Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-12-04
ANOTHER VETO.
THE GvyFESOR REFUSES LsaIsLh-
TIVE PAY.
hts Reasons owen at Lengtn-He Allows
only the ray oi thc Empioyes-No Busi-
mess Done at tho ENtrn sesslon.

HARRISBURG, Pa, Dec. 4.--The COVER
nor to day sent back to the Legislature
tho salary bill recently passed, without his
approval and gives his reasons for the veto
in the following message:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT., COMMON.
WEALTH or PENNSYLVANIA.
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
HARRIsBuRG, Dec. 4, 1888.
TO TIE House 81 RepreSentdfirsS 81 the com.
guO1tCCuIh Of PennsgiruHtd'
GENTLEMEN In accordance with tho
authority given to the governor to disap-
provo of any items of an appropriation
BILL disapprove OF all items in the hero
with returned bill except those items in
section ., providing for the pay of certain
employees OF the Senate, and those items
in section 1, for the pay of certain EN-.
ployes Of the House, and section I, for
the expense of serving writ OF election to
fill vacancy in tho House of Representa-.
tiyes. To all the other items Of the bill
decline TO give my approval.
a Neglected Constitutional Duty.
The members of the General Assembly
were convened in special session for the
| solo purpose OF apportioning tho state, as
commanded by the constitution. Tho
command was upon them to pass such law
| II lllt AAttsA oSNolNlls bhN NANs
| A few days after, their right to pay ceased
with their sworn constitutional duty
uuperlUIO3ed. They were immedi.
atcly recalled into session to
obey the organic law, to keep their oaths
and to accord to the people the most i'm.
| portlnt political rights. They again do
| libcratcly refuse to perform their constitu.
tiOual duty and are about to adjourn.
After wasting six months in contemning
! tho constitution, they now send me this
| bill, appropgiatiug over half million dol.
| lars 70 pay themselves for refusing 10 do
what they were elected and sworn to do.
| Every consideration of Law and the sim
| plest principles Of common justice protest
! against such an attempt to take the money
! Of the people without consideration.
No Money for Law Defyers
| There is no law authorizing public otf
GERS to pay themselves for defying the law.
Such an Inconsistency could not exist in
the jurisprudence Of any enlightened gov.
Crnmcnt. No citizen IN his private bust
ness capacity would saGction such prin.
ciple as that underlying this bill. The
fact that one has been elected By the peo.
| pie 20 an office does not ofitself cntitle him
| 10 pay. He must first perform the duties
| Of his Office. As we'll might judge claim
| his salary wdo refuses to hold court or try
! the causes before him. The members of
| tho Legislature have refused TO do their
| duty in compliance with the command o!
| the constitution the vow of their official
oath and the purpose Of their election
The Ten Days' Recess
When this session was convened, instead
Of proceeding at ouce to perform their
duty the members Of the Legislature for
their personal convenience, Immediately
took recess for eleven days. By this bill
every legislator is given OF the peoples
money $40 a day for each day Of that
recess. To sanction this would be to admit
that they might have taken O recess for
the year and a half remaining Of their !
terms, and have paid themselves many |
thousands Of dollars each, while remain. |
ing at their homes aud attending to their |
private concerns.
Toe Sena;ss Doreliction.
For over Ouo half the time since the |
Legislature was convened the Senate has
not been IN session at all, having by for
NAL resolution deliberately resolved not TO
to sit or make an effort 10 obey the law.
On many Of the days hen it did hold ses.
sions but q few minutes were occupied and
no single Official act was done 10 a peTGor.
| nance Of duty. The record of the House
| OF Representatives upon this subject,
while not 50 culpable, is yet highly repre-
Eensible, 1t not havIng held sessions for
many days. Yet for the whole ls2 days
! from June 1th TO December 5th, whether !
| days Of session. 70 session, sham session, |
/ Lords days and holdly8-GOr all alike, |
| $40 day for the entire time is given by
this bill TO every senator aud member.
ror SeEIeoting Their Duty.
MonstrOus as such q claim would be
under any circumstances, it is yet the
more repugnauJ 70 law, equity and CON-
mon sense, when asserted by officials who
menace the very existence of republican
government by refusing 10 obey tho plain
est and most imperative Of constitutional
commands and give to the people the most
sacred and valuable Of political rights
| This bill exaots to the last penny all the
| compensation that the most faithful, in.
! dustrious, patriotic and law obeying lcgis.
lators could get for the performance OF
every duty imposed upon them aud the
realization of every public benefit that
could be expected from them.
And Mileage, foot
LudCr this bill mileage is claimed By
members aud officers for going from their
homes TO the seat OF government and re.
turning, Who wero present in Harrisburg
when the extra session was called, having
been paid By the state to be there, aud
VINO nave also been already paid for 70
turning 10 their homes.
| SO, too, $40 day is claimed by this bill
for sessions upon days when, to use the
language Of the law, there were no sessions
held "at which members could be.
An IndsiensiDIc steal.
1t would b. useless for me to 90 over
this bill and discuss its unjust provisions
10 detail. 1t is mos. indefensible attempt
TO take money out OF the public treasury
! without warrant flaw, shadow Of Justice,
or possibility OF right, By body Of off
clals which, as the executive of tho com
monwealth, | am obliged TO say reslsts,
dehcs and assaults the constitutional
| government Of the people.
An appeal 20 tho Ballot.
There often como times 10 the history of
popular governments when the only hone
OF their preservation rests not in tho func.
tional power given 10 officials, but tnat last
aud mightiest OF resources, the intelligent
aud resolute action of free people at the
ballot box. This hops alone is loft to the
lovers OF free government in Pennsylyania
Tor tho enforcement Of the laws and the
pre- ovation of the constitution. have
exhausted all my p)Her 70 that end with.
out avail aud confess the futility of nv
efforts. Not only may | be unable 10
secure obedience to tho constitution and
soe that the laws bo faithfully executed
hFaN oil