The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-04-10

10 ihe legislative as well as otherideparlmeuts
of the government Aud such amendments
will almos, of necessity consis, o. changes
in the constitution Of the two, Houses, or OF
further limitations of their powers. tl'.a
The amendments before us are four ia
number. They are all Limitations o! legis-
laIive power. except The third, which affects
the constitution of the House of Representa-
,ives, and they are in my opinion, wise,
necessary, and timely.
The fourth amendment originates with the
Senator from The county, (ME BRowNE;) and
is intended 10 retain control over charters OF
incorporation for purposes of amendment
and repeal.
The first amendment is directed against
public Indebtedness, State and municipal, and
wilI'pro'ect our people against profigate ex-
penditures and grievous burdens consequent
thereon. They demand it. and will endorse
il with promplness and sladness Of heart, as
some security against the weakness, corrup-
lion and folly Of their public servants
The Srcond amendment strikes crying
evil, Ithiuk in an efectual manner, and be-
ing already endorsed by decisive vote of
the Senate does not require further discus
sion. AS now modified, it will prevent the
creation of diminutive counties as we'll as
tie mutilatlon, against its will, of any one
now existing. t
The third amendment demands debate and
shall have it. 1 will consider separately the
several changes proposed by it. .H
1t proposes to strike from section of the
first article of the Constitution the words "of
the city Of Philadelphia and of each county
respectively" This is but correction of
phraseology rendered necessary by change
in the 4th section to be presently noiced.-
1t is next proposed to make the 9TH section
read in such manner as to embody several
important changes on the subject Of repre-
sen,a,ion, inthe House, while retaining some
features of the present session: ..........
Representatives. shall be appoint
ed among the several counties and such
cli les as may be entitled TO a separate rep.
reese nation, according to the number Of
taxable inhabitants in each,s' and "any
city containing sufficient n um ber of taxa.
bles 10 entitle i: TO al least two representa-
tives, shall have a separate representation
assigned H." This, inconneclion with the
change in the second section just noticed,
will authorize the separation of any city
from tho county of which il ,composes u
pan, for the purpose OF representation in
the House; whenever its laxables are suffi-
cient tor Two members.
Second-''Each county containing not less
than three thousand taxables may be al
lowed seraraie representation" This is
a material improvement. BY The consliu.
ton of 1890 each county was 10 have one
representative, but counties thereafter erect
ed should not have separate representation
until they had the full taxable ratio for a
member. This provision was not altered by
1.-The convention of 1888, and inasmuch as by
the third secuon of the schedule 10 the con-
s,ilu,ion as amended BY that body, all parts
of the constitution unchanged were TO be
construed as if no amendments had beeu
made, il follows that no county erected
| since 1890 can have separate representa-
tion until it has The full ratio for member
Bot this is nconvenienl and leads 10 embaf.
fassmen, aud injustice. A county created
! since 1890 that falls short but few lsxablss
OF the ratio, cannot have a member sepa.
ralely, but must be joined to county OIL
coun:ies adjoining. The great number ol
, counties WHICH have been erecied since l79C
has rendered this provision serious griev'
ance. Cumbrous districts are created ant
counties are joined having no common in
! leresls and averse TO the connection into
\ which they are forced. We get away from
this difficulty by the proposed amendment
Z and besides, as We make provision else
| where against the undue creation of new
counties, all reason for retaining the clause
in question as a encouragement 10 thei
creation, is removed. e. HeHls
Taid-""Not more than three counties
shall be joined, and no county shall be divi'
-ded in -iha- formation of dislriclo We
have here somesecuriIy against The forma'
tion of large and unweldy districts. Were
il not for the existence of such counties as
Elk and FoIesl, think it would be wise lc
prohibit the joining Of counties at all in the
formation of districts That no county shal
be divided, is in, conformity with our pas
practice and with public sentiment And sc
long, as the formation of districts is left with
the Legislature, this lie proper both upon
grounds Of convenience and to prevent Ger
ryihapdering. = ''.'' s'~'f !,
Fouith-.Any city allowed a separate rep
resen,aion, = t'shall be divided into conve
MEM, districts of contiguous territory, as pea
as may be Of equal taxable population, each
Of which districts shall elect one repre- sen,a
tive;r and tunheE mo city shall be allow
ed more Than fifteen representatives, nor any
county or district formed of counties more
than five.", as.rG sar.. o. e'...t 70 Us I
We Tread here upon disputed ground, bu
hops, we shall tread il firmly, with Gan
eye .single"sto shs. public veal and the i'm.
pfoyemens of ouf. political system. Let us
examine The ground upon which we are TO
proceed. gZ1ja -,qtt5
Upon theI2d day Of Feb. 1854, the mos
| important political bill introduced into the