New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-08
GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS.
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM in PENNsYL-
NANIA.


WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PHILADELPHIA
co,,,ussIoN-srNAToR CAMERONs vIEws-IIE
is NOT ENTHUSIASTIC.
TrRoN A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF rlit TRihuNh,l
HARRIsBUBG, Nov. There is little DOUBT
that The new Constitution OF Pennsylvania wiz po
adopted by large popular majority al tne eieCion
he held on the 10th OF December aNhouSh inc
Republican papers generally throughout the ste are
unable TO conceal their opposition to H. ana 'ney
psrcuary object 10 the action Of the Constitutional
convention in providing for an honest vote upon tue
instrument in the CITY of Philadelphia Their hos'ly
10 the Constitution itself betrayed by their oppoton
20 a measure intended TO secure far No'e id
the only place where there is to he an organized at
tempt to defeat it, The Pittsburgh Commercial
calls upon the people OF Philadelphia to refuse TO SUP
NIT 20 the insult which the Convention has put upon
them" As there have been ntimatons That tue khg III
that city might act upon the suggestion OF me Oo"-
Bercai and other papers in their interest ana were
RELYING on Gov Hartranft 10 aid them in their Opposi
ton your correspondent called upon the Governor at
the Executive Chamber today TO ascertain bis views
As TO the report about his interfering to prevent the en-
forceuent provisions made by the constitutional
Convention for taking the vote in Philadelphia,
he said that it probably invented by some
person who desired him TO take such action,
but had authority whatever for saying that he
would DO He had not been applied 20 by any one 10
take any action at al IN the matter and he intnated'
without directly SAYING he should take none He
about right Of the Convention TO make any unusual
provisions for taking Philadelphia this ques
ton might be and ought TO be, settled by the Supreme
Court before the time arrived for taking the vote On
being asked II there a general dissatisfaction with
the PROVISIONS OF the new Constitution IN the
Republican party or among the people, he said
that the people had had opportunity TO examine
the Constitution and whether they liked 1t or not
Nor could nc see how they to get the opportunity
election Toe law provided that 1t should be
printed papers in each county, but the ConYen
zion had Ignored this entirely and passed resolution
that the State Printer should print tho new Constitu
tion on a paper by itself and supply the news
papers with II for circulation 10 their subScrlO-
srs. The newspapers, or many Of them, refuse
10 circulate 1t for the pay they get, ana unless
the Secretary OF State took the responsibility OF
ordering II printed in the regular editions OF the news
papers it could get before the people. Moreover he
believed the time too short between now ana the
18th of December to circulate important document
as new Constitution for the state and famliarize the
people with its provisions The present Constitution ne
said printed 10 the newspapers three months before
the vote was taken upon it, and the people had ample
time TO examine it. The Governor did not seem IN
rlincd TO give his private views to the merits Of
The new Constitution, but left the impression
that he was by means overwhelmed with an
admiration of it. In abiding kincidentaly 10 the
term OF Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania he men
toned the fact that 1.-THE Constitution increased the
term from three to four years aud made the Governor
ineligible TO reelection. He did not hesitate TO express
his dsapprOya OF this provision although he said 1t dd
not affect him. but only applied to Governors elected
nnder the new Constitution He said ne thought u was
safe 20 leave this both in the election of Pres
dent and OF Governors the hands OF the people He
was in favor OF two three number of terms for
PresideDt so far tue Constitution Was concerned IL
was certain that no President who sought for thIgd
term woud be likely to get it, but II the people de-
msnded his services for third term they had right to
have them.
Recurring 10 the subject Of the provisions made by the
Convention for taking the vote in Philadelphia, the
Governor said be did not think IL would make much
difference whether the old election machinery or that
provided By the Convention were made use Of II there
was desire there defeat the Constitution, it could
be done with one well the other There was great
ado made in the opposition papers about election frauds
IN Philadelphia but he believed there was little founda-
lion for these charges and that tho frauds were no
greater than they always aud will be in very large
cities.
Your correspondent also called upon Senator Cameron
al his residence and cordially received by tie
General" (as every body calls him here) The General
had lust returned from trip TO Ohio and said he bad
hardly had time examine the new Constitution hun
self There several provisions Of it, however, that
he did not Ike rather ne thought the people ala not
Ike and he believed that the dislike and open oppos-
lion 10 the instrument were concentrated, and an
organized opposition TO it were made, 1t would
he defeated. Toe Objectionable provisions specified
by the General were the large increase in
the number Of members OF the Legislature. ana the In
crease in the number Of Judges. Under the existing
Constitution there are l33 members Of both branches OF
che legislature which increased by the proposed
Constitution to go The instrument also requires that
there shah be Judge Of the supreme Court for every
5000 inhabitants, which, Senator Cameron VIII
more than double the number Of Judges In the state.
With regard TO the election machinery provided Tor
an Philadelphia ne did think there would be any
,erous opposition to H. any legal question raised as
10 the night Of the Convention TO make the
proyieions he was OF the same mind a.
GOV Hartranft on this subject, and thought that
voud not make much difference In the vote; that the
talk about election frauds in Philadelphia was greatly
exaggerated He had no doubt there were some
irregularities as there always in large Cities but t
was mainly a party cry. Before the war the Democrats
had majority there and the Republicans cried fraud
since the war the Republicans have meiority and the
Democrats cry fraud" and that was about all there
was % il.
Touching upon the financial panic. the General ex-
pressed the opinion that the country had nos yet seen
The end OF III that might be an abatement OF the
'paDo so far as IL panic, but IL was not going to
end until there was a general reduction in values The
business and financial men in Harrisburg and further
West he said generally in favor of Increasing the
circulating medium and he had doubt that would be
she absorbing question in the next Congress.
NEW YORK
THK ASSEMBLY.
H. tn,,,s o1,t that Mr. Amherst WIGHT ir