Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-11-26

of society TO be avoided In any coun
try, and especially in republic, can
not but regret that these restriction
had not bcen in tho fundamental Law
long since. Had this been SO, th
business of mining coal and vcndin,
1t wholesale and retail in the Atlanti,
cities and etates would have RENAME,
in the hands of individuals, instead O
being monopolzed by powerful rail
road corporations. II is but just I,
say that, whatever other errors ou
greatest railroad company may hav
committed, it has not fallen into this
The changes proposed In the judci
ary are more limited than was antici
pated, and for ono l accept the fac
that n convention, embracing amongs
its members over one hundred abl
and cultivated lawyers, could discove
no sufficient reason for serious change
as conclusive evidence that our Judi
cial system is one Of the best in tn,
world.
One amendment proposed gives two
additional members to the Suprem,
Court, and increases the tenure of OF
flee to twenty-ono instead of ffteer
years it also relieves that court from
holding courts of nsi prus, and with
draws from it original jurisdiction il
certain cases. -Four courts of com NOR
pleas are established in Phiadelphi.
and tho aldermanic system is wipet
out and n system OF magistracy cstab
lished in its stead.
There are no important changes il
the courts in other parts of the State
excepting that any county containing
q population of 4O,500 inhabitants DO
comes judicial district, and the oflic,
OF associate Judge is to be abolished in
any county where law judge is pro
vided for.
The article on private corporations
is full of wholesome restrictions on
corporate powers and privileges.
1t annuls mass of grants now in
the books under which organizations
have not taken place, SO as to end
promptly the influence of bad legisla.
tion heretofore enacted.
Corporations heretofore in exist
encc, and that may hereafter ask ben.
efcial legislation, arc required to &C.
cept all the conditions of the proposed
constitution.
The right TO revoke charters on
grounds of public harm aud without
injustice to stockholders, is distinctly
reserved the Legislature.
In the election of officers of corpor-
ations by the stockholders the cumu.
lative plan of voting is established.
Article ten, on education, enjoins
tho legislature TO an annual appropri-
alton 10 the common schools of not
less than 100000, no part of which
can bo used for any sectarian school.
1t also, unfortunately, as / think,
authorizes the election of women over
twenty-one TO the position Of school
directors.
The nirth article requires that tax
alton shall be equal and uniform on
like subjects. 1t also interdicts the
creation OF State debt, except to re-
pei invasion, suppress insurrcction, or
for temporary purposes. 1t also for.
bids municipal subscriptions to the
stock of corporations, and limits tho
debts Of municipalities to seven per
cent on the taxable property therein,
except by vote of the people and also
maintains the sinking fund of the
State inviolate, and declares an unlaw-
ful use of the public money 0 misdc-
meanor to DO punished by disqualified
tion for any office of trust or honor.
The fourteenth article provides for
the election Of county Commissioners
and Auditors on the plan Of tho limi-
ted vote, so that the minority in each
county may be represented.
The thirteenth article provides that
new counties shall not be erected con.
tanning population Of less than 2O,-
300 or les, than 400 square miles OF
territory.
But, by way of comment, | desire
10 say that all these carefully con.
'tructed forms, suggested by experi.
'nce, will, l fear, be of little avail II
heir administration be entrusted to
weak and corrupt mon. Reforms in the
Of government will not
meet all the needs of the times. /
peak in 10 partisan sense when | say
hat bad men must be excluded from
he administration of government
,ofore the action of its machinery can
% perfect.
We have had defective forms of gov.
'rnment, and have had many occasions
o lament the evil practices of men in
'ublic places, but to my mind the
most alarming evil Of the times is seen
n the inclination Of the people, so Of
en- manifested in these latter days, to
olersto infdclity and corruption in
'flicial place. Self government is the
distinguishing feature Of our institu.
ions, and in their purity they do af- |
ord to each citizen the opportunity
# governing himself, for through his
representative each has the opportu-
ity to impress his will upon the poll
y Of the country; but when the rep
escntative promises one thing and
oes another, the element of selfgov-
rnment is at fault. When men as
andidates pledge themselves to fru-
ality and purity in public affairs, and
hen as representatives practice pro-
igality and corruption, in such case
he elector is cheated So farfrom gov
rning himself, the effect of his will is
erverted, and he is made TO sanction
bat which he intended to prevent and
ondemn, and when the people after
'ards sustain such unfaithful public
ervants, and continue habitually so
D do, then our whole elective and rep
sentative system becomes delusive
nd fraudulent. 1t is thus seen that
othing short of holding public men
strict accountability, not only in
,atters of personal honor and purity,
ut on questions Of principles and
olicy will exemplify our system
he word of the Representative to his