The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-31
Those Constitutional Amend
ments

ments
In addition to the referred and ini-
tiated measures presented on the bal
lot for the special election Septem-
Der %. there are two constitutional
amendments which have drawn only
passing attention.
The first of these. in the order in
which it appears on the ballot, re-
lates to the consolidation Of certain
county offices. It provides that, In
counties with less than $4,000 popula-
ton, the county Judge also shall be
clerk Of the district court and in
counties Of less than 5000 population
the register Of deeds shall hold that
office as well as be county judge and
clerk OF the district court. No other
offices are affected.
The amendment was proposed in
answer to a demand for more efficient
operation Of county governments and
reduction of their cost. In some coun-
ties there is insufficient work to keep
these officials fully occupied and
many persons contend that one man
could easily do the work now assign
ed by law to the various jobs which
would be consolidated.
The second amendment relates to
the manner Of performing a purely
legislative function, that of reading
bills upon which the lawmakers must
vote.
At present bills are read lat length"
when they are introduced and, i'm
mediately thereafter, are given a Sec
ond reading by title. A third read
ing, also at length Is had when the
measure is placed upon its final pass
age.
The proposed amendment would
provide for q reading "by title" when a
bill Is introduced and . second read
ing "at length" upon some other day.
Reading at length when the bill is up
for final passage would be dispensed
with.
The proposal is one by legislators
and Is strictly for legislative con-
venience. They are asking their boss
Is, the people, whether they may do
their work in this manner.
The argument made for the pro-
poaal Is that it would save the law
makers many weary hours along to-
ward the end of the session when the
bills pile up. The bills have been
considered in committee anyway and
frequently are amended so they are
Tar different from the proposal orig
1nauy introduced. Each legislator
doesn't have time to study every bill
and 50 he must depend largely upon
committee recommendation.
On this basis third reading OF bills
is waste Of time and an imposition
upon the Woodworking legislators.
There is another side to it, however
which the public can hardly overlook.
II bills are to be placed on final pass
age IN this manner, 1t will mean that
many lawmakers will be voting on
measures which they do not UNDER
stand. They will not know what the
ouls contain and so will be in no posi-
lion to make independent judgment
In effect they will be voting merely
as they are told and this is a had
situation in a democratic form of
government. What could be more
conducive to boss control of the leeis.
lature?
A better system would seem to be
70 demand that the legislature so
manage its affairs as to avoid last.
minute jams. They are unnecessary
except as a result Of legislative pro-
crastination. The men who drew the
constitution assumed that every law
maker would know what is in hill
oetore ne says yes or no. The citi-
zen OF today has the right to exnect
the same thing.