Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-06-13
AN EXTRA SESSION.
Gov. Pattison's Proclamation.

Gov. Pattison's Proclamation.
From the Press.l
HARRISBURG, June 6.-The young
master has kept the bad boys in after
| school. While they were throwing
paper wads at each other through the
early hours of this morning he was
writing a proclamation. They passed
the revised General Appropriation bill,
threw the last wad and adjourned
about 4 O'Clock this morning. Most of
them had done up their records and
packed their trunks. A few of them
had paid their board bills The page
boys had secured the last honored
name for their autograph albums, and
the skirmishing committee of pastors
and folders had taken the last man
down into the cellar and asked him
what he thought the Governor would
do about their pro rata pay for the
last fifty days The shirt of the chap
lain bulged joyfully up against his
choker with the thought that he had
but one more three-dollar prayer to
squander on the idle and malarious
winds. Although the statesmen felt
that they had done their duty and so
marched bravely down the hill to the
morning music of the early robin.
A SURPRISE TO NEARLY ALL.
When the Senate and House met at
ii O'Clock today for what they they
thought was the last time, the Cover
nor sent in his proclamation calling
them in extra session tomorrow. 1t
was complete surprise to nineteen
out of twenty of them. They had
made up their minds that the Cover
nor would call an extra session, but
they did not think he would do so
now. The message is as follows;
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COMMONWEALTH OF PENN'A.,
| OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
| HARRISBURG June 6.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes of the Commonwealth of
Observation-Disclosures: By virtue
of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution l hereby convene yon in
extraordinary session on Thursday,
the 7th day of June, Ammo Domini
one thousand eight hundred and eighty
three, at IL O'Clock noon of that day.
In the judgment of the Executive
such an extraordinary occasion has
arisen as to require the exercise of the
power The Constitution commands
the General Assembly, Immediately
after each United States decennial
census" to apportion the State into
Senatorial and Representative districts.
This imperative mandate has not been
obeyed. BY the joint rules of your
Houses the time has gone by when
bills disclosing purpose to perform
this duty can be presented to me for
approval. The obligation is imposed
upon the Governor to "take care that
the laws be faithfully executed" l
deem it nv duty, therefore, to exhaust
my lawful authority to correct the
grave default of the Legislature. Equal
ly important and necessary, though
not so specifically commanded by law,
is the duty of the Assembly to appor-
| tion the State into Congressional and
Judicial districts. l, therefore, desig.
nate the apportionment of the State
into Senatorial, Representative, Con-
gressional and Judicial districts as
subjects for Legislative consideration.
The right of the people to fair, just
and lawful representation in the legis-
lative councils of the State and Union
is secured by the Constitution, and
must not be denied. The Importance
of the right cannot be overestimated.
1t is the essential principle of our form
of government. 1t underlies all our
political rights. 1t is to be jealousy
guarded, carefully observed, and faith
fully carried out. The time is pecu-
liarly fitting for the passage ofbills to Sc
cure a fair, just, equitable, and nom
partisan apportionment of the State.
The two houses of the Assembly are
composed of majorities of different par
ty affiliations. A greater degree of
fairness is to be expected from such a
condition of the legislative body than
if it was dominated in both branches
by majority of the same party con-
victions. Each house will provide q
check upon the other in any attempt to
obtain unfair advantages. Mutual
concession and spirit of conciliation
ought to result in an adjustment of the
two houses and the prompt passage of
bills, fair in spirit, giving just repre-
sentation to the people in all sections
Of the State
In addressing ourselves to these
subjects we must keep constantly in
view the guide provided in the Con-
stitution, directing that the legislative
districts shall be composed of COM
pact and contiguous territory, as near
ly equal in population as may be-"
This is plain and simple rule, estab-
lished for our guidance by the funda-
mental law To follow it in its spirit
will result in just conclusions. There
ought not to be any doubt of the Leg
islature speedily agreeing upon the
tion. 1t is their duty to agree. A
further default in this matter will re-
suit in at least six years of the decade
elapsing without the apportionment
required by law being made. To pre-
vent such an indefensible condition of
affairs / have deemed it obligatory
upon me to proclaim this call for an
extraordinary session.
Lave selected time for your as
sembing Immediately succeeding the
day of adjournment of your regular
session, 80 as not to neSessitate your
recall after you had dispersed to your
homes In this way the expense of the
session will be lessened. as the ma
chinery for the conduct of the business
Of the Assembly is ready for use. |
reluctantly convene the Legislature at
this season of the year. Nothing but