Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-06-11
THE NEW C0NSTfTUnON--THE
LEGISLATIVE ARTICLE.

The Cleveland Leader comment
ing on the Legislative article in the
new constitution says that following
the provision for biennial elections
is the amendment of this Article re-
latlng to the passage of appropria-
ton bills. The Constitution of 1851
made q decided reform when it re-
quired a vote of two-thirds of all
the members elected for the pay
ment of money out of the Treasury
for any claim, or demand, not pro-
vided for by pre-exIsting law. 1t
was believed such stringent re-
quirement would protect the Treas
ury from unjust demands and effect
ually guard it against the raids of
lobbyists. twas indeed a decided
check upon lobbyists, but the geni-
us Of this class of plunderous prov
ed equal to the emergency. They
could not hope, by direct means, to
get a two-thirds vote for these
schemes, and hence new tactics were
restored to.
Watching their opportunity, while
the general appropriation bills were
pending, they would contrive to get
inserted therein amendments cover
ing their scheme of plunder. This
could be done by majority of a
quorum, then, if by any sort of
manipulation the amendment could
be kept in until the final passage,
their amendment must be voted for,
or the whole bill fail. Appropria-
tion bills necessarily contain many
items which honesty and good faith
require to be paid without delay.
Hence members opposed to the OBJ
noxious clauses are placed in a
most unpleasant situation. They
are compelled to do injustice, or
vote for the whole bill. Again, their
refusal to vote for the bill may alb
solutely obstruct the wheels Of gov
ernment. Hence good men are of
ten dragooned into voting for iniq-
uitous claims. The Salary Grab, in
Congress, is only specimen, on a
larger scale, of what happens in al
most every session of the General
Assembly of Ohio.
The new Constitution proposes
70 destroy this vicious practice, root
and branch. First, no claim or
item, unless provided for by pre-ex-
isting law, can have place in a
general appropriation bill. Second,
no amendment can add any item to
the bill unless such amendment re-
ceive majority of all the members
of the house in which it is offered.
On the final passage of the bill, any
member can demand the yeas and
nays on each item, and the failure
to obtain a majority Of all the mem
bers strikes out that item without
defeating the rest of the bill. In
regard to claims and demands re-
quiring a two-thirds vote, claims of
different kinds cannot be united in
the same bill, under penalty of rem
dering the whole bill void. There
can be no combination, or 'omni-
bus bills" so called. Again, further
to protect the peoples money, the
Governor is authorized to vote any
item or items Of an appropriation
bill, leaving the rest to stand. 1t is
difficult to see how any greater pre-
cautions could be prescribed in the
law. If third of the
General Assembly be honestly dis
posed, it will be impossible for ras-
cality even TO creep into approprla-
ton bills.
We have seen it suggested that
this privilege of calling the yeas
and nays On the final passage may
unnecessarily prolong the sessions
and prove cumbersome in actual
practice. No doubt it is the vice of
legislative assemblies to extend and
prolong their sessions, but there
should never be haste in the passage
Of appropriation bills. The hurry
of the last days proceedings is the
opportunity of the Treasury vam-
pyres.
1t is notorious, also, that the leg
islatiye sessions have been greatly
prolonged by the action of a majori-
y, who insist on the payment of
some claim which cannot get a two
thirds vote. To guard, however,
against long sessions, the per diem
pay is abolished, and the members
ire to receive fixed salary. All
nducement of a pecuniary nature
o extend the session is removed.
70 prevent absenteeism, which is
ne chief cause oflong sessions, the t
members are prohibited from tax '
ng or accepting free passes over the t
ailroads. The Legislature is also
from granting extra COM .
ensation to its employees. Many n
f the members of the Convention, g
large Legislative experience, both .
the State and Congress, seem to =
ave been animated by fervent de- h
ire to protect in every possible way il
lie peoples money from being stol- c
n or squandered. We cannot doubt L
leir work in this behalf will receive L L
lie cordial approval of all taxpay- Il
IS. tl
TRANSIT OF VENUS.
The eight,stations of the United