THE ISSUE

The TimesDaily recommends "yes" votes on Amendments 9 and 10 in the Nov. 6 election.

Alabama's 1901 constitution is a mess. Cluttered with 850 amendments, it is unwieldy and unfair. Its provisions reflect the power of landowners, and their determination to maintain that power.

While most agree the document needs a massive overhaul, those who benefit from the archaic tome are resisting. If a major re-write takes place, it will not be soon.

Rather than wait for the best solution, the bipartisan Alabama Constitutional Revision Committee is making what improvements it can. The Nov. 6 ballot will include two amendments that update relatively non-controversial provisions.

Amendments 9 and 10 modernize portions of the Constitution dealing with business privilege taxes and banks. The amendments remove references to the gold standard and telegraphs and generally modernize the language. Neither revision makes substantive changes.

It's a small step toward creating a functional Constitution, but it's a step in the right direction.