The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-10
FROMHARRISBURG.


refused to approve the bill passed last week,
directing the Supreme Court to review the evi-
dence and decide capital cases on their merits,
1t was passed to cover the case of DR.. Schoeppe,
now under sentence of death in Carlisle. The
Chief Justice had heard the case and de-
MED writ Of error, but 1t was subse-
quently allowed by the Attorney General
and the case was argued before the Su-
supreme Cort on yesterday and day before
The bill in the hands of the Governor is n
general one, and provides in the first section
that writ Of error in capital cases shall be al
lowed as a matter of right. The second section
requires the Supreme Court to review oil such
cases on the merits. While favorable to the first
section, the Governor win veto the bill because
of his objections to the second section.
Much evidence has beon presented TO the
Governor in the case of DR.. Schoeppe, and 1t is
generally conceded that If the Supreme Court
shall decide that there is no error in the record,
he will not be inclined to extend cemency to
the prisoner. The record as it stands with the
Executive, is most damaging to Dr. Schoeppe
The Veto of the Metropolitan Police Bill.
The Governor took up the Police bill last
evening for the first time. He had not seen
the bill until 1t was presented to him for his
signature, and was unacquainted with its pro-
vitions. Large delegations have been here to
urge him to sign 1t, and many influential pro-
tests have been presented. The Governor to-
day gratifed the curiosity, If not the desire of
the friends of the bill, by sending message to
the Senate vetOing the measure. The considers
tion of the veto message was postponed by the
/
A Statement That the Governor Is TO be Im-
Resolutions are being prepared by friends of
the police bill to impeach the Governor. Great
excitement in the circle. Great riot anticipated.
The Governor's vets.
Special Despatch to The Evening Telegraph.
HARRIsBURG, Feb. 10-The Governors veto
of the Police bill sets forth that the title is not
in conformity with the Constitution, because it
contains more than one subject. The bill really
provides for the election of five Police Commis-
| sioners, and yet this idea is neither expressed
nor remotely indicated by the title. Another
objection to the bill Is that the whole sixteen
| pages are jumbed together into one section.
| This is unusual and improper. There is no rea-
| son for the departure from the ordinary rule
| OF having the bill in sections.
The Governor is fully persuaded that many of
| the police are ineffective, and not such as the
| good order of the city demands; but, while this
| is true, he more than doubts the wisdom of the
l proposed remedy which contemplates an entire
revolution of the constitutional authority of the
| Legislature at the time of profound peace. To
create such power as the METROPOLITAN Police
bill contemplates to operate over the whole
State, is question of great magnitude involv-
| ing the inherent rights and principles of a re-
| publican government.
The bill is fraught with mOmentous conse-
quences to the citizens of Philadelphia and of
| the State, and the position that power can be
taken away from so large portion of the peo-
pie without their consent, for period of years,
and lodged in the hands of six persons, is extra
| ordinary, ana In VlOiatkOn OF the bplrlL Oh Jne
1st and Cd sections of 10Th article of the Consti
tuition. If there exists ary right in the Legsla-
ture to concentrate power in few men for a
term of years, then it must be admitted they
| have the right to do it for any number of years.
To recognize their right to legislate specially
for one city, is to acknowledge that they
have similar power over every other city, village,
reason, Congress possesses ike power to legslate
for different States, and make grand metropolitan
police BILL and secure executive legislative and Ju-
|
masses OF the people so unprepared TO sanction any
such mischlevous legislation 80 anti-repuolican IN
| privileges OF the people.
There should be no offcous interference with
| local AFFAIRS The great principle upon Which our
Institutions rest are absolute sovereignty OF the
people and adherence to power to elect their own
corrective to every a. Ise. The city OF Philadelphia
in older to pay the necessary expenses OF her gov
ernment and interest OF her immense debt, is not
in condition to increase her liablities and II she
does so, 1t ought to be with full understanding oi
The salaries of the Police bill officers alone
| seventy-eight thousand dollars, and incidentals
e hSaTG NAV inoresse The patroman TO an nde
| mite number, and that Councils must pay the Dill
This in every respect the most perfect surrender I
ernor has ever SEEN Such powers are not exer
csed by the autocrat OF Russia. City Councils seen
must be taxed to supply the demand!
OF the board, and after paying the fifty thousand
responsibie for indefinite expenses in the future
The police are also TO be put on war footing NJ
q | Thus able-bodied, experienced, and competen
O | officers are TO be excluded merely on accoun
i of age. This is perhaps the nrst @ @slm'
| in State history that competent men VINO nav
served their country faithfully In her armies are 10 D
prOscribed and ostracZed. This Is monstreus inJus
n | tice The Governor says that the members iron
different parts OF the State who supported thls oil
knew that their constituents would not submit d
such innction OF absolute taxation upon tnemseve
: Tor q single moment 1t is this kind OF Legislation
that creates discomfort under pretense OF securing
I i'm
knows his rights the most determined opposition
y No republican government can exist under unequs
}. laws. ,,, ., :. - . -, -. o..., !,
principle for state to perpetuato Its power by Tn
', passage OF unequal and unjust laws towards I'll
, 1 minerityl For these and other reasons he cannC
/ approve the bill nor do anything 10 take from tn
3, | peope any portion of their inherent rghts Th
election Of every local ocer WIt1 eaecuvS cutie
X reason why Philadelphia should be deprived OF Tn
T. right OF choosing by her own vote those who sha
| consttute the Commissioners Of Police az well a
those who snail be Mayor, Councilmen, and men
bers OF the Legislature, ,r.s ..-..I u..
,f This is an elementary axiom--that free goverr
ID ment should have some one responsible head. Herr
n | tofore the Mayor OF Philadelphia has occupied th
postion Of trust and the people had right TO loo
to him. II he has failed TO meet their expectation
thew have their remedy at the baot-boX, and lC
q | them have this again at the first opportunity
W win not improve the existing condition OF things
e divide this responsibility among SIX commissioner
q TO whom would they be responsible? Would 1t b
| TO the Legislature, which changes annually? Not
the people for they dld not elect them Divided rC
sponsibllity in a government is political heres
c. What kind of an army would it be with six con
1 manding officers OF equal rank, and what good ca
~ he expected OF police organization governed by 81
D. eona and irresponsible commissioners? II the peop
5; of Philadelphia desire police bill, let the commits
It soners be OF their choosing. Let them be OF m
3 people, fSr ans1 the people, and by the ,S people
, ,.-l = - -----7-- = Ia q. ~ ID b.