Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-11-26
XeM ConstitutisH.

people of the United States generally, |
that affect each individual, if not d.
rectIy, indirectly. They are the Span
ish or Cuban Question, and the fuan-
clai question. There is third ques
tion, which, however, il limited to this
Commonwealth, but is Of more ippor-
tance to the people Of this State than
the two former ones. 1t is The ques-
tion Cf the adoption or rejection of the
proposed New Constitution. 1t shall
Dot be cur fault if it il not read. With
in two weeks there will be euough copies
o: :he proposed new fundamental Law
circulated in this county to place . copy
in the hands Of ev,fy voter.
The following address has been issued
by the Executive Committee Of the
Con-ti,utionai Convention to the people
Of Pennsylvania as statement Of the
work accomplished BY that body, and
showing wherein the New Constitution
differs from that now in force:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Rooms,
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. Is, 1878.
To hs People Of Penn,ylrsnia:
The conveaticn assembled by your
direction 20 reform the constitution of
Ike State have finished the work you
gave them TO do. la submitting it for
your approval We invoke your careful
consideration. That il is without fault
We dare not affirm, but that it adds new
and valuable securities to the rights Of
person and Of property We confidently
assert. The mode by which the MEM
bers Of the convention we're elected Sc
cured body of men who had neither
the opportunity nor the inclination to
mould the instrument in the interest Of
any party or vf any private interes
whatever.
Il would be m,nifestly inappropriate
to attempt any detailed analysis Of the
proposed constitution, but it is proper
that its leading features should be
briefly indicated. 1t consists of eigh-
teen articles, viz: l, Bill Of Rights ;
2, The Legislature 8, Legislation 4,
The Executive S, The Judiciary; 6,
Impeachment and Removal from Office /;
Z, Oatbs Of 0aice; 8, Suffrage aud
Elections 9, Taxation aud Finance /;
10, Education; IL, Militia IL, Pub
lie 0fhcsrs Is, New Counties IA,
County Officers; Is, Cities and City
Charters I6, Private Corporations ;
II, Railroad, and Canals; IL, Future
Amendments.
To these is added the schedule,
which embraces such temporary provi-
sioDs as are necessary to regulate the
changes which have been made, ard to
put the new constitution, if adopted,
into active operation. Under these
heads are embraced all matters which
were thought to be appropriate to con-
stItutionsl provision. 1t has carefully
avoided matters of detail, except in
such particulars IS it was supposed
either from their great importance or
the difficulty attending legislative en-
sctment, might render Legislation diff
cult or Insufficient.
The committee desires to call atten-
tion to the following important partic-
ulars, in which the proposed constitu-
tiou differs from that now in force
The General Assembly will consist
OF hfty t50) Senators, and such number
Of members of the House of Represen-
tatives as shall be determined by divi-
ding the population Of the State, IS
ascertained by the most recent United
States census, by two hundred; but
every county shall have at least one
representative. Under this spportion-
msnt the House will consist of about
two hundred members. This change
is accompanied by such provisions As
will for the most part avoid legislative
apportionnents, which experience has
shown to be made usually Ill the inter-
est Of the dominant party and some
times at the sacrifice Of fair represen
tation.
The regular sessions Of the Legisls
.ure will be held only every other year,
but the Governor may, in Al emergcn-
cy, convene it in special session.
The increased number is not equal to
the ratio Of rspresention when the s1-
isting constitution WAS adopted, and it
was deemed important not only ~ main
tanning = ratio Of representation ap-
pro1imatiug to orr increase Of populs-
ton, but because il was believed that
an increase Of members would render
improper influences more dihcult, and
would insure q more faithful exercise OF
legislative functions.
The article on Legislation requires
that every bill shall be read at length
Oh three different days in each house,
and no bill shall become . Law unless
passed BY majority Of the members
elected to each house, nor unless on its
final passage the vote is taken BY yeas
and nays and the tote Of each member
entered OF the Journal. The Legisla-
ture is restrained from passing local or
special laws upsn . number of specified