Pocahontas star herald., 1926-03-04
Little Rock Letter

Ck.
ginning to sew patches on The old con-
stitution. No one denies 1t needs patch
ing. 1t is worn threadbare in many
places and is sadly bedraggled by the
efforts that have been made to amend
ii. But there is serious doubts in the
minds of many whether amendments
will ever restore the old document to
its most complete usefulness. Until
the people of Arkansas become suffici-
emily weary of continued efforts to
amendment to demand new constitu-
ton, 1t will be necessary to continue
patching the old. The cost of holding
convention to write a new organic
law would not exceed the cost of sub
mitting numerous proposed amend
ments every two years.
Two proposed amendments are being
initiated and both of them are badly
needed. One of them proposes to
either restrict or prohibit local legisla-
ton. The people Of Arkansas are on
record as being strongly in favor Of
such action. An amendment to this
end was ratified by a large majority
but was lost through a technicality.
There is no doubt but that there is a
popular demand for a more rigid re-
striction of local and special legisla-
tion, which has been clogging the
wheels of the legislature for many
years, and becoming greater every ses-
sion.
At a recent conference of prominent
citizens in Little Rock, a committee
was appointed to draft a proposed
amendment to be submitted to the peo-
pie. There is a difference Of opinion
as to the character Of the amendment.
One suggestion is that the amendment
shall consist of the simplest inhibition
and that it may be stated in the few
est possible words.
"The General Assembly shall not
hereafter enact any special or local
legislation" This is one form of the
amendment which has been proposed.
Another suggestion is that the
amendment should specify the kinds Of
laws which are to be prohibited. 1t is
argued that this method would avoid
complication or the necessity for court
interpretations of every question that
might arise.
The second amendment which is to
be submitted, and for which petitions
are already being circulated, Is one
for which city and county authorities
have been contending for many years.
This is the proposed amendment per-
mitting cities and counties to issue
bonds for internal improvements. Such
an amendment has been submitted from
time to time for many years and of
late the ancient prejudices against
bond issues has been overcome to such
an extent that the people have express
ed their approval Of the proposition.
The amendments, however, have been
drawn in such a manor, so Obscurely or
indefinitely, that the courts have In
variably declared them void.
The proposition to bond issues dates
back to Reconstruction Days. When
the constitution of 1874 was written
the state was still suffering from the
abuse of bond issues, and in their wis
dom the authors of the constitution
wrote into the organic law a positive
prohibition against it. This was en-
phasized a few years later by the
adoption of the sO-called Fishback
Amendment, repudiating several mil
lion dollars worth Of old bonds, the
greater part of which had been issued
by the Carpet-bag regime.
But all of this happened fifty years
ago. Since that time conditions have
changed. The state is making rapid
progress and the people are demanding
that restrictions be removed. The
giant Commonwealth, bound by the
Liliputian cords of ancient prejudice,
is endeavoring to free itself that ii may
enjoy perfect freedom for growth.
There can be little doubt that these
two amendments, the restriction Of
local legislation and permission to issue
bonds, will again be approved by the
people of Arkansas. They are neces-
sary to progress.
An officer Of the convention which
wrote the proposed constitution In
1918, suggested the other day that he
believed the people would approve that
instrument If IL were submitted to
| them again. This could be done by in
| itiative, as an amendment to the pres
ent constitution would be prohibitive.
A number of proposed statutes will
probably be initiated. Among these Is
proposition for the repeal of the So
called "full-crew" law of 1907. Chas.
II. Baltzell of TT Smith is in charge
Of the campaign and has established
headquarters in room 206 Democrat
building. where petitions under the 4
X are now being prepared for submis-
sion to the people. n will be necessary
to secure $4,000 signers to the petition
in order that the question may he plac-
ed on the ballot at the general election
Oct. 5. AT this time" Mr.. Baltzell
said, 1--WE ara simply taking the neces-
sary steps to place this matter official
ly before the people. After the petit
tions are filed, we shall then undertake