Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-01-16

The fact that the first Constitution oil
Vermont was copy with some additions)
of the first Constitution of Pennsylvania
gives Nermonters special interest in Con
-ritutional changes in Pennsylvania.
The old constitutions, originally IN
good part the work OF Penn and Franklin
were considerably changed in both States.
In each Senate was substituted for the
Council. and the awkward Council OF Cen
sors wss done away in time, though not III
very lately in Vermont. Now Pennsylvania
has adopted by IL, 900 majority, new
charter. which went into effect on the first
of January. The new constitution was the
work of the best men in the State, oil all
professions, and it makes very radical
changes, intended as safeguards against cor
ruption. The Legislature is prohibited
from passing any special laws exempt'ng
property from taxation, regulating labor,
trade, mining, or manufacturing, creating
corporations. or amending, extending, or
renewing their charters These prohibl-
tons are expected to remove nearly all the
evils resulting from specia! legislation
Hereafter all public supplies and printing
mast be obtained by contract. The Cover
nor j. permitted to veto any item OF an ap-
propriation bill without affecting the re-
mainder OF it. and is, therefore, made per-
s5nally responsible to the people for econo-
my and honesty in the use Of the public
money. Iii, veto power is further strength
ened BIS requirinea two-thirdS majority OF
all the members elected to both Houses 10
overcome it. But while the power Of the
Governor to control legislation Is thus
largely increased, his pardoning power is
greatl7 abridged, a. he Is made but one of a
court of pardons which must pass on all APP
plications for pardons. and can grant one
only by vote Of a majority.
In dealing with railroads, the new Con
stitution makes changes which are Of the
utmost consequence in State like Pennsyl-
yauia, where railroads are 50 numerous and
powerful. Consultations Of competing
Lllt~ are ADlt4A4Eu ilt hlAIAt Aa7f-A aAA-+4-t'
ton can be made in charges or facilities Tor
transportation and no officer or agent OF
any railroad can be interested in freight
lines over the company roads. | nder the
provision that no incorporated company
acting as a common carrier shall mine or
manufacture articles for transportation, or
acquire lands except for its use as such
common carrier, the anthracite coal trade Is
likely 10 be in a measure released from the
domination Of the great railroads, like the
Reading, and the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western. which, in few years, would
have owned all the coal-felds, and would
have been absolute masters, not only Of the
transportation, but of the production Of
the fuel of the Middle Atlantic sea-board.
1t aims to correct the laxity that has 50
affected the stability Of the marriage-tie by
prohibiting the Legislature from passing
any special laws granting divorces
The judiciary is still elective; but IS re-
moved from the influence of politics, by
frightening the terms andrendering Judges
ineligible for reelection.
Election laws are to be uniform through
out the commonwealth and election officers
are everywhere to be elected .by the people.
and hereafter Pennsylvania State elections
will occur the same day as the general cleo
ton, and not ia October as heretofore. 4
limitation is imposed on the creation of
municipal debts, which will serve as a pow
erful restraint upon corrupt or reckless ex-
penditures.
Appropriations Of public money for the
support of sectaran schools are forbidden,
while the laborS Of women as teachers are
recognized by rendering them eligible for
positions of control.
The working of this new constitution,
which resembles in some Of its features the
new Illinois Constitution, will be closely
watched in other States and if it proves
to accomplish all that i expected of it, it
will, like the first one, become a model for
other States