The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-09-01
NEWS FROM THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Written by J. S. Hubbard, Execu-
tive Secretary of the Missouri
Press Association.

i 4
from the radio broadcasting station in
the state capitol, giving an official
message from the convention which
was heard at stations all over the
state. Special interest was taken in
the speech at Sedalia, where the loud
speaking apparatus made it possible
for the people at the State Fair to
hear him clearly.
Mr.. Shartell reviewed the work Of
the convention from the time Of its
organization in May until the present,
briefly outlining its method of proceed
ure and its accomplishments, which
he considers commendable. The
great changes in conditions since the
old constitution was enacted in 1875,
the speaker said, made the work of the
convention more complicated and the
problems hard to solve, thus taking
much time for thorough consideration.
Answering some Of the critics outside
the convention, Mr.. Shartell said:
Il believe the convention will be able
to save the taxpayers of the state
each year several times the cost of the
convention in reduced expenses and
taxes. ! have made these suggestions
for the reason that ever since the con-
stitutional convention amendment was
adopted there has been a persistent
propaganda circulated that we did not
need new or revised constitution,
that the old one was good enough.
This seems to have been continued
since the convention met, by persist
ent propaganda that we are doing
ytat DC
made that were untrue. No one OBJ
jects to fair criticism, but criticism
based upon misstatement of facts
is unfair to the convention and to the
people who sent US here to do this
work. / think it is very likely that
this persistent propaganda is being
put out by certain interests outside of
the convention--the usual invisible
governmental the hope that if the
convention disturbs their hold on the
state they may be able to defeat it's
ratification at the polls. Isn't it pos
sible that the great trusts and COM
bines, the large corporations, the pro-
fessional office holders, the many
commissions that are fastened upon
the people to regulate their affairs,
the Vested gratis and many vested |
interests which are now having their
own way, are all satisfied with the ex-
listing constitution and the super
structure which they have built upon
it, and do not desire that any part of |
it shall be disturbed? So the good !
citizen who is interested only in good |
the welfare of the many,
not the few, should not be influenced |
by this propaganda until the work Of |
the convention is finished and they can
judge for themselves of it's value to
the people. The convention is doing |
good, sound work and l believe will
revise the constitution in the interest |
of all of the people of the state so
that Missouri may grow, not only in
a material way, but in the develop |
ment of an educated, intelligent citi-
zenship."
The report of the COMMITTEE on
taken up by the conven-
ton sitting as the committee of the |
whole, has been under fire all the |
week, but only minute changes have
been made from the original draft by
the committee.
The important changes in the COM
mittee report from the old eonstitu-
ton consisted in reduction of the
biennial sessions Of the general as
sembly from seventy to sixty days,
the increasing Of the pay of members
from SIS to $40 per day and the limit
ing of clerical expenses to $500 per
day in the assembly and $500 per day
in the Senate; limiting special ses-
sions to thirty days at $40 per day
and revising sessions to ninety days
at $40 per day, and the method of
filling vacancies where they occur
within twenty days of the opening of
the general assembly or during its
sessions.
The first opposition to the commit
filling vacancies. The committee pro-
vision calls for appointment by the
governor from the party with which
the member causing the vacancy was
affiliated. One amendment proposed
was to have a member selected by the
county committee and then appointed
by the governor; another provided for
a party convention to select a member
20 be appointed by the governor and
a third would leave the section the
same as in the old constitution, which
provides only for special election in
al cases. The amendments were all
voted down and the committee recon-
nendation adopted.
Objection was next raised to the
of the regular sessions,
md amendments providing for ninety
md seventy days were proposed for
'egular sessions and 100 days for re-
Using sessions. These were also de-
'eated after thorough discussion.
A surprise was sprung on the mem
,ers when an amendment was offered
o the provision for biennial sessions,
hanging the time to four years, and
without discussion it was passed by
vote Of 81 to 33. However, vote
o reconsider was carried and the
question was discussed on both sides. |
The opposition to the quadrennial ses-
ion was that it was taking away {
rom the people one of the most potent {
Instruments for the correction of bad
egislation and the enacting of laws |
or which there was popular demand. |
IN the other side it was commended
hat there We're already too many laws Z
n the statute books and there should |
e a repeating instead of revising
ession; that the people would be bet