The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-27
Constitutional Reform in Pennsylvnnin-
Arguments in Favor Of n COuyenff0u

Constitutional Reform in Pennsylvanin-
arguments in Favor Of n Convention.
The Pennsylvania Legislature in the last
hours of the recent session agreed to submit
to vote of the people in October the question
of calling convention to prepare new con-
stitution. There can be little doubt that
large majority will vote in favor of the
measure and that the assent of the people to
the Convention will be obtained Independently
of mere party considerations The argum ents
In favor Of new constitution for that State
are so manifold and so forcible that any other
result is scarcely possible.
The present constitution was formed in
1888 The Convention to which its prepara-
ton was entrusted was composed Of such men
as Thaddeus Stevens, George Chambers and
other lawyers already eminent in their profess
sion, and their work was well performed in
every respect. But the State had then
scarcely begun her career of greatness and
prosperity. Agriculture, il is true, yielded
rich return but her mines were undeveloped
and her coal fields UNEMPLOYED. The network
| of railroads which now encompass nearly
| every county in the Commonwealth had not
been built, and neither the politicians had
| learned to know nor the people to fear the
| power Of great corporations. The spirit of
monopoly was still as dormant as the energies
| of the people and the teeming material
| resources of the State. intellectually, too,
| the State was backward. The common school
| system had been established only four years,
and there was still violent opposition to It's
preservation. There were prisons, but no
grand system Of State charities. The courts
administered justice according to the forms of
the common law, and the Legisla-
ture performed many of the functions
properly belonging to the Bench Not more
backward than many other States, perhaps,
Pennsylvania was still far enough behind the
| age to make vigorous effort to catch up with
the times necessary now. This it will be the
duty of her Constitutional Convention to &C.
complish and thus place the State in the
proud position she ought to occupy as the key
stone of the federal arch.
Since the present constitution was adopted
many changes have taken place--changes in
1 sAO cOAAsAHuc VI SHS PooPi0 40 VOii 40 III bio
development Of the wealth of the country
The old race of ''Pennsylvania Dutch" has
almost disappeared, both in spirit and in name
Theirideas have disappeared with them. The
Pennsylvania Railroad Company has grown
up into an immense corporation, debating the
policy and controlling the legislation of tn
State. Other roads compete with it without
success or yield to and become part of it,
while the people are beginning to fear its
usurpations and to groan under its exactions
It's president possesses more actual power
than the Governor of the State, and under it's
fostering care the lobby at Harrisburg has
become more powerful than the General As
sembly. Some means must be found to curb
its power and protect the people,. but it's
influence for good must not be crippled while
restraining its influence for evil This can
only be done by compelling it and all other
corporations to transfer the scene Of their
operations from the Legislature to the courts !;
to prefer their petitions to judges and not to
legislators, as is now the case with any ordi-
nary sutton; to seek their rights under the
law, but not to make the law to suit their
selfish ends; to become, in short, thoroughly
and completely subordinate to the State with
out exerting any extraneous or undue influence
in shaping the legislation for the Common
wealth.
The mcrest tyro in political science may
perceive that this is a question Of vast mpor-
tance, not only to the people Of Pennsylvania,
but OF other States as we'll. But the end is
one not easy Of accomplishment-its attain
ment is no slight task. To make the effort
even partially successful the powers OF the
Legislature must be limited and clearly de-
fined--the powers of the courts must be en-
larged 80 that the law can take the place, Ia
great measure, of legislation. Acts Of a
private nature must be rendered nugatory. and
only laws Of a general character, bearing upon
the whole people alike, must have constitu-
tonal validity. II the Convention can frame
an article Of such broad and comprehensive
significance, and in such close, concrete and
unmistakable terms as TO make this idea, enter
tanned by many of the best men OF both par
ties in the State, Of practical value, 1t will
accomplish work never cxoelled by any de
Lucrative body in the world.
At the same time the rights Of sections ane
municipalities must be respected. All loca
questions ought to have local settlement
The building of bridge or market is mat
ter for county or borough, aud not for tn
General Assembly. The Incorporation OF
college or q society, an asylum or rae
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