Daily Kennebec journal., 1873-12-19

The substitute for Mr.. Hale's salary re
peal bill which passed the House on We'd
nesday makes the salary of members o
Congress $4,000 and travelling expenses
that of the Speaker and Vice Presiden
$1,000 each and travelling expenses. ano
covers into the treasury all back-pay re
turned or undrawn. This substitute was
carried under the leadership of Genera
Butler. who made characteristic speecl
against the newspapers. Mr.. Hale's bill
is more in accord with the public demand
than the substitute.
NSYLTANIA CONSTITUTION.
The new constitution adopted by the
people of Pennsylvania is undoubtedly an
improvement upon the one which it su-
persedes. There has been quite conflict
of opinion and interests in relation TO it,
but the result of the vote, establishing its
adoption by very large majority, shows
that the people of the State desire the
change. Under the old constitution abuses
had grown up which it was necessary to
eradicate. and the multiplying resources
and interests of the State demanded a re-
vision of the fundamental law. How far
the new constitution will meet public ex-
pectation it is impossible to tell. In some
respects it will probably fail to accomplish
what is desired. Faults will be discovered
after it goes into operation that are not
seen at present. 1t will not rid the State
Of all the evils that attach to the manage
ment of public affairs, but it will curtail
them. 1t has been the work OF able and
well-meaning men, and represents the
most advanced ideas popularly held in re-
gard to what is now required in the funda-
mental law of the State. A few years of
trial will develope its good and bad fea-
lures. The following is a brief sum of
many of its leading points, as found in one
of our exchanges:
The limitations imposed on special legisla
ton are such as TO remove one of the most
prolific sources ofcorruption. The legislator
can no longer be exposed to the temptation Of
putting up the rights of his constituents for
sale to the highest bidder Municipalities and
corporations will no longer find themselves
the subjects OF unrestricted plunder, nor can
ey purchase exemption or undue privileges
by thinly-veiled bribery. Restricted to the con-
sideration of general laws, the assembly will
become place ofhouor, to a seat in which the
best citizens may be expected to aspire, while
the wise provisions against lobbying and hasty
legislation, the increase in the number Of
members, and the holding of biennial ses-
sions, will insure a more thoughtful cOnsid-
Grafton OF all subjects presented for action.
While there has been an honest difference
of opinion on the subject of an elective judi
ciary, all men have united in the wish to keep
the bench beyond the influence of politics
This desirable result has been accomplished
to great extent by prolonging terms of JUS
tices of the supreme court and rendering
them ineligible for reelection. All extra
Judicial functions have also been removed
from the lower courts.
The fee system, which, in our large cities,
has been so prolific source of oppression on
the people and of corruption in elections, is
abolished, and fixed salaries are substituted
therefor.
Election laws are to be uniform throughout
the Commonwealth, and no citizen is to be
from any register of voters. Election officers
are everywhere to be elected by the people
while such regulations are framed as shall
conduce to the purity of elections.
The libel law is SO changed that while the
private citizen WILL as heretofore, enjoy full
protection against public SANDER, malfeasance
in office and matters proper for public infor-
nation can be exposed, if done without malice
and after proper investigation.
A board of pardons is created, whose pro-
ceedings are to be open and public, thus
shielding us from the scandals which have so
gravely affected the politics and the admins
traton OF justice Of the commonwealth
A limitation is imposed on the creation of
tul restraint upon corrupt expenditures of
reckless improvidence.
The legislature is impOweredo exempt from
military duty those who have conscientious
seruples against bearing arms.
Appropriation OF public money for the sup
port of sectarian schools is forbidden, while
the labors of women as teachers are recog-
nized by rendering them eligible tor positions
of control.
The details of local administration are
separated as much as possible from general
politics by providing for separate municipal
elections.
proper expenditures by allowing the governor
to veto particular items in general appr0-
priation bills, and requiring the votes of two
thirds of all the members Of both houses to
overcome a veto.
The funds in the State treasury are guarded
by stringent regulations against abuses.
There is no ground for the assumption
in some quarters that the republicans of
Pennsylvania opposed the new constitu-
ton. The vote upon it was given without
regard to party, and neither party can
With 10000 majority in its favor there
ought TO be no dispute as to the non-par-
tizan character of the vote by which it
was adopted.
PROF. AGASSIZ.