Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-11-26


also that for the performance Of hi
duties, hc will accept no compensa
tion, "direct or Indirect" other thai
that provided by law.
/ am aware that some of us do mo-
attatch much weight to the inhonc'
of an oath about public affairs on tn,
conscience Of q bad man but all will
agree that no would be a hardened
wretch, indeed, who would seek I,
enter upon official duties, with tn,
crime Of perjury on his soul, Ms I
means to that end and mono but |
brazen fool would commit such I
crime, trusting tho knowledge of i
TO others. Then, in addition, comes
terrific pcnal code. Embodied in SOC
tion twenty-six Of the article on leg
islation, with tho sentence Of disqual
i6cation for places of trust or profit
and other punishment on any mem
Der who "may receive, or consent to
receive, directly or indirectly" any
reward, in any form whatever, from
any source whatever, for anything h,
may do or forbcar TO do touching mat
ters Of legislation.
Sections twenty.seven and twenty.
eight provide for penalties on any and
all persons who may bribo, or attempt
to brbe, or in any way to influence
improperly members ofthe Legislature
in the performance Of the official du
tics, amounting to regular bomb shell
fired into tho third house, composed Of
professional lobbyists and borers, who
for years, have been in the habit of at.
tending on the sessions Of tho Legis-
laturcs with tho design of making
money out of tho actions and votes OF
the members, whether they influenced
such actions and votes or not.
have long cherished an intensified
aversion to the third house, not only
because Of the bad influence exercised
by its members, but because ii seemed
to be organized on principles at war
with our republican institutions,
whereby its members are vested with
a life tenure. | have known a num-
Der of them to die, but l never heard
of one whose term Of Office had ex-
pired. But it is quite certain that
the article under consideration will
consign the remainder of its mem.
bers to protracted oblivion, their oc-
cupation being thereby rendered un-
pleasant as well as Improbable.
l also commend that other feature
which recognizes with such peculiar
directncss the fact that the public
money belongs TO the State and shall
be used for its benefit only, and i'm
poses the severcst penalties on the
dishonest treasurer who may make q
contrary use OF the peoples money.
Whilst 10 the Executive department
the proposed reforms are not SO cx-
tensivo as in the Legislature, they
are Of much valuo and will commend
themselves to popular favor.
The Governors term of service is
changed from three TO four years, and
the office OF Lieutenant Governor is
created, the occupant of which ia to
preside over the Senate and perform
the duties Of the Governor on the
happening of vacancy in tho Guber.
material office. Tho Governor, in ad-
dition TO the veto power heretofore
exercised, is to be vested with the
right to veto any item in an appro.
priation bill without harm TO the re.
mainder thereof, thereby enabling
him to break any corner tho General
Assembly may set up, as he will not
be forced to give his assent to what
is wrong in an apportionmont bill be-
cause the government cannot 20 on
other parts of it.
The pardoning power is vested In
tho Governor, as heretofore, except
that he shall grant no pardon unless
it be recommended in writing by the
Lieutenant Governor, Attorney Con
eral, the Secretaries of Internal
Affairs and of the Commonwealth, or
q majority of them, and they are not
10 recommend pardon except "after
Iull hearing and duo public notice and
IN open session." Tho concurrence
of these officers with tho Governor,
and tho recording of their reasons for
asking pardon, regard as excellent
safeguards for tho Governor and for
he public.
In the regulation of suffrage valua-
Die reforms are proposed, for Instance
'All laws regulating tho holding of
elections by the citizens or for the
of electors shall be uni.
orm throughout the State, but no
,lector shall bc deprived Of tho privi-
ego of voting by reason of his name
iot being registered" And again,
zach person must be citizen Of the
United States at least one month be-
ore he can become an elector. This
q intended to prevent fraudulent nat
lralizations on tho eve of an election.
\ residence Of two months in the
proper district of an elcctor, instead
II ten days, is reform of the utmost
'alue, as it renders colonization out
# one State or district into another
luite too expensive.
TO prevent stufilng ballot box
g, crime said to be exten.
lively practiced in somo districts,
is required that ballots bo mum.
'cred in the order in which they
re received, and the number record.
d opposite the name of the elector
asting the same. Each clcctor has
hc right, in addition, TO write his
ame on the back of his ballot or have
written thereon for him. II is pro-
ided, also, that whoever shall at.
empt TO influence an elector by cor
upt means, shall himself forfeit tho
ight Of suffrage; and, also, that any
andidato who may be guilty of fraud
n the election law shall be forever
disqualified from any Office of trust or
'rolit.
The railroad article cmbodics a Wig
rous attempt at reform in railroad
By its provisions rail.
DAD companies are enjoined to even
anded justice amongst all, owners
nd transportcrs, with only difference