The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-12-04
pENNsYIvANIA's NEW CONSTITUTION.

PENNsYLvANIA's NEW CONSTITUTION
The new Constitution of pennsylvania is IN
many respects novel. but altogether model
document. It raises the number OF Stats Sen.
ators from thrt, three to fifty, and the number
of Representatives from one hundred to two
hundred and fifty; and the sessions OF the Leg
islature from annual to biennial. The forms of
legislation are also changed. by requiring
majority of all the members OF each House
instead of majority of quorum. Ihis' we
think, one of the wisest of its many wise pro.
visions There never was, TO our mlnd'
greater absurdty than the practice now IN
vogue of quorum of a legislature enactlng
laws for the whole body. The people eject
members of legislatures and pay them to serve
az such, and they have a right to the best serv.
Ii ices of the whole body. II a man hire ten
laborers to work and only six OF them work.
he will pay only that number; and so it should
be with officials, when they take the liberty OF
absentiug themselves from their duties their
paw should be cut off Instead OF Its being
matter of conjecture as to whether the speak
ers have signed bills presented for the Govern
or's signature, as now, each speaker. under the
new Constitution is required to announce the
fact that he has signed it in presence OF the
members of the House over which he presdes.
Under the old regime some accommodating
lobbyist usually saved sensltively conscientious
Speakers the unpleasant duty of signing ques-
tionable bills, by stepping in and forging their
signatures, and then passing them to the Gov
ernor for his signature without the Speaker S
knowledge, and in some eases by his conniv-
ance. There is also wide range of legis!a-
ton Of q special and local nature forbidden.
such as the creation, extension and impair
ing of liens, regulating local affairs. locating or
changing county seats; creating new counties
changing county lines; granting divorces hS-
ing the rate of interest: exemptlng property
from taxation: granting exclusive privileges
creating corporations and renewing charters,
and much more of like nature which We have
not space TO enumerate. 1t also requires each
member of II legislature, before entering upon
his duties as a law maker. to subscribe 10 an
oath 10 the effect that he has "madc no I'M
proper use of money, and has violated no Ia"
10 secure his election, and that Tor The perform
ance of lis duties he will accept no compensa'
,ion direct or indirect" other than that pro-
yided by law II fires rahine broad.ic among
the lobby vutures. too. BY denouncus penalties
against "any and Nil persons who shall BRIDE
or attempt To bride. or IN any way I" impr"p-
erly influence any member OF the legislature IN
I the performance of his duties IhIs, IL j.
hoped will have the effect Of dishandlng the
thieves which compose the Third House; thu,
tending To purify legislation ut its source and
make the business of law making respectable
instead Of dsrrpu,able. as now. II some
such provision "a this had been IN force when
Idaho Territory was organized ana had con
tinued in force up 10 this time. she would nnw
!; have money in the treasury; her people would
be without taxation. and her population double
or more than double the present number The
pardoniug power is vested in the Governor ~
heretofore, except that be- is 10 grant no par
dyus unless recommended to do ID By the Lieu
tenant Governor. Attorney General. Secrrta
; ries of Internal Affairs aud al the Common
. wealth, &c This we regard as the only mis-
take made in the Constitution. We can So" NJ
equivalent reason why Governors should b.
armed with power TO undo tho work OF courts
and juries: since one man, be he never So hon
est, is more easily Influenced tn do wrong thar
F.. twelve men Nor can we see any good effect
9 nor any effect which the pardoning power ha'
but to turn convicted criminals loose. wher
t Justice demands their restraint. Indeed. /
: seems to u.s. n bid for crime: and We are Ger
r tain we have known instances Of murder com
f, United which would not have been, had not the
2 murderers felt certain. in advance, Of guberna
: tora interference in their behalf. Therefore
, it il that we desire to see restored to the Leg
9 slature. power which, welded by one man
! effects only evil continually.