Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-10-26
Three Changes Proposed
for State Constitution
VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER
CHANGES SHALL BE MADE
IN BASIC LAW

Three proposed amendments to the
Wisconsin constitution, involving i'm
portant changes to the basic law of
the state, are to voted on at the Nov
ember election, which occurs on the
day, with scarcely no discussion of
their import having been made before
the public, George Brown in charge of
the election department of the secre-
tary of states office, says
One proposed amendment would
authorize cities to incur an addition
al five per cent indebtedness to ac-
quire and operate public utilities, an
other would permit valid jury YER
dict in civil cases by five-sixths vote
and the third would permit sheriffs
to succeed themselves.
Under the present provisions of the
constitution, cities and other munich
palities are prohibited from becoming
indebted in any manner for any pur-
pose to any amount, including existing
Indebtedness, in the aggregate exceed
ing five per cent on the value of tax
able property with in its limits, this
to be ascertained by the last assess
ment for the state and county taxes
previous to the mourning of the in
debtedness.
If the proposed amendment is rati-
fled by the people, cities will be au-
thorized to incur an additional five
per cent Indebtedness for the purpose
of acquiring or constructing street
railway properties, Or properties for
the production, transmission or fur
nishing of heat, light, water or power
to the public This measure has long.
been fought out in the legislature and
has been passed by two sessions. It's
adoption would permit extension of
municipal ownership which is now
hampered by the debt limiting pro-
visions of the constitution.
The proposed change in the law
governing trial by jury is suggested
for use in cival cases. Under the pres
ent provisions a verdict to be valid
must be based on the votes of all the
members of the jury in both civil and
criminal cases. If this proposed amend
ment is ratified by the, people, the leg
islature will have the power to provide
by law that in civil cases, the votes of
a specified number of the jury, less
than all, but not less than five-sixths,
shall be sufficient for valid verdict
This amendment is proposed by law
yers who feel that in civil cases the
requirement for unanimous jury YER
dict often hampers attainment of JUS
tice. This proposal involves an import
ant rhange in court procedure.
The suggested amendment to the
provision of the constitution forbid
ding sheriffs to succeed themselves in
Office for two years next succeeding
the termination of their terms is pro-
posed in order that successful peace
officers may be continued in their
positions.
For years there has been agitation
for change in the constitution to
permit the sheriffs to hold Office for
consecutive terms but the proposal
has never been sanctioned by the cleo
torate.
The Washburn News tersely gives
the practical purpose of the proposed
amendments in the following words
and urges Washburn county voters to
adopt them, and in our estimation
Villas county and all others should
vote favorably on them.
The first one permits the legislative
to pass a law allowing juries to de-
eide civil cases without unanimous
vote of the twelve jurors. But in no
case by less than ten out of the twelve
The law remaining as it now is is
criminal suits.
In this way it is sought to speed
up civil process and prevent delay by
hung juries.
see no good reason why the sheriff
coed themselves in Office and We can
see no good reason why the sheriff
should not be allowed to succeed him
self as well as any other codnty Off.
cial.
Third and last is the constitutional
provision to permit bonding of cities