Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-04-15
8eoforo enquirer,
-
VETO of the JERSEY SHORE RAIL
ROAD BILL.

Governor Geayy has again earned the
sincere thanks Of every honest Pennsylva
Man. He has vetoed the Jersey Shore
Railroad Bill which proposed to take from
the State Treasury SO, 500, 600 of bonds and
appropriate them 10 che building Of
couple railroads in order to benefit one OF
two rich corporaiious. The friends Of the
bin we're bold 10 their assertions that the
Governor would sign ii, believing that he
xouA not dare 20 interfere with the inter
ests of the corporations that prepared aud
hacked the bin, and that expected to reap
the profits of the robbery. The unseemly
haste with which it was rushed through
both Houses from the very moment it waS
inst read was enough to condemn 1t in the
eyes Of honest men. No bill founded on
right, Justice and honesty need be hurried
through ia that style 1t is only such a.
viii not bear public scrutiny that are at
tempted to be passed in such summary
ard hasty style
The Governor yetoes 1t, because it Is
unconstitutional under the 4th, 5th, and 9th
Sections Of Article XTth, par, of the Amend
ments Of 1867, which are as follows
"SEc. " To provide for the payment of
the present debt, anG anyadditiOnal debt con-
traeted as aforesaid, the legislature shall, at
its 6rst session after the adoption of this
amendment, create sinking fund which
shall be sufficient &c paw the sccruing in
tsrest on such debt, and annually to reduce
the principal thereof by a sum no. less thar
two hundred and fffiy thousand dollars, which
iuh-inz nInU shaft consist OF the net 4lfsIual
iEcome Of the public works from time "a
time Owned by he State. OF the proceeds Of
the sale Of the same or any part thereof. and
of the income or proceeds of sale of stocks
owned by the State, together with other
funds or resources that may be designated
by Law. The said sinking fund may be in
creased from time 10 time by assigning to II
any part Of the taxes or other revenues OF the
State, not required for the ordinary and
current expenses OF government; and unless
IN case of war, or Invasion or insurrectinn, no
part Of the said sinking fund shall be used or
sppiied otherwise than in extinguishment oi
The public debt. until the amount Of such
debt is reduced below the sum of FIVE millions
Of dollars.
"SEc. V. The credit Of the Commonwealth
shall not in any manner or event be pledged
OF loaned 10 any individual, company, cor
poraiion or association; nor shall the Com
monweath hereafter become ioint owner
or stakeholder in any company, association
or corporation
CSC. VI The Commonwealth shall not
assume the debt, or any part thereof, Of any
county, city, borough or township; or Of any
corporation or association, unless such debt
shall have been contracted to enable the
State to repel Invasion, suppress domestic
lnsurrecilnD, defend itseli in time VI war, OF
10 assist the State in the discharge Of any por-
lion Of its present Indebtedness.
This is quite sufficient cause for vetoina
the bill But the Governor further argues
that It is ine1pedient TO permit the securi
ties now in the Treasury. and which are
good, TO be exchanged for the bonds of a
road that is not yet built, and which, when
built, may not be Of any value to its bond
holders for half century to come. The
Governor has planted himself on q solid
footing and the people rejoice 10 the defeat
Of perhaps the greatest piece Of rascaliry
perpetrated by the Legislature lust ad-
iouToa3