The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-11-17
Constitutional Amendment.

State, in n communication as to the
changes needed in the Constitution OF
Pennsylvania, suggests the following:
1. An increase of the number of Sen.
ators and Representatives In the Gen.
eral Assembly.
2. Biennial sessions of the Legisla.
ture.
8. The election by the people of sun
dry State officers now otherwise chosen.
4. Minority representation.
8. Modification of the pardoning
power.
8. A change In the tenure and mode
of choosing the judiciary.
Z. a change in the date of our annual
fall election to the time of the Presi-
| dental election, to prevent what Is call
ed colonization from surrounding
States, and to dispense with one elec.
tion every fourth year.
8. Further restriction upon the pow.
ers of corporations.
Against the lst and 7tb of these prop.
ositions we enter protest. We can see
no possible good that can result from
the increase of members of the Legls.
lature. 1t is palpable that the increase
of members would reduce the quality
low enough in all conscience already.
The body would be unwieldly, ungov.
ernable, corrupt and debased by rings.
Already our House Of Representatives
Is bear garden rs compared with the
Senate, and can be more readily cor.
rupted at cheaper rates than the latter
hnAxv Whnrptrnr N hn1vy IL co 1grrp
that members can not readily compare
views and scan each others motives,
they become corrupt and the instru-
mentalities Of demagogues aud other
false guides. 1t destroys responsibility
and obscures the action Of the represen-
tative from the observation of his con-
stituents. Where so many votes are
required to pass measure, its passage
can only be effected by combinations, a
fruitful source of iniquity and ineffic.
iency. We regard those as substantial
objections that can not he overcome or
met by advantages thai will overbal.
ance them.
We know that the New England leg.
islatures are often referred to as proof
that large bodies are incorruptible. Peo-
pie who make such reference simply
accept yankee self glorification without
inquiry into the facts. To make money
by any means possible Especially if the
means be hidden, or as the result of po-
litical scheming) is not in opposition to
yankee morality, if not detected in
criminal form. They so much esteem
1t the business of legislators to make
money out of their position if they can,
that such action by them is not regard
I'd as moral offence, and is actually
looked upon as matter Of course, jus.
titled by its "smartness." Within a
brief period, in conversation with a dis.
tinguished engineer of this State then
in charge of the construction of a rail-
road in Massachusetts,, he said that he
feared the project would fail for want of
funds-that the State had appropriated
largely but that it took so much to pay
the members and Others engaged in Sc
curing the passage of the bills, that the
fund was seriously dim inished, and
that an appropriation then pending
was held in abeyance by u legislative
because the managers would
not agree to pay the members the sum
demanded by the committee to induce
a favorable report! The appropriation
was afterwards made, but it became
well understood that the road never
would be flushed unless the legislature
would quit making appropriations
This is sample of the purity of yam
zee legislation-and of large bodies.
We believe Mr.. JORDAN to be an honest
nan, but he has experience in legisla.
ion and knows how rings are formed
md how much more formidable and |
general they are in the House of 100 |
than in the Senate of SO.
The 7th proposition is stric tly par
izan one--to have the State and Fed |
'ral elections on the same day, SO that |
he Federal authorities could control |
he State elections. OF course every |
nan impressed with the danger of per-
hitting the Federal government to con-
rol State affairs will oppose this.
Whenever Uncle Sam takes it into his
ead to mind his own business, he will
e willing to put up with a separate
ay for his elections.
The suggestion for the c!cc ton of ad.
itional State officers does not strike US
avorably. We see nothing to be gain
d by transferring the appointing power
rom the Governor to political conven.
ions, but all to lose, especially as re.
ards competency and integrity. Be.
Ides that, our Governor is too much
horn of power already. We would
i've him sufficient power to enable him
cope with Federal Executive, at
east in political matters of his own
arty.