The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-10-28
Constitutional Convention.

The papers of all parties are advoca'
ting the election of State Convention
TO revise the Constitution. That such
Convention, If composed of majority
of really able and honest men, might
do much good, we do not doubt. But
that men of such character would be
elected under the present system we
very much doubt. Should Conven-
tion be called, we hope it may be elect.
ed upon the free voting plan, as in that
case it would no doubt be composed al
most entirely of The very best men of
the State. Such Convention would
have the power Of regulating matters
in some manner that would to great
extent prevent Legislative corruption,
and in fact once more make the Legis-
lnture itself respectable. This alone is
a sufficient motive for assembling the
Convention, but other improvements
could also be made.
The following remarks on the subject
we cut from the Lane caster MteUigencer.
The ideas are in the main sound, but
we object to the suggestion of electing
the State Treasurer "by the people"
Under that plan, in its practical work !.
ing, "the people" would have but little
to do with it, but the selection would
necessarily be left to partisan Conven-
tions. Such would be the magnitude
of the pecuniary interest involved, that
corrupt men would be sure to corrupt
the Conventions, as they do now the
Legislature. Similar Federal officers
are appointed by the President, and we
know of no evil arising from it. In our
Judgment, the Auditor General, Survey
or General and State Treasurer ought
all be appointed by the Governor, and
should with the Secretary of the Com
monwealth and Attorney General) form
responsible Cabinet. We would give
them all seats in the popular branch of
the Legislature, without votes, but to
be required to answer every proper
question relating to their several de-
partments that might be addressed to
them. The political opponents of these
gentlemen would then have the power
to keep the people thoroughly advised
of the manner in which each depart
ment ofther State eGovernment was con-
Quoted, and of course this power would
be freely exercised. That the Governor
of the State would make better selec
tion for each of these offices than 600, 000
men can, is just as sure as that one COM
petant man may know the peculiarities
of personal acquaintance better than
600,0 900 can. Under this plan no Gov
ernor would dare to appoint either an
incompetent man or a rOguish one, for
his political opponentsin in the Legisla-
ture would be sure to expose the delin-
quent officer in such manner as to bring
odium upon the appointing power.
Without discussing this subject fur
ther, we desire to call attenti to the
suggestions of the Lancaster HteUigen-
Ger, to wit:
Legislative powers should be restrict
ed to the enactment of general laws, ,and
the power of granting charters to cor
bO ACiV W tiiO SOuitOS WIN
proper restrictions.
No bill should be allowed to pass ex-
cept after being printed and put on file,
and then only on call of the yeas and
nays by a clear majority of the members
elect.
All increased expenditures for ordi-
nary purposes should require a two
third vote on call Of yeas and nays, and
no increase should be made to the State
debt withot the sanction of a popular
vote, except in case of war or insurrec-
tion. - sH a.t
The session of the Legislature should
be limited and the salaries of members
and officers be fixed by the Constitu-
ton. ,-f- -tr. rs
Every member should be required to
swear, before taking his seat, that he
had not directly or indirectly promised
anything of value to secure his election
and that he would not receive anything
in consideration of any official act. !
The State Treasurer should be made
elective by the people for a term of
years, and the fluids of the State be
placed beyond the reach of speculation.
These are few of the amendments
to our State Constitution which expert
ence has shown to be absolutely neces-
odIy Dut ttitIc dlC OtltIo WHlCl CUllu
be readily suggested.
A Convention, called to amend the
State Constitution, ought to be chosen
in accordance with a system which
would insure fair representation of the
minority, as well as the majority In ev-
cry section of the Commonwealth, and
all mere partizan considerations ought
to be Cast aside by the people in the
choice of delegates. The very best and
wisest men of the State, and none 9TH
ers, ought to be selected for this import
ant work. .a...
In one respect the work of the pro-
posed convention onght to be funda
mental. The present system of choos
ing Congressman, Members of the Leg
| islature, County ommissioners, City
and Borough Councilmen, and similar
bodies ought to be broken up, and 6
plan adopted by which the minority
| would be fairly represented.
| We are glad to be able to say that thu
newspaper press of Pennsylvania il
very largely in favor of the immediat,
adoption of all the reforms we have in
dicated. And any other judiciou:
amendments to the State Constitution
which might be suggested would receive
the support of the press and the people
without respect to party.