The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-12-31


TuE session of the Legislature that
assemblies next week, will be the
most important Of any that has con-
vencd for many years, and will nee
essarily be protracted one. Many
general laws to meet the requirements
of the new Constitution will have to
be enacted. and the State will have
to be apportiOned into Judicial Sen
atorial and Legislative districts. The
salaries of all public officers will
have TO be arranged, and much mis-
cellaneous legislation will be requlr-
ed to supplant and supply special and
local laws, and to give force and ef-
feet to the Constitution.
We trust to see members address
themselves to their work in good
faith, and with full determination
to supplement the fundamental law
of the State with such wholesome
legislation as will best subserve the
interests and welfare OF the whole
people. Let there be no querulous
and captious opposition to distasteful
portions Of the Constitution, but let
the inevitable be faced with manly
frankness, and full determination to
do the very best that can be done
under the circumstances. Members
will he beset on all sides, and they
will be watched by their constituents
and held strictly accountable.
This is the presumed dawn of an
era of reform, and as is the case in
all reforms, bigotry and demagogue-
ism will be rampant. Already the
blatant portion of the press, that pre-
vious to the election, so mendacious-
lv proclaimed that the expenses of
administering the government would
be largely reduced by the adoption Of
the new Constitution, is insisting
upon & radical reduction Of salaries
and the emoluments of Office, and de-
mauding the most rigid economy;
and here, evidently, will be the salient
point Of attack by those who insisted
that an increase Of officials would
not increase expenses, and here is
where Legislators are most likely to
rush into the one or the other eI-
treme. There is a wide difference
between economy and niggardliness,
and while we insist that the Legis-
lature shall steFnly practice the one,
we trust that neither from good or
bad motives. will it submit to being
bullied into the other The genuine
reforms of the new Constitution are
to be found in the article on "legisla-
ton" and il is hoped by all that, un-
der its provisions, better class of
legislators will find their way to Har-
risburg. But il is well understood
of ell men that, if the people want
good and able servants they must
pay fair price for them, and that a
misery pittanee viii not procure the
services of such men as the people
most require. We have always held
il to be true economy in private or
public affairs, to procure the best nee
essary article the market affords, be-
cause its wear and reliability more
than sompensates for its additional
first cost. So we believe that it will
not be true economy in the Legisla-
ture, when adjusting he coinpensa-
ton of Judicial, Legislative and other
officials, to so fix salaries that the
best available ability cannot be pro-
cured at the price The laborer is
worthy of his hire" but We submit
that brains and muscle ShOuld not be
valued at the same rate Economy
is demanded and must be practised,
but niggardliness will defeat the OBJ
ject hoped to be attained.
We have seen no good reason to
alter previously expressed views of
the new Constitution, but we shall
greatly rejoice il it add to the vel
fare of the entire people, and contrib
utes to the progress of the State.
1t will probably remain unaltered for
many years, and we sincerely trust
that all the legislation necessary 10
make it operative, will be enacted
with view solely to the interests of
the entire community. All good cit
liens have too deep an interest at
stake to permit captious or carping
hostility to override or interfere with
the general public benefit,
Destructive Conf,agratiOn.
SUNBURY, December 2l.-A fire
broke out here last evening between
FIVE and six o'clock in the stable of
ToLn Narlla Tho ctobla and three