Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-09-26

tAuduSltu ali INC pONcI gwen W Ilc
by the Constitution in this particular
case for seeing that the laws are faith
fully executed. The length Of the
session and its consequent expense are
not subject to my direction or control.
How long the Legislature will take to
perform its Constitutional duties, and
when it will adjourn, are matters ex-
clusively within the regulation of the
two houses. 1t is my duty, however,
to assume, in view of the imperative
command of the organic law, that they
will not adjourn until their Constitu-
tional obligations are fully discharged;
and official propriety requires me to
believe that they will not unnecessari-
ly consume the money of the people by
protracting to an unwarranted length
the time of their sitting.
These remarks are suggested by GER
tain notorious facts in connection with
the present session to which | cannot
close my eyes. | cannot fail to observe,
in my official capacity, that over one
hundred days have elapsed, and that
the business for which the Legislature
was convened is not completed. Know
ing no reason, in law or justice, for
such delay, | haye sought to ascertain
the cause by an inspection of the jour
nails and files of the two houses. These
records disclose the fact that differences
exist between the bodies upon the sub
iect Of the apportionment bills, which
have not as yet been reconciled. On
the part of the House of Representa-
tives, it appears that resolutions have
been repeatedly sent to the Senate re-
questing the appointment of commit
tees of conference to adjust the differ
ences existing between the two Houses,
which requests the Senate has refused
to grant Moreover, the House ap-
pears to have passed number of new
bills, pending the unreconciled differen-
ces upon the old ones. all of which new
measures the Senate has refused to
place upon it's calendar. From this it
would appear that one branch of the
Legislature is unwilling to make any
further efforts to meet the other for the
purpose of reconciling the differences
existing between them, and passing the
legislation required bv the Constitu-
tion
TIE CONSTITUTION DEFIED.
This determination, if continued, is
in effect closing the door upon all posi-
bility of enforcing the fundamental law.
The relative merits of the points of
difference between the Houses | do not
mean to discuss. | have no hesitation,
however, in distinctly saying that the
paramount obligation for the passage
of apportionment claws makes it an
overpowering duty that those differ
ehces should be finally adjusted so that
the Constitution shall be obeyed
Upon one side of this question there
are differences between the Houses
about the number and political COM
plexion of districts upon the other
there is the clear, unmistakable, and
command of the Constitu-
tion that apportionment laws shall be
enacted There thus appears to be a
conflict between the resolution of one
branch OF the Legislature not to attempt
to reconcile its differences with the
other and the absolute mandate of the
Constitution. In such a conflict there
ought to be no doubt about the side to
which the duty of the faithful legislator
is due.
The question of the apportionment
of the State ought not to be made O
political contention between parties in
which one shall resolve that unless its
claims are admitted no laws at al shall
be passed. The rules for the guidance
of the Legislature are clearl V laid down
by the Constitution, and are that the
legislative districts shall be of compact
and contiguous territory, as nearly
equal il population as may be, and SIM
liar requisites obtain for the Congress
sional apportionment. The law recog-
nizes no such principle az the claims of
parties in the passage of the legislation
for which the General Assembly is now
To inject such issues into
the deliberations ofthe Legislature, and
by insisting upon them to prevent the
execution of the organic law, is uDjust-
fable and indefensible. Every consid-
GRAFTON of law, duty, rights of the peo-
pie, and respect for the obligation of
oaths, requires that party spirit and
party resolves should not be permitted
to stand in the way of prompt and
faithful obedience to the Constitution.
AN APPEAL FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHT
If the Legislature, from any reason,
should again fail to comply with the
command of the fundamental law, the
people cannot be fairly and justly re-
presented in the Legislative councils
of the State and Union before the year
1887. Neither house has the right to
assume an attitude calculated to bring
ahoutso deplorahle q condition of affairs |
| must, therefore, in the effort to carry
out the injunction of the Constitution
that | 'shall take care that the laws |
be faithfully executed" urge upon the
Legislature the importance of the obli-
cation under which it rests to perform
q plain Constitutional duty. A spirit |
of fairness, candor and non-partisan-
ship should actuate the members of
both branches of the Assembly in the
performance of that duty. Diligence
should characterize them as well. For |
either house to resolve to meet only at |
intervals, and then but for a
short time, is likely, even if not intend
ed, to prevent the requirements of the
law from being fulfilled | trust, for
the sake of the fair fame of our Com
for the respect we hold
among our sister States, and to save
us from the reproach of being unable
to execute our constitutional form of
that the Legislature will
soon discharge its duties with fairness
and justice, and thus bring to speedy
conclusion this session, already too
lengthy.
R;n,ll,r I ,uiah 10 cou thot unnp