that his pro- posal be sumbitted separately It is possible that others may ask for the similar treatment of some other sub jects.
 During the last hour of the session Delegate F. o. Butt moved that wom- en be permitted to vote at the special election to be called for the consti- tuition, which proposes their complete enfranchisement. This was opposed on the ground that until the new con- stitution is adopted, women are not electors, and that to permit them to vote would invalidate of jeopardize the validity of the constitution His resolution failed, but there are some who hold that it should have been adopted, with the understanding that before the election is held a test suit be instituted to determine the legal question raised It is held that the convention is a sovereign body (which some deny), and that as such it has full powers to prescribe the qualifica- tion of the electors who vote upon it's ratification or rejection.
 Many of the proposals adopted are compromises, as very few, if any, got all they wanted, or what they wanted, in fact, it is compromise instrument. The advocates for some propositions surrendered unwillingly, others yield ed gamely, but few weeks study at home among their constituents, may induce several of the delegates to at l tempt to make changes.
 Here are some of the most import l ant changes made by the new consti- tuition:
 Provided for quadrennial elections and terms for all officers, state, dis trict and county.
 Created the office of Lieutenant | Governor.
 Provided for woman suffrage and | absolute prohibition.
 Provided for alternate 30 day ses- sions and 60 day sessions of the legis- lature, general laws to be enacted only every four years at the long terms
 Fixed salary of governor at $7,500, with proportionate raises for other state officers, and salary of members of the legislature at s1 900 for four years.
 Changed the office of Prosecuting Attorney to District Attorney.
 Provided for Commissioner of Education to be appointed by the governor, instead of Superintendent of Education to be elected by the peo- pie.
 Provided for County Superinten- dents in all counties.
 Authorized the establishment of i and schools for adult ! 
 Added license, franchise, excise, in- come, inheritance, legacy, succession, production land other specific taxes" as taxable sources of revenue
 Permitted the segregation of kinds of property for state taxes.
 Provided a system of bond issues for municipal improvements.
 Adopted the Oregon system of In- itiative and Referendum with some