New-York tribune., 1873-06-20
CONSTITUTION REVISION.
vY-GOv. CURTIN ON TIE WORK OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION.

p,RpONs To BE CREArED-sFEGUAR ARDS AGAINST
ELECTION FRAUDS-RING THREATS AGAINST THE
CONSTITUTION.
,r,cN A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF The rRBUSEl
purr ADELPTIIA, June 1s.-Wishing TO obtain
ne views OF ex-Gov. Andrew G. Curtin relative TO the
v,s,ous OF the Constitution. now being consid-
os by tho Constitutional Convention IN session here,
nd his opinion the tcency Of the remedies IL pro-
,ses for the mOnstrOCs evils that have marked the
.,eetions for several years past I called the ex
Governor and held prolonged conversation with him.
Bls health very much improved. and he viii be able
% do good and effective work in the cause OF
Reform, the opportunity is afforded him.
he stated that. as the Convention had not
yet completed its task be felt rather delicate
about crucisine its work bot as number OF the see
ions Of the proposed Constitution we're agreed upon
monument among which those having Tor thelr oo
sect the prevention and punishment OF fraud AZ elections
OF these he speak frecly He was Of the opinion
tb the work OF the Convention in this respect very
od indeed an he had doubt that The new C0nSti-
fuuon would approved by tue people. although the
dominant party this city were avowedly hostile 10
e. and hau threatened 10 insure a heavy majority
acainst 70. II adopted, it would have the ehrct OF
giving the people far elections. The new Con-
sutution provides tuaJ there shall be general
registry law for tae entire state, instead Of
for philadelphia 9onc, ns IS now the case Ine one
now iu force Phlai plla was created oy special aet
o. the IeCsntulr, and "a very detective. II is well
tlf. oNituiHf lAituh z" % very liALo
extent were pyrpcred az the last and previous eee-
tious bv ts Marty u power; and that, through the
orIu.iep OF ,bo in.p ctOrs OF election and return
tul,c. m very fl1r d,tIcts in this city the returns
G.. election were fhef. ana the provisions Of the cleo
ION law " brn are nominaIy intended 70 protect the
trar.h-es o. VOTERS perverted to be really
zsed 10 rerDstrlte and cover 1p tae irauds
TIE new Constitution also provides that voters shall
reside 90 me di,tct or precinct which they vote for
90 darlustead oi lo AS i now the clsc-pri0r 20 the
election and so requires the payment OF taxes FOR the
same length or time. Tie ballots are 10 oc numbered as
pl1ceI IN the balot-lox. aud rccoc1 made Of the
same Jy tlc election officers Foreigners before they
can VOC uus been uRtusaZsd 30 OeNs previous 20
the occtOu-a restriction tlat VII prevent much f-and
a. elections The ladues OF The election districts or
precincts arc made smaller the number Of voters IN
sch are not TO exaced So Tie courts % receive
authority 70 appoint two pr,ous o. opposite politics
o. supervise the voting and couru- 90 each district or
precinct Vhen application Is aadc iJrsu appointments
bv CITIZENS
EEFORNs IN TIE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE DrrAE--
MEMS.
The number OF members u both Houses 0f the Lec-
laure will be considerably enlarged. Tie senate vii
eos. of 50 members, and the House OF 1872 the basis
ofporulaon There are now 80 members in the Senate
ana lCo in the House Ex-Gov Curtin would have pro
fred the Legislature consist OF 90 the Senate and 800
iu the House The proposed representation IN the House
lon the member for each 25 900 ot population
would az least one MtUDtE tdCu cuuuiff
except f0Ur Of the smallest and more sparsey settled
ones Il would efectuay prevent toe state from being
gerrymandered In the interest OF clique or faction
Tie legislature being enlarged 30 would be more dill
cult o. Juv 10 up. as has been done IN the past.
Among the ameulm nts is one the draft Of which was
prepared by Mr Curtin and adopted Dv the Convention,
stcr debate providing that Executive Department
shall consist OF the Governor, Lieutenant-GOvernor /
Secretary Of the Commonwealth, Auorney-Genera' !
AuIJrGeuers state Treasurer Secretary OF IntCrnal
AIurs, aud Superintendent Of Public Instruction The
cce 81 LcutcuautG 1vcrnor Sc new one IN this state
Tr Governor and LieuteDant-G Yvcrn0r are 10 De !
elected ut the same time % for four years
and Ineligible ;lr election for the next succeeding
ern The Governor now chosen for three years Gov.
Haranfts successor will be chosen October, 1875,
AMI should ire C5rs uc0H Dc adopted the Gu5ernnto-
ra election Will take place one year before the esi-
dental election. This IS deemed by many strong re-
cummendatiou. The salaries Of the Governor and Lieu
trou oyeruur are not 10 be increased dm'1slcd
arer their election during the term FOR which they
ola.l have Been elected The Governor nOmr-tes tAe ]
Secretary os the Conn nwcalth and AttorueyGeneral
sud it requires two llrds of tho Senate TO con-
Arm.
4nrsrs OF pAnDovs- AND SPECIAL LEGISLATION
The abuse OF te u.glJuu- power by tne Governor OF
ll. sac was shown The pardon OF Mlrcer the de-
~.ut tug City Treasurer. aul Nerkes, his banker ana
Ur4er II not lSey tlat, under lie provisions OF tue
Constitution eita, che present or future Governors
JullI.lll 80 I'D Ll llHll'r Al
u. power .or TIE that their authority in this re-
slac. is very much rest~,ted. Section 10 % Mr Cur
cus c or chapter provides Tor Board of Pardons, 20
consist of the Secretary OF the Commonwealth the At
General. superintendent ~ Public Instruction
asd creilry uf Internal AEHrs. No pardon Is 70 be
l~aut.I nor sentence COumI-cd by tic Governor ex-
ceu- only upou recommendation 10 writing Of the
1nm.o .ocrs Of The Board of P-rdUns or anv three OF
t.eu, after fun hearing Of the parties upon /
due pubIc notice and in open session. anu l
such accommodation with the reasons therefor at \
cnr are 20 be record "a aud d.el tn the department.
new oce is a',U created. known as the Secretary OF
IIrarnh Hi-s H- is empowered 10 exercise all the
powers and d1'es dev0ye1 by law on the Surveyor |
.-.aer4i which IN IS abolished The Department OF |
,le secretary o. Internal Affairs 20 embrace Bureau
ofIdustria sics, ana such duties relating 20 the
charitable ias u-ous, the agricultural MANUFACTURING
mining mineral timber and other material or DIsihcss
,r-s OF DC stote US may be assigned 70 It. The term
" the secretary ~ Intcrnal Affairs Is 70 be for four
yrar, of tne utor-Gcnera three years; and Of the
r.,c slsurrto years. These officers are % be chosen
ly lc qllf q electors % the State the daY Of the
general election. No person elected 20 the office Of
AsIt1~Gen - or state Treasurer win be eligible for
V-e same ofi'e FOR two consecutive terms.
Ponusy'~luiu. like New-York has had q surfeit Of
special lerisaOn aud this the provisions u ,he new
Constitution is oprcs,ly prohibited. Sections 10 and l.
OF chapter on legislation, introduced 0Y NJ Hurry /
White. provide ls fol0we
T4e legislature .bl not pass local or special law
D li regulating the ataiIs Jf countless clues. tOwn-
SHIPS wards, 'us"heus, school districts changing
ere names OF persons Or pl4 changing tue venue IN
evil ,r criminal cses authorizing the laying ont open
Altering or nlnttllg r1ad-, glways, streets, or
alloys redtus o. itrll. OF bridges Incorporating
IerI.s and bridge companies, except for the cree /
IOu OF DIid-cs crossing streams which form |
Uouniiiies between ths and any other sia.e
vlcitius roada, town pats, streets or alcys /
relating tO fei.cere,, sfaYel yards, or public grounds
luiLDI'zug ;he aioplIn or lrEtmaung Of cmlofeui I
tU aIn- or cuau2luE county HedtS erecting new cOun-