Recent Important Decisions

Constitutional Law – Adoption and Amendment – Rearrangement not a New Constitution. – A convention was authorized to propose revision, alterations, or amendments to the existing state Constitution. After proposing several amendments which were adopted at popular elections, the convention appointed a special committee to draft a rearrangement of the Constitution and amendments. The reported rearrangement contained slight changes of substance, while declaring that “Such Rearrangement shall not be deemed * * * to change the meaning or effect of any part of the Constitution * * * as theretofore existing or operative.” This Rearrangement was adopted by the convention and ratified by the voters by a large majority. Following an advisory opinion by the supreme court, the administrative officials refused to publish the Rearrangement as the Constitution. On mandamus, held, the Rearrangement is not the state Constitution. Loring v. Young, (Mass., 1921), 132 N. R. 65.