The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-01-28
arr ,ossrrrurIoy4l AMEsDMEyrs.

City.
MIR rossTYTUTIOy4L AMENDMENTS.
A stn,lv by comparison OF the new Consti-
tuition Of the State of Pennsylvania, just
adopted by heavy popular majority, with
tbe amendments to the Constitution OF the
State of New Jersey, proposed by the COM
mission appointed for that purpose, leaves us,
saws the Newark Daily Adeerttscr, with the
feeling that il our amendments are adopted,
we shall have the better organic law OF the
two. The New Jersey scheme is better in this
wise its propositions relate strictly to Or
ranic law, to the general principles which
should govern legislation and omit a vast
amount of legislative detail, of actual statute
law, which the Pennsylvanians have deemed
it necessary to make irrepealabe. The secret
of this is that in Pennsylvania the Constitu-
tional Convention was called under great
sense Of wrong and of the need of sweeping
reforms, in the advocacy of which mere
theorists were able to make serious plumbers.
In New Jersey, the Commission was small
and dispassionate body, with no deep-lying
dissatisfaction with existing provisions, but
fully recognizing that the changed conditions
of the State required clearer and fuller state
ment Of principles controlling statute law.
Ono result of this is that the New Jersey
programme is terse and compact, with fewer
passages capable Of doubtful construction
than we find in the Pennsylvania charter.
Yet the two run upon the Same theory--that
of the protection of the citizen from the
tyranny of the State, the municipality or the
corporation. The points upon which they
most nearly agree are first the inyiolability oil
private property. The New Jersey Bill Of
RIGHTS is amended so that while private
property may be taken for public use, j
must DC tone III, ssss.--- tn the qeners,
good and paid for, with right Of appeal I
the courts. The article is brief, emphatic an
capable of only one construction. That I
PENNSYLVANIA, reaching the same result
LONG. diffuse and somewhat obscure, thong
its intent is evident. In the matter of til
Judiciary the Pennsylvania Constitution legis
lates too much and is full of detail whic
ought to be left to the Legislature, which latte
presumably respectable body is vetoed in nd
vance or has chainand ball tied to the lie:
of each article. The New Jer7ey project o
n Judiciary smpliiies by the omission Of GER
tain clauses and the substitution of an cas-.
scheme reducing the number of side judges,
and of justices of tho peace. Nothing i
added to or substracted from the ancien
power of the courts. 49,.
In dealing with municipalities, sconntie
come first. New Jersey forbids the division
of any county except by q majority vote OF q
the voters thereof. Pennsylvania fixes a
arbitrary and not very comprehensive rul
that no new county shall be established whic
shall reduce any other county to less tina
four hundred square miles or to less than 20,
900 inhabitants, nor shall any new county lin
pass within ten miles of any county scat of
county proposed to be divided, all ofwhichseem
arbitrary, technical, and assumes a wisdom G
the future in which we lack confidence. Ii til
people of county want it divided let thcr
make the separation. On the other hand, in tn
matter of mourning debt, New Jersey Is
the two more stringent. 1t forbids the ioa
of municipal credit or money to any associ'
lion or corporation, and even Cor public work
no county may contract a debt exceeding tw
per cent. Of its assessed valuation, no tow
shall exceed four per cent. aud no city cxcee
eight per cent, except for water suppl,
The bonding of townships or counties 70
railroad or like enterprise is absolutely fol
hidden. Such debts as are incurred must y
for works to be done for the public good vi
der regular official control.
Roth instruments confer the suffrage upo
soldiers absent in service. Both fix the sam
General election day---the first Tuesday afte
the first Monday in November. Both also re
uuire the printing of all bills and joint rese
buttons before they are taken mp or considers
and their reading in full on three several day
in each house, before their passage. Bot
also have practically the same provision foi
bidding members to accept civil appointment
or to be elected to the United States Senate
Both States have the same provision that n
law shall be revived or amended 10y referenc
n its title only. 1t must be re-enacted an
published at length.
In the matter of education both States es
clude sectarian schools, but New Jersey limit
the definition of free school as not to thos
which are designed to fit pupils to enter co
lece. Pennsylvania has no such limit, IN
remaining differences. some of them Of muc
importance, must be left to another day.