The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-02-10
COLUMBIAN COLUMBIA COUNTYPA
Constitutional Reform,


If we are to Judge the intention OF
certain. leading Republicans In our
State Legislature by their acts, we
should be compelled to conclude that
they intend TO prevent any Constitu'
tional reform. Several bills Of parti.
san character have been introduced ,one
In the Senate by Mr.. Connell, of Phila-
delphia, and one in the House by Mr..
Mann of Potter. Each of these dis.
tributes the delegates to a Constitution.
al Convention according to the present
unequal apportionment, with the de-
sign of securing decided Republican
majority in that body. The Democrats
would be wanting In spirit and regard.
less of the public good If they allowed
any such bill to pass. They are ready
and willing to vote for bill which will
give equal representation to the two
great political parties in a Constitution
al Convention, ut they will not, and
they ought not to allow any act to pass
which would give either party a major
ity. Only from non.partisau Conven-
ton can proper reforms be expected.
If either party should have majority,
the time of the convention would be
consumed in efforts to secure partisan
advantages, bitterness of feeling would
people in the action Of the Convention
would be shaken, and the amended
Constitution would be likely to be re-.
jected when it came before the people
The action of the Republican majority
in the House, In rushing through the
crude bill prepared by Mr.. Mann, shows
settled determination to give a
strongly partisan character to the con-
templated Constitutional Convention.
To that the Democratic members OF the
Legislature will never submit. They
will support any bill which will insure
equalHy of representation, but none
other; and in SO doing, they will be
sustained by the independent press of
the State and by vast majority of the
people of Pennsylvania.-Ldncoste
Inteiiigencer.
Our able cotemporary speaks our SEN
timents precisely. But there are other
objections to the action of the Radicals
in the Legislature. Mr.. MANN propos-
es to pay the members Of the Conven-
ton twelve dollars per day, which is
not only absurdly extravagant, but
would be sure to fill the Convention with
drivelling politicians. The way to OBJ
tain the services of competent and wor-
thy representatives in the Convention
is to fix the pay, If any be allowed, at
80 small a sum that no one would desire
election to the Convention for the sake
of the pay. This would secure the ser.
vices of men who had only patriotic
objects in view, as well as men of capa-
city.
The bill that passed the House is
open to all objections named. 1t cer-
tainly cannot pass the Senate, and no
doubt much fairer and better one will
be substituted by the Senate.
Mr.. MANN is a politician of the mole
species, and is entirely above his busi-
ness when he undertakes to get up i'm
portant Constitutional bills. That Is a
work for Statesman, men of enlarged
views and intelligent comprehension of
public wants. Small Legislators may
be good enough for small things, but
when it comes TO questions of extensive
application and of general public i'm.
portance, small fry are not only useless
but often mischievous. They rarely do
so good thing as to seek their level
and be content with that.