The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-28
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.

From the PttSbufg Dispatch
We are pleased to observe that the public
sentiment in favor of constitutional conven-
tion is fast assuming the shape OF popular
demand. The conviction has become gene
raj that radical changes in the constitution Of
the State are imperatively required by the
exigencies of the times. We were among the
first in the State to call the attention of the
people to the absolute necessity of replacing
the worn out machinery of the State Govern
ment, and we note with interest and pleasure
the progress which public opinion on this
subject has made within six months last past.
The Republican State Central Committee
shirked the question, but the people have
become interested, and the popular voice
cannot be disregarded We do not doubt
that the General Assembly will act on this
subject at the next session.
There is some difference of opinion in
reference to the reorganization of the judi
ciary establishment. 1t seems to be gene
rally agreed that the Supreme Court, as at
present organized, is inadequate to the wants
of the people. 1t is said that the court is
overburdened with business-that the five
judges perform more labor than ought to be,
but we leave the suggestion of the remedy to
persons skilled in the administration of the
law. Judges and lawyers do not appear, how
ever, to be agreed as to what the remedy
should be.
tention is special legislation. 1t is the fruit
full source of bribery and corruption in all its
forms. If the people of Pennsylvania would
recover the good name of the Commonwealth,
sadly tarnished in late years by venal and
prof1igate legislators, the power to legislate
| specially, or otherwise than by general laws,
will be entirely withdrawn from the General
| Assembly.
The offices of State Treasurer, Attorney
IF fha Hor
| Superintendent of Public Schools ought to be
made elective by the people.
The Convention of 1888, acting on the
idea then much in vogue that the General
| Assembly was the guardian of the Treasury,
committed the election of the Treasurer to
the Legislature. 1t was not contemplated
that the General Assembly would become SO
corrupt as to lose the confidence of the peo-
pie and make the Office of which they were
to be the guardians an article of merchandise
The sad blunder of the convention in refusing
to allow the people to choose the State
Treasurer by public election, and in
committing that business to one hundred
and thirty-three men, has been a most
potent agency in destroying legislative pu-
rity and honor. Annually at the State
capital is repeated the disgraceful exhibi-
ton of a struggle for the custody of five
millions of dollars belonging to the public
|
tens of thousands, in obtaining an election to
an office which, until within a year past, was
attached the salary of but seventeen hundred
dollars, now five thousand. The public
money of the Commonwealth has been prac-
tically, for five or six years past, a corruption
fund used to buy an election to the Office of
State Treasurer and other places Had the
convention of 1888 designed to supply a
means of corrupting the Legislature, it could
scarcely have devised a more effestual way
than that provided for the election of State
Treasurer. The remedy is to make Office cleo
tive by the people, and surround the custody
of the public money with suitable guards and
penalties
We think too that the number of members
in each house should be considerably in
creased. 1t may be possible to corrupt one
hundred persons in public place, but it will
be found very difficult to corrupt six hun
dred. The increased expense consequent on
the addition Of one hundred and fifty to the
Senate, and say four hundred to the House,
would not be great; and if it were considera-
BILE, there are times and circumstances in
which the wisest economy requires liberal
expenditure in advancing public interests.
We must have honesty and purity in the
legislature, no matter at what cost
There are other matters requiring the at
tention of the Constitutional Convention,
to which we will not for the present advert.
The Legislature will act in obedience to the
public will in calling the convention at an
early day. 1t cannot be too soon.