Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1920-04-03
CON-CON AIMS To
ESCAPE PITFALLS
Law Makers Endeavor to Avoid
All Questionable Proposals.
MAKE ONLY THREE DECISIONS
Formal Choice includes Recognition Of
Universal Suffrage, state Militia
on Old Basis, Prohibiting
Private Banks.

Of the constitutional convention have
come to a number of informal tenta-
tive agreements, they have reached
only three formal decisions.
One recognizes universal suffrage,
which the nation has approved; an
other provides for the state militia on
the old basis, with the exception of
section regarding conscientious objec-
tors. and The third prohibits private
banks.
The third is important, because 1t
may Indicate tendency to legislate
in the basic law. Every legislative
subject injected into the new consti-
tuition is likely to create for 1t more
enemies than friends.
In the presentation Of the more than
1876 proposals this tendency, 1t Is
stated, was marked. II then was as
sumed that each delegate with a leg
islative idea desired to gain personal
credit with constituents rather than
to fix his pet idea on posterity In the
constitution.
However, the convention leaders as
sert they appreciated the danger and
prevailed upon the delegates to appoint
committee on the distinction be-
tween legislative and constitutional
matters. Then came the charge,
which. they declare, subsequent events
have shown to be untrue, that this
committee was TO choke, cripple and
kill suggested provisions of benefit to
the people generally.
OF the many questionable proposals,
II is alleged, only 10 were sent to this
committee. One permits the manu-
facture and sale Of intoxicants with
8 per cent alcohol, another Az per
cent, another with "lcss than 8 per
cent"
Another proposal would prohibit
puts and calls. another would permit
cities to require property owners to
clean ice from their sidewalks, an
other would permit boxing matches.
Chairman Dletz said that possibly
two ideas referred to the committee
would get out, hut probably only one
that permitting municipalities as a
matter of home rule, to regulate their
own athletics and recreation.
Charles IInmlll was one Of the dele
gates who saw the tendency to at
tempt to leglslnte in the new consti-
tuition. Former Governor Fifer was
another. Hamill presented q pro-
pOsals to the convention with the OBJ
feet of eliminating legislative matter
from the present constitution.
Eight of the IIamill proposals refer
to matter In article II Of the present
constitution, which deals with corpor-
atIOns.s This is the article into which
1t Is now proposed to write pro-
vision prohibiting private banks. From
this article Delegate Hamill would
eliminate sections relating to extor-
ton In railroad rates, preventing
fraudulent railroad securities, relating
to railroad rates and service, resi-
dence requirements of railroad direc-
tors, cumulative voting of directors Of
corporations, referendum on banking
legislation and designating railroad
rolling stock rs personal property.
No decision has been reached on any
OF these subjects.
Public hearings on whether the
Bible shall be read in Illinois public
schools have been closed by the COM
mittee on the bin of rights. II op-
pOnents or proponents desire to argue
further they must get the consent Of
the constitutional convention. Chair
man Rinnker hopes his committee will
decide its recommendation the pres
ent week.
Various committee members have
intimated u majority will oppose COM
pulsOry reading of the Bible, as re-
Guested by the Chicago Church fed.
Grafton. They are undecided whether
they will vote to permit district school
officials 10 decide whether the Bible
shall or shall not be used.
Several delegates favor no change
In the present constitution. That
means thar the Bible will be exclud-
cd, because the supreme court, In a
divided opinion. has so interpreted the
present base law.
Public hearings will he closed April
another week or two will he given to
persons who desire to argue for 'med-
ical Freedom 1t Is hoped to close
the door on that subject within fort
night. Then comes the highly impor-
tant subject of labor and Industrial