CLASS LEGISLATION by W. N. G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 15, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 11.

CLASS LEGISLATION.

By W. N. G.

THE present constitution of the State of California has done good service ever since its adoption in preventing or annulling special or class legislation. Many vicious measures have been estopped before enactment, or on the first test in the Supreme Court after enactment, by this wise provision of the fundamental law. But the class of people who have endeavored and still desire to profit by special legislation have chafed under the prohibition, until at last an effort is boldly made to get it out of the way. Gambling with the forlorn hope that the people may have changed their minds upon this subject, an amendment to the constitution is proposed. Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 20 proposes to the people the following provision:—

"That a new section be added to article fourth, to read as follows:—

"SECTION 36. The Legislature may, by a concurrence of four-fifths of all the members elected to each House, pass a local or special law, or make an exception or exceptions to the operation of a general law."

It seems hardly probable that it will pass even one House, but there is no telling in these days what a Legislature may bring forth, or what the people may indorse. The appearance of a picture in a morning paper passed the Anti-Cartoon Bill, which had been previously defeated in the Senate; and the appearance of the Catholic archbishop in the capitol sent the Church Tax Exemption Amendment through both Houses with astonishing unanimity. Yet the Legislature has denied approval of several bad measures, and there is strong probability that this one will be added to the number. W. N. G.