Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-11
constitutional.
ELECTION To De
HELD ON DEC. Z
Illinois Voters viii Accept
or Reject the One Pre-
pared by Recent State
Convention

| Chicago, Dec. 10 (by the Associ-
ated Press Illinois voters Tues
day will decide whether the pres
ent state constitution, adopted 81
years ago, is to be supplanted by
the draft prepared by the recent
constitutional convention, which
has worked from January, 1920, on
the subject, until this fail.
Drafting of the proposed consti-
tuition was attended by bitter con-
troversies, principally over the
question of home rule for Chicago
and legislative representative OF
this city and Cook county.
Opponents Of the draft have cen
tered their attack on the income
tax law provisions and on the fact
that it is submitted in it's entirety
They point out that the Ohio con-
Istitutional convention in 1912 sub
mitted draft which could be
voted on by sections.
Perfection Not Claimed
The constitutional convention, In
an address to the people of the
state, did not claim perfection for
its product, but assert 1t is the best
compromise possible between the
various elements represented In
the convention.
at is not to be pretended that
the instrument is perfect" the ad-
dress says, "or even that it repre-
.sents all, the hopes and wishes OF
any one man or group of men. II
is, as was the federal constitution,
and as all such measures must be
the result of compromise. No vot-
er would appropoach its consider
alton with the mind to compare II
with his ideal, for this is to con-
denim it in advance. Nor should II
be an objection that some desired
provision is not found within its
pages, unless that provision is In
the old instrument. The real and
only question presented to the peo-
pie of Illinois is: "Is this proposed
new constitution, framed by your
representatives, better than the
constitution under which you now
live?"
Besides providing for state in
come tax, and admitting Chicago
to home rule IL the city wishes to
adopt a new charter, the draft pro-
Ivides, among other changes:
The right Of trial by jury may
be waived in all felony cases ex-
cept those involving capital pun
ishment, and the general assem-
bly, may enact laws permitting
women to serve on juries or per-
hitting juries of less than twelve
in civil cases.
Cook County Limited
Cook county is permanently lin
tied to not more than 19 of the
81 seats in the state senate, but
is given equal representation with
the rest of the state, on the basis
of population, in the house.
The governor may supplement
proclamations calling special ses.
sions of the legislature, with one
additional message covering mat.
ters omitted from the original call
municipalities are permitted te
pass zoning ordinances to supervise
their growth.
The general assembly may pass
farm loan laws to encourage own
ership of land by actual occupants
the loans to be amortized within
33 years.
The fee system for justices ol
the peace and constables is abol-
ished. and local districts are au-
thorized to abolish the office il
they desire.
Forest land or areas devoted tc
forest culture may be exempted
from taxation.
No statutes of limitations shall
apply to public officials until ar
audit of their accounts has beer
made.