Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-23
VETO MESSAGE OF
GOVERNOR JOHN W. GEARY,
THE DAWNING OF A BETTER DAY.
Let the People OF Pa. Isdoioe

Gov. Ceary, on The 10Th instant. eent TO the
Senate the following message, retoing
the Metropolitan Police Bill;
To the Senate and House Of RepreSen.
tatiUes ofthe Commonwealth Of Penn.
SyirdniG:
GENTLEMEN Having carefully con.
sidered Senate bill No. 20, entitled,
IAN act TO provide for the appoint
ment Of a Metropolitan Police tor the
city Of Philadelphia" and although
actusted by sincere desire TO conform
my action in regard to it TO that Of
the General Assembly, ] am con-
strained TO withhold the Executive
sanction, and proceed TO the eonstitu.
.iotai duty OF giving my reasOns iOr
disappearing.
In the first place the title is not in
conformity with the eighth section Of
the Eleventh Article of tho Constitu
ton, which declares that "no bill shall
be passed by the Legislature, contain.
ing more than one subject, which shall
be clearly expressed in the title.' As
read the bill one of It's most impor
tant features is the election Of five
police commissioner; aud yet this
idea is neither clearly expressed, mol
even remotely Indicated by the title.
Another objection to the bill is that
the whole sixteen pages are jumbled
together into one section. IL is usual
and proper to divide bills Of such
length into sections, each embracing
some marked features, and to have
the sections arranged according ia
some natural order, Although this /:
only a matter of form, am aware oI
no good reason for this departure
from usage, and utter disregard of all
sound precedent.
Much has been said about the char
acter and inefficiency of the police o.
Philadelphia; and ! am fully per
suaded many Of them arc not such as
good order of the city demands But
whilst this is an acknowledged evil
and proper subject for legislativ,
consideration, ! more than doubt th,
wisdom of the remedy proposed by
this bill. 1t is manifest, however
that it is a most important one, ant
that il contcmplates an entire revolu
ton in this branch oil the city govern
mcnt
The constitutional authority OF th'
Legislature, in a period of profound
peace, TO create power such as i
contemplated by the metropolitan
Police Bill" to operate over the whol'
State, or any part thereof, is a question
of great magnitude, and one which
under a republican form Of govern
meni, deserves serious consideration
us it involves inherent and indefeasi
bic and other Fundamental principle
in q government established for th,
benefit and happiness Of the people
The bill under consideration I
fraught With momentous consequence
TO the citizens Of Philadelphia and o
the State And the position that tb'
power can be taken away from =,
large a portion of the people of Penn
sylvunia, without their consent, for |
period of years, and lodged in tn
hands Of six persons, is TO me extraor
binary, untenable and IN violation o
the spirit, meaning and intent Of tn
first aud second sections Of th,
Twelfth Article of the Constitution
The second section declares "that al
power is Inherent in the people, an,
all free governments are founded o.
their authority, and institute for thei
peace, safety and happiness" Th
Constitution sets forth, in such plail
and uncquivocal terms, the principle
upon which republican government
shall be conducted, that commen
would be superfuous, and would weak
en- rather than strengthen the case.
lfthere existsany right or authorit,
in the legislature to concentrate powe
in few men for term of years, thei
IL must be admitted that they havl
the right TO do it for any number 0
years, or to make il a porpetuity.
To recognize the right TO legislnt'
thus specially for one city or virtual,
TO acknowledge that the lcgislaiur
has authority to make similar enact
men,s in overy other city, borough
village, county and township within
the State; and that by the sam,
reasoning Congress possesses lik'
power TO logislate for the diiferen
Estates, enact grand Metropolini
Police Bill, and secure plec...ss ....sy oxecu