The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-03-03
The State Legislature and the New
Constitution.


phin Inquirer, of the 22nd ult., that a
portion Of the sages in the House of
desire to tinker at the |
State Constitution, they no doubt see
money IN 1t. The many friends of
Hon. w. NJ, Rapsher will certainly be
pleased at the manner in which he has
placed himself on record on this ques.
ton
The members have become utterly disgustcd
with Tie new Constitution and are Cud9eling
their brains continually for some new pan
which will enable them to defeat or evade It's
PROVISION.
Tho latest effort in this direction comes before
the House In the shape OF Joint ros0lutlOni IN
wmch various amendments are proposed, many
OF them but cteT1Cal, o nprs OF some Importance.
Tue idea COntam plated. however 0y the sagaci-
Gus authoIs OF thus bill, IS not 80 much to enect
tne ADOPTION OF any particular amendment now
as to open tine way to future innovations IN the
success Of winch tne whole iutent and purpose
Of the constitutional Convention OF 1873 Will be
frustrated
When the bill was introduced in the House
yesterday MI Rapsher OF Carbon, one OF the
sensible men of the Legislature, opposed ITS pas
sage. He was quite certain that ANY dOOtOrng
of the Constitution would have the effect Dna
~ OF bringing aDOut II renewal OF the special
legislation OF tormer years and defeating
measure which had cost the State 80 much al
ready To submit the question OF these amend
ments TO the people would cost the SGate not
less thon S10O,tOJ and it was IN Denaf of the
OverDurdened taXpayer, that he raised his voice
20 protest against the Dil's paSsage, Ihe nut
ther con lde alton OF the measure WAS postpOn-
ed iOr the esent. IL now comes to my Know
ledge that Mr.. hapshel's suspicious were well
founded
Keen and cute as some men are they cannot
refrain from occasionally catering TO their va l.
Ivy, ahd when they have reason FOR DeneVlng
themselves to be esFeCaly razOr-t dged they
cant for the life OF them, IelIan Lon telling
their nearest nelghbor. Now, it 30 happeLs
that certain member flOm Philadelphia, one
OF gigantic intellect, who knOws where to put
his Trains thaJ they will do the most good. mas
in hi, possession the real paper, for the sneak
ing through OF which the frivolous resolution
all eady offered Is TO be made the subttltuge
I his interesting little document contains an
amendment which provides for the reduction OF
| the members of the House trom tine present
number to The more convenient ana manageable
one OF one hundred one, ana neatly appeal I'd
| thereto is another amendment VIII eli designs
| tine exemption of ClUies Of the hcst-clasS from
| the effects OF legislation wniCh originate out oil
| TIE necessities Of the country. In shOrG, the
object OF this graceful little dodge is simply 10
a vote OF the people and TO revert to tne rlOtOus
| special legislation of former years.
The following is an extract of the
speech of Hon. w. NJ. Rapsher on the
bill, as published in the Legislative
Record:
Mr.. Rapsher-For the sake of terminating the
| discussion, make the motion that this com
| mlttee now fise.
The qua, ton being, Will the committee agree
to tue motion of the gentleman from Carbon
| Nj. Rapshel
Mr. kapsher--I desire to address the House
briefly upon that motion. make tins motion
| at ,nls time Tor the purpose OF saving time. All
| the menUers upon Uhis floor can see the line OF
| discussion which this question mas pcned. AT
| tins rate IL wli lake us thee or four days u
dispose Of the qutstlOn, and after 1t Is disposed
| OF, WI Ii the amendments and unkeImg winch
| Will come up Oh every amendment or serton, II
| Will finally De VOteu down, and we viii have
consumed three OF four days of very valuable
unIe without any purpose whatever. am Op
pOSen,aS SAID yesterday. TO the consideration
OF tins Di 1T ali upon broad general principles
L am aware that the amendments that are mere
proposed have Oeen suggested ana rCpOI ted DI
u very eminent and talenten commission ap
pointed by the Legislature of this cnmmOn
wealth, and they maze Jhel' rGQurt; but, sIr
the Legislature OF 1916 and 1876 refused TO rec
ognlze that report aid incur TIE eXDe Sc u
submitting 1t To popular vote. aud thluN il
they dld wise, judo. GUS and stGlesnlI InllGe Gc
III tnOse wO entire SESSIONS, IL was the reiu ia
to submit this bill or Ght report OF the cOmulls
sion 10 u vote Oh the people. A large numueI
OF the muuuers OF the lats Convention ule
Il counter report ana a protest against the re
port OF tins commission soon aiter It repOl tod
IL was 81 ned by all the memOers from INT
county oI Luzerue, and IT my IN mOry serve
me correctly, Dy great number OF the mem
Ders OF the COnstitutlun4l convention and /, il
not the fact, as the gentleman nom Mercer. "a
l UNDERSTOOD him Yesterday TO say. thai thi
bill proviued merely iOr slight ON ssons and ap
parent mistakes that have been maze bv tn
Constitutions Convention.
Mr.. JaCksOn-EXcept III reference to the ia
uiclary. There are some lmp0rtanJ change
ma0e In that but IN no other article.
| MI. Rnpsher-l hove taken the pans to loO
over every amendment The fact is, eYCll
alnenuhehI pIopOseu mere ls NlIal' ana luNulNe
great ami important prIuclpi s winch this Leg
lslature mas not tine time ut tnls .esslUu 10 Uls
cuss rHey are greaG principles, whicA. as
sand yesterday, We're iuly and ut iength dI,
cussed Dy an able body of men tu the late Con
stltutlOual Convention, aud they were rejected
Mr CrawtOrd-l raise the point OF order tha
the gentleman Is out Of Order-he has got I
speak 20 the point
Tue ChhlTHan-Tne Chair will decide tn
point OF oTder well taken. The gentleman frOI
Carbon must contine himse! 10 the motion tina
, me committee do now rise. and not discuss tli
general tenor OF the bill without withdrawn
MI. Rap; her-That will limit my dscussio
at thls tlmej but sllnply repeat lLls-tnit "
I have not the time now to dl'cuss the bill, an
that the motion to rise should pi evail UeCI Us
the time speut Oh this bull viii be wasted, "
! sides the money 1t viii cost to submit it to poi
ulaf vote.
t MIR. Jackson ask the committee to indule
3 me in reHulng a few lines from the report of u
! comlnE sion, which indicates the general tent
l | Of the report read AS follows: " Mlth u
, | single exception OF the judiciary article. III
, | least unanimous IN las adoption by the COnve
1 ton. we have confined our revision TO tue r.
4 n,OVal OF Inconsistencies and patent defects, On
I | TO changes in few PROVISIONS which seem
2 he really necessary our object beng rather
perfect than TO change, thus Assisting 10 mas
. the instrument conform to the true spirit al
; intent Oh the UOdy when proposed It,"
Mr.. Rapsher-l rise To point oi order
Z MI. JaCksOn-l suppose the gentleman pr
Y poses To CHl me 10 uldei because L am IL
To the motion.
Mr. Rapsher-- That is the point Of order.
WAS not allowed to discuss the merits, althOug
l think II would Oe elnnentiy proper
r Ihe Chulr-rhe 4 utltmun ON Mepcer :.
Jackson must COLuue himself 10 the motion D
= lore the House
Mr. JACKSON lMercer)-I submit that nav
) not lalKed out OF order lOIger than TIE gent
uian from carbon air. kapsherI did before
ON that point That plea that We have N
Il ttme, Tor ,h1 purpose OF klIlng blll tGat "
sometimes are AiIuia to glapple with OeCuu
we do not comprehend 1t, or tOc the purpose
= lltnE u on as in the present cast, becuu
u the gentleman from Carbon MI. Rapsherl do
= not approve Of the bill, aud ae deslIes ti hay
IL showed INTO II pigeon nO.e on tue pea tAat
!. have not time, say Is IA plea that snOulu not
| received q tolerated III thIs bOuy; and Won
. Iemlnd the gentleman from CaFUOn Mr. Rt
sherl that possibly hU Is inter steu N Uils
c cO'uo tctOe TINS body, ami the plea SHAT
haV G not time is Wlckeo Invention tnat mig
u etdln 10 plague mn before the session ends.
Mr haiIsneI-Mr Chairman, made tins IN
> tiOn, ard nv remarKs On the subject weIe niu
IA entire good inlth. ih4s IS no local or specl
BIN II Is Il Uill th,t interests tue entire Coz
f lnOnWealth II Pennsylvania. 1t is one Oh Il
- most general bills Ia It's ch lraeter ina c;
? | COme before this bod. rose aud entered /,
gUOd faith ana believe they are II aCcOruan
with tue sentiments OF the nuJp NY OF Jde pl
IL ple OF the commonwealth, AID submit u
. the gentleman from Mercer has no right TO (
u up an make tArcats tnat he VIII tulOttle II v
A IN which may have a special interest 1 s.
NNuH dc Uaaa lsF