Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-12-26
THE NEW FENwsYEvAyts coz.
sTyTCEEON-
r',c Leading Features :ft',e snsr-"-
ss1SIsf. --

Ha1SIst. ar-
Ti.ls ncx constitution, among other
things, provides that the term Of the
:, Governor shau be four years, aud that
30 shall be limited to one term that
tho representatives OF the State Legis-
lature shall be elected for two and the
Senators for four years, and that the
elections and seGsious Of the Legisla-
;rrA shal; be h:cpnia'. The terri, os
tue Supreme Court Judges Il cztepdod
from fifteen 10 tweuty-ouc years. md
varied as nlodiEit ations are made III the
terms CT other State officers, the ions
term principle. being generally applied
TO them. This II q good principle,
and viii operate as ealutary cneok
against corrupt political lntrigues
among the officers concerned Ill refer
etIce to the succession IN thci3 Tcapec-
tive Offices. The American people arc
looking ;or the application IF this ono
term principle TO the Pre- ident Of the
United States. or for some Limitation
of his eligibility, in an amendment of
cur national constitution.
But, again, this new constitution of
! Pennsylvania provides that the regular
! State elections shall be held on the
same day as the Presidential, and that
! the municipal elections shall be held
! IL Z. binary. This merging the State
: elections Of the Presidential year in
/ the Pres lential election is an immense
reform for We All know that Pennsyl-
vania, being considered the balance OF
power IN many of orr Presidential con
. tests ot the las forty years, her Octo-
Der State election has too frequently
| hecn made the wager OF battle for the
Presidency itself. We all know that
this thing was operated not only to
spread broadcast over Pennsylvania
ali the vices OF political corruption,
Lat that it has brought in fron time
to time corrupt appliances from other
States and from Washington, to carry
the Pennsylvania October election il
the Presidential year
This fruitful source of political COZ
ruption no longer exists and if we
could have al our State elections in
the Presidential year on the same day
with The election for President, the
schefninG politicians, whose game it is
+ carry the State elections Of August,
September and October for the Presi-
DENTAL purpose IN November, 'wonld
find their occupation gone. Our State
elections would I'c carried, even in the
Presidential year, upon their OWL
merit. an; tEa politicians OF every
Sat 49, tt sept too actively en-
ll9Esi - :lome to interfere in the /
affair ~ sae:s neiyhbors.
Tat, aaAGu, tlis Isw constitution IF
Pc, rs -lv.siia FOR .,e qualification of /:
la be iot Tx provides that the ballots !
ca: sG"li D.. numbered that voters !
.ug* nat ttr+ir names Oh their ballots, ,
aus! I'll, cuntit!enccs Of voters s.heu !
not H.. i.~'r.,yed by the election officers. !
Various other safeguards Of the balloI- !
bo& ara provided, all calculated to Sc
cure fair vutiuo and ltoEest rcturrs.- !
Mkt the checks and balances on the !
Legisl.;turo are we'll considered for the !
prevention Of corrupt OF hastr legisla-
ton. I.ac!. bill. fOr example, is to be ,
limited to one subject named III the
bill, aHd every bin IS to be read three .
times III full or three different days !
and where appropriations are made !
the Governor nay veto . Fart or parts /
OF the bill and approve the rest OF it
The hint 10 the Convention on this /.
subject was pelh ,ps, taken from the ,
hack ray grab, slipped into & rScu-
lar appropriation bill III t'2 c.0slIfS .
hours OF the last Congress. /,
String ut provisions for the I)rotec- ,
ton Of the State treasury are made IN
tnIS ne" constitution III tBc RC3FS Gu
alties ordered against corrupt or neg
Iigeut officials but the particular
feature IL this new State charter, y7iIi il
was doubtless most heartily approved /
by the peopie,-is the strong controlling
power Il z IS to. the S. tie over IFS
railways and canals, and ov:r grasring
corporations generally. In short, Penn
sylvar.i4. iii this new charter, has
achieved great revolution Of whole
como reforms IL the administration OF
her local affairs, and particularly il
throttiing her Philadelphia aad Harris
burg rings of political gamesters, and
ii clipping the wings Of her railway
kings. SO that they connot go beyond
the limits assigned them. We con-
graduate the people Of Pennsylvania
on the good work achieved in their
HON constitution. N. I. Tibu,sc,