Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-01-24

decennial census There was not
even an attempt made to obey this in
junction. Such default inexcusable 1t
is the duty of the present Legislature
to promptly perform this neglected
duty. The Assembly will not be called
to act upon a more important measure
during its session than that of the re-
apportionmcnt 1t touches government
in its most vital parts. Fair and just
representation to all sections of the
State underlies the whole fabric of our
political system. 1t is the cornerstone
of our Government. Considerations of
party, of factions, of locality or of in
diviGuals have nothing 20 do with the
subject of apportionment. This duty
should be performed by the Legislature
upon uniform and just principles
| There should not be one rule for one
p@rt of the State, and a different rule
for another The Constitution COM
mands that the districts shall be COM
posed of compact and contiguous ter
ritory." This rule should be observed
throughout the entire State. 1t is
palpably violated by the present ap-
portionment. To disobey it is to COM
nit wrong against government and
the peoples right to honest and just
representation. The members of the
Legislature s! ould be forcitly impress
ed with the gravity of their duty in
this respect, and the obligation for it's
just performance.
PARDONs AND THE PARDON BOARD.
The exercise of the pardoning power
by the Executive has been the subject
of much public criticism. Nor is this
recent only. So great had become the
popular complaint, that the Convention
ed to correct what was admitted to be
an abuse, by creating board for the
hearing of applications for pardon,
whose judgment should be submitted
to the Executive for his assistance in
determining the merits of such applica-
tions. Such plan ought to result in
fuller and more careful consideration,
and decisions more in accordance with
the dictates of justice and humanity. l
do not believe, however, that the
Pardon Board was intended to be a
conrt of last resort for reviewing the
legality of the judgments OF the Courts
below and their decisions upon points
of law and the weight of evidence.
Our system of judicature, with its
Justices, Juries, Judges and Supreme
Court, provides the proper tribunals
! for the trial of causes, and has the con
| fide nee of the community. Their judg-
ments should not be lightly treated, or
disturbed without overwhelming reason.
The Pardon Board is not a court for
the trial of questions of law or of fact.
1t has become tru;sm, that it is not
the severity, SO much as the certainty,
of punishment which prevents wrong
doing. This certainty cannot be secur-
ed if it is understood by criminals that
after their cases have been fairly heard
and passed upon by every court known
to the law, they may still experiment
with the sympathy and various judg-
ments of mixed board OF lawyers and
laymen. | shall make it q rule to
grant no pardon except for canse ap-
poaring since the trial, and in cases of
manifest injustice.
REFORM IN LARGE CITIES.
The government of large cities is a
subject of growing importance, and is
attracting much attention from minds
directed to questions of municipal re-
form. 1t has been in the great centres
of population that the most fragrant
abuses in government have been mani
tested, and the greatest wrongs been
inflicted upon the people. Extrava-
gance, fraud and peculation the cor
rupticn of the ballot, and the sub
version of the popular will as express
ed at ell ctions, have grown to such
proportions in our large cities that the
stoutest friends Of free government have
become alarmed for its permanence. In
my judgment, the best corrective for
many of these evils is enlarged and
freer local selfgovernment Beyond a
few general limitations the State should
empower municipal corporations to reg
ulate their own affairs In this Com
monwealth, at least, many of the most
prolific sources of abuse have been
fastened on cities by the Legislature of
the State, from which the people have
sought to relieve themselves in de-
mands for the repeal of the obnoxious
Legislation. Many of their concerns
are under the direction of officers who
owe no responsibility to the corpora
tiors they serve. In some instances
the power previously conferred upon
cities to regulate matters exclusively
affecting the convenience and comfort
of their own citizens, has been taken
from them by the General Assembly.
1t is this legislation from a distance
that has caused many of the complaints
from municipalities, and that should be
stopped and it's wrong redressed. The
people of cities, who best know their
own wants, should be allowed to spend
their own money, fix the salaries of
their officers, and direct their own
private affairs. This would be more
in accordance with the spirit of our in
stitutions, and would make local officers
; responsible to the people whose
servants they are, and who would thus
have in their own hands the power to
correct the evils under which they
suffer.
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.
| look forward with bright antlci-
patton to the future of our Common
wealth Her possibilities are great be-
yond those of almost any of her sister
States Let it always be remembered
lty all citizens that Intelligence and
virtue are the safeguards of liberal in.
stitutions. The law must be preserved
in it's integrity and supremacy citizen
ship should not be treated as light
privilege; but its duties should be
made n serious matter of conscientious