Arizona republican., 1922-02-28
AMENDMENTS
BY
A. |. {. FIND.
SUPPORTERS
State Senate Adopts All
Recommendation Sub
mitted By Industrial
Body On Constitution

OF the whole, which embraced the fun
membership of that body. the senate
yesterday endorsed, sometimes by a
narrow margin, all the amendments
to the constitution proposed by the
industrial congress. In all the voting
the party line was never drawn.
Though a majority OF che Repub-
licans favored the amendments, the
submission OF them was the more
strenuously opposed by Republicans.
The amendments were taken up in
the morning session by the commit
tee. The first OF them was the one
requiring that initiated and referred
measures should be enacted only by a
ma jority of the votes cast at the elec-
tion at which they were submitted,
instead Of by majority of the votes
cast on the measures themselves.
President Wilkinson opposed this
amendment on the ground that it
would result in the notification of all
legislation attempted by the legisla-
ture except such as could be passed
by a two-thirds vote, carrying the
emergency clause. He declared that
it was so easy to invoke the referen-
dunn that that might be done in every
case and in no case, il there was a
matter submitted, would there be a
majority Of all the votes cast in favor
Of the proposition.
Wilkinson Taunted
President Wilkinson was taunted
by Senator Sims with the statement
that he was opposing a recommenda-
ton Of Governor Campbell in his
message. The president replied that
he was not aware that the governor
had recommended this form OF
amendment, but any way he regretted
the implication from the senator from
Cochise that the president was with
out mind of his own. Messrs. Lar
son, Hedrick and Saunders supported
the president in opposition.
Messrs. Claypooi and Curtin, who
generally opposed "monkeying' with
the constitution, spoke against the
proposed amendment, after which a
motion for its recommendation was
Offered by Senator Stoddard. who
was chairman Of the committee in
charge OF the amendments. A roll
call was as follows:
Y Ayeg--Burton, Gull, Elliott, Goodell,
Lines. Morgan, Scott, Sims, Stoddard,
Woodward-10.
Nays-Claypool Curtin, Eddy, He'd
rick, Larson, Macmillan, Saunders,
Schleimer, the presidents.
Mr.. Sims had originally voted
against the amendment and then
changed.
Next came the amendment to re-
peal the clause in the constitution
relating to the direct primary. Mr..
Larson took the lead in opposition,
calling upon the proponents of it for
an explanation of the need Of it. In
the argument on the preceding
amendment, Mr.. Burton had asked
that the chairman of the legislative
committee Of the industrial congress
be allowed the privilege of the floor
to explain that and other proposed
amendments. He now told Mr.. Lar
son that he had lost the opportunity
of hearing an explanation by oppos-
ing his motion then.
Chief Objection
Mr.. I4arson,s chief objection though
was the facility which might be given
for boss control il the direct primary
was abolished. The advocates of the
amendment suggested that it did not
propose the abolition of the direct,
primary which was already provided
for by statute, but only the repeal of
the constitutional provision and the
comforting of power upon the legis-
lature to prescribe a manner if it so
desired of nominating candidates for
office. This amendment was favor
ably reported by a vote of is to 3,
Messrs. Claypool, Curtin and Larson
voting in the negative.
No roll calls were asked for on the
other amendments, though each rec
ommendation for favorable report
was preceded by a sharp debate. OPP
position was offered, though not Wig
orously, to the amendment proposing
four year terms for county officers.
But the amendment prescribing a
four-year term for members of the
legislature led to prolonged run
ming debate in which Mr.. Larson
again led the opposition.
There might be, he said, some rea-
son for a four-year term for state
and county officers, but there could
be none or members OF the legisla-
ture. 1t was no accident, he said,
that fixed the term of representatives.
in congress at two years instead or
longer period. II was the design that
members Of lawmaking bodies should
be held close to the people.
Should Not Disturb Law
Mr.. Larson further said in general
opposition to the amendments that
ne Old not DellSNe that AL tiOubtO"S
times there should be unnecessary
disturbance OF the fundamental law.
Mr.. Saunders replied. though he had
opposed some OF the amendments,
that this seemed to him TO be the
time. Whoever had heard, he asked,
of a man in normal condition UNDER
going an operation for appendicitis?
President Wilkinson inquired how,
IL elections we're to be held only ev-
cry four years, initiated proposals
could be submitted to the people ev-
ery two years. Mr.. Sims replied that
the amendment prescribing that
general election be held every two
years for the choice OF a representa-
tive in congress had taken care OF
that. The legislature, he added,
would not be left helpless to order the
submission Of legislation. "It would
be helpless" replied the president
without the advice and consent of
the supreme court" the president
doubtless having in mind the opinion
OF the court in the case Of House Bin
SO of the regular session. The
amendment was finally agreed to. 1t
provides for the election Of members
of the legislature in 1922 to hold to
Jan. /. 1927.
Another amendment considered by
the committee in the afternoon was
that Of a statute providing for the
co cooperation OF the counties with the
university, under a federal act, in
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