ART. XVII. SECTION 1. So altered and amended as to read: The militia shall be composed of all able-bodied male citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such as are exempted by the laws of the United States or of this State; but all such citizens, of any religious denomination whatever, who, from scruples of conscience, may be averse to bearing arms, shall be excused therefrom, upon such conditions as shall be prescribed by law.

ART. XIX. A. SECTION 1. Added: The legislature may, from time to time, pass laws establishing reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of passengers and freight on different railroads in this State; and shall prohibit running contracts between such railroad companies, whereby discrimination is made in favor of either of such companies as against other companies owning connecting or intersecting lines of railroad.

SEC. 2. No railroad corporation shall consolidate its stock, property, or franchises with any other railroad corporation owning a parallel or competing road; and in no case shall any consolidation take place, except upon public notice given of at least sixty days to all stockholders, in such manner as shall be provided by law.

RATIFIED 1876.

ART. IV. Strike out section 47, which prohibits the legislature from passing any act authorizing the grant of license for the sale of ardent spirits or other intoxicating liquors.

ART. IX. SECTION 1. So altered and amended as to read: The governor shall receive an annual salary of one thousand dollars; the judges of the circuit court shall receive an annual salary of two thousand five hundred dollars; the State treasurer shall receive an annual salary of one thousand dollars; the auditor general shall receive an annual salary of one thousand dollars; the superintendent of public instruction shall receive an annual salary of one thousand dollars; the secretary of state shall receive an annual salary of eight hundred dollars; the commissioner of the land-office shall receive an annual salary of eight hundred dollars; the attorney-general shall receive an annual salary of eight hundred dollars. They shall receive no fees or perquisites whatever for the performance of any duties connected with their offices. It shall not be competent for the legislature to increase the salaries herein provided.

ART. XX. SECTION 1. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be proposed in the senate or house of representatives. If the same shall be agreed to by two-thirds of the members elected to each house, such amendment or amendments shall be entered on the journals respectively, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and the same shall be submitted to the electors at the next spring or autumn election thereafter, as the legislature shall direct, and if a majority of electors qualified to vote for members of the legislature voting thereon shall ratify and approve such amendment or amendments, the same shall become part of the constitution.