The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-06-20
-An Increased Legislature.

An Increased Legislature.
The Constitutional Convention last
week, by the meagre vote of Al yeas to
90 nays, a little more than One-hdy us
number, passed to third reading the
following important provisions III re-
ference to the number Of Senators and
Members of the House
The state shall be divided into fifty sena-
toriaI districts, of compact and contiguous
territory as equal in population as possible
and each district shall be entitled TO two or
more members by possessing population
exceeding one senatorial ratio aud three
fifths of second ratio and no county or
city shall be entitled to more than -one-sixth
of the whele number of members.
The house of representatives shall consist
of not less than $50 members, TO i've appor-
toned aud distributed TO the different conn
ties in proportion to the population on 4 ratio
of %, 900 Inhabitants to each member, except
that no county shall have less than one mem
ber, and the city OF Philadelphia any
county having an excess of three-iifths of
said ratio over one or more ratios shall he
entitled to an additional member in case the
number of $50 memhers is not reached 10y the
above apportionment, and counties having
the largest surplus over one OF more ratios
shall be entitled to one additional member
until the number of $50 members is arrived
at
legislature shall apportion the state in ac-
corda6ce with the provisions of the two pre-
Ceding sections. Counties and the city of
Philadelphia entitled to more than one mem
Der shall be divided into single districts of
compact and contiguous territory, as nearly
in population as possible hut township
or ward, except in the city of Philadelphia
shall be divided in the formation of a district:
ProUided, That in making such apportion-
ment for the house of representatives in the
year 1881, and every ten years thereafter,
4
for each increase of seventy-tive thousand
inhabitants.
This is not new question, in as
much as it has been the subject of dis
cussion for several years. Incur judg-
ment, there are serious objections to
the proposed increase. 1t is advocated
on the sole ground, that it would be
more difficult to corrupt a majority of
a Legislature containing two hundred
members than majority of body of
the same kind numbering one hundred
and thirty-three. This argument is
based on belief in the total depravity
of human nature, and is not without
force. Assuming it to be true, still, as
the price of members is now cheap with
a downward tendency, if the purpose
to debauch a Legislature exists, it will
be accomplished without regard to
numbers, owing to the lively competi-
tion which exists at Harris burg in the
trade of buying and selling votes. The
increased amount of grcenbacks re-
quired would not seriously disturb the
money market. Does any one suppose,
for instance, that mere numbers would
alright or tcrrify Il man Of the bold
ness and skill of Peter Herdic 1t
would only infuse into him renewed
energy for the patriotic work.
Whether it is absolutely impossible
to prevent the annually recurring cor
ruption of the Legislature, is a dis
puted question. We do not believe it
is, and entertain hope that biennial
sessions and wholesome constitutional
restrictions on the powers of the Leg
islature will result i'll its general puri-
fication. In any event, the remedy for
this growing evil is with the people in
selecting the men who are to frame our
laws. If incompetency, brazeh pre-
sumption and the low arts of the dem
agogue become passports to legislative
trusts, Generalization and failure will
Inv NSASN' l'iopllC6 cACldllneft
to his willing dupeS, You .cOtld be
victims and you are"
Under the proposed increase, this
county would he entitled to tlco mem
bers Of the House when the next cen
sus is taken. Is there any possible
necessity for that ? None whatever
that we can comprehend "Insatiate
archer, would not one suffice ?" The
same is true Of other counties having
an equal populatian. Besides this, the
halls Of legislation at Harrisburg would
not accommodate fifty Senators and
two hundred Members of the House.
Must we then have a new capitol for
the future solons of the State?
If this project of ofincreasing the num-
berS of the Senate and House should
finally prevail in the convention, We
hope ORe-ftiJ'd of it's members will in
sist, as they have legal right to do,
that it shall be submitted as separate
amendment to he voted on by the peo-
pie, In order that fair and untram-
meled expression of opinion may be
had on so important question.