The Red Cloud chief., 1920-01-29
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION NOTES

NOlNV EN llON NOlL LD /
Iincoln.-Many school principals
and teachers, headed by Superintend-
| ent Jesse Newton of Lincoln. appeared
before the convention last Friday and
urged the enactment of Il provision for
state board of education of seven
members, appointed by the governor,
tie board to elect Il state commission
ar of education with jurisdiction over
all public grade and high schools. Pat
ronS of the rural schools opposed the
appointive board.
At mass meeting held Thursday,
January II. an organization was per-
fected tn abolish capital punishment In
Nebraska. Mrs. George H. Holden was
made chairman and she will pick a
temporary committee. composed of
nine members. to assist her. II Is the
Intention of the organization to use
It's efforts IN the constitutional conven-
tiOn for the abOlishment Of the death
penalty. The work of the organization
viii be statewide. Delegate Flansburg
or Lancaster county has submitted n
proposal In the convention to abolish
capital punishment by constitutional
enactment
Delegate W. IT, Pitzer of Otoe
county has presented proposal de.
signed TO withhold the ballot from ma.
tive horn children of parents who
themselves are not eligible to citizen
ship under the laws OF the United
states, and to withhold the ballot from
persons convicted OF felony or trea-
son. or convicted under such laws OF
the crime or offcnse of membership
In or conspiracy with any society or
organization engaged in advocating or
attempting TO effect the destruction or
overthrow by force of the governmen,
OF the state or United States.
Several proposals affecting the legs-
lature were introduced i'm the conven-
tion during the past week. They
would reduce the number Of house
members from 100 TO eighty. The num-
bcr OF state senators from thirty
three to twenly-seyen. repeal the
siNty-day limit on the length of Tegis-
lative sessions and permit two-thlrds
of either house To dispense with tho
reading of measure on three sepa-
rate days.
delegation of women conferred
with the suffrage committee last week
and urged that it report suffrage
amendment which will not contain the
word male but will state that call
citizens Of the United States. ~ years
OF age and upward. who have resided
in the state for six months, shall be
electors"
Governor McKelve explained the
workings OF his administrative code
bill to the committee on the executive
department. He urged the principle
of the code bill he made q part of the
new constitution, with the governor
the center of the state government
The convention in committee OF the
whole, rejected a resolution that would
practically have instructed it's COM
ami county officials in years other than
those III which presidential election
Is held
Tie convention, by a vote of &c to
rs, rejected an amendment providing
trial 10y jury for persons charged with
constructive contempt of court or viO-
lation Of city ordinances when the Of
fense Is held to he II crime under state
or federal statutes.
Although he knew I'm advance that II
would have no chanc, Of adoption,
Delegate Norton, of Polk county,
thrust into the hopper of the cOnven-
t'on n proposal providing that the Leg
isature shall In the future consist of
only one house.
Three hundred and eight proposals
for changes I'm the constitution are be-
fore the convention. No more pro-
posals can be introduced, except by
permission of fifty-one Of the 100 dele
gates.
The committee on industrial rela-
tions Is apparently deadlOcked on the
proposal to have the constitution rec
ognize labors right To collective bar
gaining.
Five-sixths of Jury may return a
verdict In civil cases, the convention
has decided The amendment was rec
commended for adoption.
Delegate EppersOn, of Clay county,
author of II proposal to abolish the
state railway commission, told the
committee on public service corpora
tlOns that the commission had not CIV
en- the public square deal I'm the way
OF telephone rates. The committee
took no action.