The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1883-01-19
GOV. PATTIsoY,s INAuGuRAL.

In the nature of things there could be
nothing new or startling in Governor Patti
sons inaugural, outlining the PRINCIPLES he
proposes shall he vital forces during his ad
mlnistration, for the reason that almost
every present and probable question of State
polcy has been thoroughly canyassAd The
ADDRESS, however, is something entirely diff
ferent from what the people of PennsvIva-
ma have been used to from their Governors
Oh late years. It is plain and direct on fe "
subjects In most mems minds and these in
clnde the essentials OF good government
SIate and municipal OF course the sugges-
tons are necessarily general in their eharac-
ter, but sufficiently pointed TO show the par
tlcular evils the Governor is driving at and
the task Of reforming he accepts as r duty
imposed by his election.
Dnring the canvass, The Post urged that
the election Of Mr. Pattison would place the
new Constitution in the hands of its friends
for the first time, and would mean the en-
forcement of its most sautarv provisions
particularly as regards the grasp and power
OF corporations, which have been allowed to
lapse by the neglect of the Executive and
the Legislature. In this we did not err, and
the portions OF the address that will com
mand the greatest attention and meet with
most general approval, are Governor Patti
son g striking and emphatic declarations on
this important subject IL does not rnince
words, but plainly sets forth that the official
oathS of members of the ,nyis laturn hither-
=
the mandates of the Constitution, as regards
legislation to ahate the naughty pretensions
OF corporations and enforce the rights of
people and places to equality of treatment
He proposes no warfare on the rights of cor
porations, but plainly means that so far as
he can control events they shall be the ser
wants and not the masters of the Common
wealth. The people have been waiting since
the new Constitution was adopted, to hear
some Sueh declarations as these from The
Chief Magistrate, but through HartTanft's
and HOyt's terms they have waited in vain.
The man has come, and IL supported proper
ly by the legislature, one of the most grew
Gus humiliatiOns and extended budget of
wrongs will be cured.
Other specific recommendations OF the
message are for the reform of the existing
system Of State, county and township taxa
ton, declared to be intricate unequal and
ill-dGested. to tbe end that uniformity and
simplicity may be secured.
A fair and just apportiOnment for Con-
gressional and Legislative purposes is urged
with much force, as underlying the whole
fabric of our political system-that is the
peoples right to just representation.
The Board of Pardons, Governor PattisOn
merely recognizes as an assistant in deter
mining the merits of applications, and takes
the ground it is no part OF the province of
the Board TO revise the legality of the judg-
ments OF the courts below. which is precise
ly what the Board did in the Kemblc case.
Municipal government is inteligently
treated by n master of the subject, and the
remedy of existing evils briefly stated to be
enlarged and frePr self-Covernmert, The
people of the cities, he holds, best know
their own wants and should be allowed to
direct their own affairs without legislative
intermeddling.
In closing Governor Pattison eloquently
figures the future possibilities of the Com
monweaIth, but reminds the people that to
realize their citizenship and its duties must
be accepted as matters Of conscientious per-
fOrmance. - Pittsburgh Post.