Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-12-13
The Governors Veto.
ONLY ruE ITEMS PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT
OF EMPLOYEES APPROVED.

OF EMPLOYEES APPROVED.
HARRfsnvRG, Dec. i.--Goyernor Patti
son sent the following message to the
Legislature to- day
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COMMONWEALTH
OF PENNSYLVANIA, OFFICE or THE GoF'
rRNoR, HARRIspuRG, Dec. 1, 1883.
IT, the House Of Representatives Of The Com
,uoHlcs1lh Of PsHHSylraUia:
GENrLEuES-Iu accordance with the
authority given to the Governor to
disapprove of any items of an aPPro
priatiou bill, disapproye of all the
items in the herewith returned bill, ex'
cept those items in Section 3providlng
for the pay of certain employees Of the
Senate, and those items in Section Tor
the pay OF certain employees OF the
House. and Section : for the expense Of
serving writ Of election to fill vacancy
in the House Of Representatives. To
all the other items OF the bill I decline
to give my approval.
4 DUTY uNrEEFoRvED
The members OF the General Assem-
bly, were convened in special session for
the sole purpose OF apportioning the
State as commanded by the constitution.
The command was upon them to pass
such laws at the regular session, but, they
adjourned few days after their right to
pay ceased, with their sworn constitu.
tional duty unperformed. They were
Immediately recalled into session to
obey the organic law, to keep their
oaths, and to accord to the people the
most important political rights They
again deliberately refuse to perform
their constitutional duty, and are about
to adjourn.
After wasting six months in contem
ming the Constitution, they now send
me this bill appropriating over half q
million dollars to pay Themselves for
refusing to do what they were elected
and sworn to do. Every consideration
of law and the simplest principles oi
common justice protest against such an
attempt TO take the money Of the people
without consideration. There 10 no
law authorizing public officers to pay
themselves for defying the law. Such
an inconsistency could not exist in the
jurisprudence of any enlightened gov
ernment. No citizen in his private
business capacity would sanction such
aprineiple as that underlying this bill
The fact that one has been elected BY
the people to an Office does not of itsel
entitle him to pay. lie must first per
form the duties OF his Office. As vel
might a Judge claim his salary who re
fuses to hold court or try the causes be
fore him. The members of this Legis
lature have refused to do their duty, IL
compliance with the command Of thu
Constitution, the vow of their ofiicia
oath, and the purpose Of their election
the REcEssEs or BoTH HOUSES.
When this session was convened, in
stead of proceeding at once to perform
their duty, the members of the Legis
lature, for their personal convenience
Immediately took recess for clever
days. by this bill every legislator !
given of the peoples money $40 da.
for each day of that recess. To sanction
this would be TO admit that they nigh
have taken recess for the year and
half remaining OF their terms, and hav
paid themselves many thousand OF do
lars each while remaining at thei
homes and attending 10 their privat
concerns.
For over one.half the time since th
Legislature was convened the Senst
has not been in session at all, having b
formal resolution deliberately resolve
not to sit or make an effort TO obey th
Law. On many Of the days when 1t di
hold sessions but few minutes we're O
cupied, and no single official act NJ
done looking to a performance Of dul!