Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-01-21

/! nor constitutional principles in question, nor
private rights assailed, considerations of ex-
| pediency may be taken into account by the
Executive but certainly no substantial OBJ
! lection, whether of policy or of principle, can
/ be waived by him in view of his oath to sup
port the Constitution. Ten days (Sundays
| excluded are allowed the Executive to con-
slider bill, and to approve or veto it, after
which it will become law without his sig
nature, if not previously returned. The
practice of my predecessors has been oeea-
sionally TO permit bills to become laws Dy
this limitation of time. They have taken
effect in The entire absence of Executive ac-
ton. But I believe this has only occurred
where the Executive has found It impossible
to form, a positive opinion upon the measure
where. though not unobjectional, 1t was trli
| y;oI-or where it was manifest that veto
would not cause its defeat. This Executive
practice ought not to be extended, and the
nrectise itself is open to the question. For
;f the proyision that bills neither signed nor
returned within ten days, shall become laws,
was intended as a guard against Executive
| abuse, in holding them an undue period, and
| not as mode by which the Executive might
cause them to take effect without the re-
sponsibility of acting upon them, 1t would
! seem clear that the practice OF holding
Tended.
But the Legislature by its adjournment
within ten days after the passage of q bill,
may deprive the Executive of due time for
considering it, and hence it is provided that
in such ease it shall become a law unless
sent back within three days after the next
meeting. In modern practice large num-
Der of bills are usually sent to the Governor
within few days of the adjournment Of the
Legislature, takes place. In fact many are
sent TO him in the very closing hours of the
sessions But it would seem plain that the
Executive could rea sonably ask in such case
only the full constitutional period of ten days
for forming his opinion, and that all bills he
believes it his duty to approve shall be act
ually signed within that period By the ex.
ercise of reasonable industry this can in all
cases be accomplished Then. such bills as
he disapproves will be held over to be re-
turned to the proper branch of the General
Assembly within three days after their next
meeting, according to the constitutional pro-
vision. This viii properly dispose Of all
bills in his hands at the adjournment, unless
indeed il be allowable to hold over bills and
permit them to become laws without his ac>
ton.
The propriety of signing bills by the Gov,
ernor between the sessions of the Legislature
has been questioned. It does not accord with
the old practice and is certainly liable to
abuse. During my term it will be strictly
confined 10 the first ten days after an adjourn.
ment, and all bills not then approved, NAV
be considered as awaiting the next meeting
of the General Assembly, to be returned with
the Executive disappr0Val. The Executive
should not be subjected for long periods of
time to the solicitations Of those interested IN
bills, nor should he be subject to the imputa-
tions Of indecision, or favoritism almost unI
avoidable in such cases. Nor is il right that
he should have in his hands the means of
influence which the holding open of his de.
cision upon bills during a recess would con-
fer Besides, a. great wrong may be done
to those interested in legislation, by continu.
ing them for an undue period in uncertain
ty as the fate of bills in which their rights,
their property, or their business may be in
volved. These are the evils which an Execu'
tive may obyiate by settling his policy firm
" in the outset of his administration. II
would be well, also, for the Legislature to so
shape its action as TO avoid the necessity Of
sending many important bills to the Cover
nor in the closing days or hours Of a session
Fellow Citizens Although it will not be
expected that | should at this time discuss in
detail the particu lar questions which will
probably come before the government during
my term, desire briefly to give expression
to the general views of public policy 10 which
| hold, in their application to practical issues
now pending. The currency of the State in
such q disordered condition that general
and wholesome public opinion defends its re-
form, and the establishment of efectual bar
riers against future commissions. This is
subject which will test the intelligence, the
frmncss, and the patriotism Of the Represen.
tatives of the people in the Legislative depart
ment and may impose grave responsibilities
upon the Executive. My views are decidedly
hostile TO the emission and circulation Of
small notes "a q currency to the increase of
banking capital under present arrangements.
and to the issues Of bank paper upon securi
ties inadequate for their redemption. The
want of uniformity in the legal provisions
under which existing banks operate Is oh
jectionable. In the revision and the amend
ment Of our banking system, the public in
terests in my opinion demand the extension
of the specie basis upon which issues are
made; the suppression of the smaller denomi
nation of notes heretofore allowed throuub
reports of the condition and business of Banks
with their frequent publication additional
security (other than specie to consist of the
bonds of this State or Of the United States
for the redemption Of circulating notes. in
cluding in all cases proper individual liabiIi-
ty Of stockholders and directors, fitted for
convenient and actual enforcement with n
supervisory and controlling power in some
proper officer or department of the Govern
ment to restrain az suspend the action OF
Banks in case of their violation or evasion of
the law.
When specie currency shall be secured
to the people by prohibiting the circulation
OF bills of small denomination, it will be
highly desirable that the fiscal affairs of the
State government shall be wholly separated
from those of the banks in other words,
that the money transactions of the govern
ment both in its collections and disburse.
ments shall be in the legal coin of the coun,
try. Whennyer q nracticahln nonua.A;A-.