The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-11-20
The New Constitution.

The New dfORStisusaOn.
The new Constitution appears as an advcr-
tisement, in our columns to-day, under
orders from the Secretary of the Common
wealth. Let it be read and pondercd care
fully. The voters of this county will have an
opportunity on December 10th, to vote on
the amended constitution, and we shall be
disappointed if it does not receive an over
whelming majority from the people OF this
county, as well as from the whole people of
the State
We append a few Of the amendments as
We'll as improvements contemplated by the
proposed new Constitution.
The Governors term of service is changed
from three to four years, and he is rendered
ineligible for the succeeding term ; and the
new Office Of Lieutenant-Governoris created,
the occupant of which is to preside over the
Senate and perform the duties of the Cover
nor in case Of the Gubcrnational Office be-
coming vacant. The Governor, in addition
to the veto power heretofore exercised, Is to
be vested with the right to veto any item IN
an appropriation bin, without harm to the
remainder.
Instead Of three years, Senators are to be
elected for four years, while members of the
House are to be elected for two years instead
of one Instead of SO Senators we are to
have so and in the room of 100 members of
the House we are to have 2l0; and in-
stead of annual sessions there is to be, after
1878 one in two years A majority OF the who'e
number Of the members of each house will
be required to pass a bill, instead of a quorum
Of each house as heretofore.
The increase of members of the General
Assembly is justified by onr greatincrcase in
population since 1888, when the present con-
stitution was adopted, and in order to keep
representation as near the people as it was
then, it becomes absolutely necessary. And
the increased expenditures are more than
offset by the two-year sessions instead of one
year All laws regulating the holding Of
elections or for registration of electors shall
lie uniform. Each person must be citizen
at least one month before he can become an
cIector. This, of course, is intended to pre-
vent the fraudulent issue of naturaliza-
ton papers on the eve of an election.
A residence of two months in the proper
district, instead of ten days, is reform of
the utmost importance, as it renders the
colonization system from State to State, or
district to district, almost or quite impossi-
ble
In order to prevent ballot-box stufing
which, of late has become one of the fine
arts Of scoundrels, it is required that ballots
be numbered in the order in which they are
cast, and the same number noted opposite
the name of the voter casting the same. In
addition to this, the voter can, if he desires,
record on the back of his ballot his own
name.
In the election Of officers of corporations
by the stockholders, the cumulative plan of
voting is established.
The Legislature is required to appropriate
not less than one million of dollars annually
for the support of common schools, no part
of which appropriation can be used for
sectarian schools.
next following the first Monday of Novem-
Der, SO as to correspond with the date of
Presidential and Congressional elections, and
all municipal elections are to be held on the
third Tuesday in February.
No person shall be permitted to withhold
his tes timony as witness in an election
trial Or investigation, on the ground that it
will criminate himself
Trials in all contested elections in this
State are to be in courts of justice, or before
law judges thereof, SO that the scandal of
party decisions Of such cases bids fair to be
prevented hereafter But space forbids us
to notice further at this tune, the important
reforms contemplated in the proposed new
Constitution.
We want all to read, and reflect, and act
for themselves, and when this is done intel
ligently, we cannot doubt that the final deci-
sion of the people will be in favor of this
admirable instrument, framed to meet the
pressing needs of the times.