The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-02-20
Nusmber 43.

from evils that other people have suffered,
and am determined, so far as | am con-
cerned, TO share none of the responsibility
of introducing them into Pennsylvania
If done by otheis, their be the honor,
want il not.
Bit am satisfied that neither agfeeably
10 the spirit of our Constitution, moi on the
ground fexpediency, ought the appoint
ment to be vested in the Legislature: The
Legislature have the power of enaciing the
laws making the appropriations TO purposes
ofiniernal improvement; and the spirit of
the Constitution, as well as the legislation
of the Commonwealth, has provided that
the disbursement of the moneys and settlea
ment Of the accounts of,he Commonwealth
should be in the hands Of officers differently
appointed, evidently to prevent combina-
tions or coluson, or the operation OF the
same influences in the appointment Of each;
To give 10 the branches of government
which appropriate the moneys, the appoint.
ment of the officers who are to disburse
them, would,in my judgment, tend to break
down the safeguards provided by the Com
stitution in the disbursements of public
moneys.
The Bill before me presents other difiii
; culties. The constitution vests the legislai
tive power in the General Assembly; the
/ Executive power in Governor, and de-
cares the duties of both. The leading duty
Of the former is to enact laws, and of the
latter, to take cate that they are faithfully
executed.To enable him to perform that dui
ty, the Constitution declares call officers
, whose election or appointment is no. provii
ded for in this constitution, shall be elected or
f appointed as shall be directed by law" A
: plausible argument may be drawn from the
Bill before me, that it establishes mode of
y appointment within the latter clause above
g of the Constitution, which declares that s'no
. member of the Senate and House of Repre-
h sentaives shall be appointed by the Governs
}. or to any Office during the term for which
!. he shall have beed elected" it manifestly
:. shows that the people intended 10 conGne
d the principal duiius Of their Representatives
+ to direct legislation. If this Bill becomes a
law, and the principal extended, they might
|, ill all Offices out Of their respective bodies,
is which would destroy their purity, and des'
Is troy the incompatible principle in the Con-
IS stitution, which restrains the Governor from
d making appointments from either House,
10 during the time for which they shall have
e been elected.
y In point Of expediency think the Bill
n ought not TO become law, and this think
i, is manifest from our previous legllaiion on
f. this subject.
Under the acts Of 9th of March, 1924,
d, 1lth April 1925, 10Th April, 1926, and 10th
re April 1927, the Canal Commissioners were
h. appointed by the Executive. At first the
Sc Board consisted of three members;-it was
,lf then increased TO fve;and by the act of 9th
n April, 1896, it was increased to nine; at
s. which number it continued until $780,
as By the act of 10th Of April, 1929, nine
d. persons named in the law, were appointed
lis Canal Commissioners, and authority was
1g given to the Governor to fill any vacancies
IS, which might occur in the Board, from deaths
TO resignation or otherwise.
On the sixth day of April, 1880, in less
n than year after its passage, the act of l6tt
la April, 1920, was repealed, and the Govern
ir- or was authorized to appoint three persons
raj as Board of Canal Commissioners: publ,
nd opinion having decidedly pronounced a
he gainst the appointment by the Legislature
he By the act of 2sth January, 1886, the tin,
in of appointing Canal Commissioners wa
nt- changed from the let of June, to the lst'o
he February ,and by the provisions ofthat law
Of the then existing Board of Canal Comms
of sioners were legislated out of ofice fou
months before the expiration Of their com
in missions, but no change as 10 the numhe
or of the Commissioners, of their mode oil ap
an pointment was made. 1t will be within I'll
her recollection Of all, that the leading reason