Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-09-19
lamrastfr fntrlIinenrer.
wEpNEspAY EvrmlNo, SEPT, 10 sas
A Snnnd Veto.

officers and employees. SO much OF the |
veto of the resolution as is based on its |
alleged violation of the constitution, in !
that IL does not maintain the separate
functions Of the two distinct branches of
the Legislature, is purely technical. II
is refinement Of strict construction and
the governor, very judiciously, does not
rest his dissent on that point. AS has
been previously indicated 10y the INTEL.
LTGENCER, the resolution which he was
asked to sign WAS inconsistent IN that It
directed pay up to certain time,durlng
which the Legislature has not performed
the duty for which it was assembled
while it cut off pay after that date re-
gardless of whether this duty Is perform
ed or not.
The governor finds further objection
to the resolution in that it is contrary to
the constitutional provision, which de-
clares that the compensation OF a public
officer shall not be increased or dimin.
ished during his term of office. This
resolution contemplates the passage of
appropriation bills denying any compen
sation to the members of the Legislature
after September 10, although the existing
law declares that their compensation
shall be ten dollars per diem. While, "a
the governor says, he has no disposition to
interfere with the privilege which every
member has to decline to receive any
part of his pay. he cannot give his assent
to an unconstitutional law passed by the
majority of the Legislature TO deprive
the minority, along with the majority,ot
the pay to which they may be entitled
This is sound position to take. The
constitution must be defended however
it acts. While appealing To the Legisla
ture t. discharge the constitutional man.
date to apportion the state, the governor
is not disposed to uullify another
constitutional command, forbdding
the reduction Of salaries during
term Of office. "lf the mem
bers of the Legislature shall be entitled
to any pay for this session, it is not
competent for the Legislature To deprive
them of it in whole or in part says the
governor. He says what is rue. lie
Furthermore declares the truth in assert
ing that the cost Of the session of the
Legislature is the smallest consideration
connected with it. We agree with him
that the people want to see the constitu
tion indicated and are willing to pay
the proper cost. But it is just as clear
that the proper cost has long since been
exceeded The duty the Legislature was
convened to perform could and should
have been discharged IL the frs,
ten days OF the session. If the members
must be paid for the time that they have
sat, without doing what they met TO do,
it is unfortunate and n great waste of
money, which the people will resent.
The question ia, upon whom the weight
Of Their wrath will fall; whether upon
those who have shown a disposition to
make The appointment, or those whC
have presented ultimaums aut
refused not only concession, but hav,
even declined conference and discussion
The governor can hardly le wrong il
believing that the Republican Senate
which has refused TO advance one ste
to meet the concessions of the Demo
cratic House, will be held responsible b,
the public for not only the cost OF th
session, but the failure of its object
This issue, however, has for some tim
been made up, and Tie case las beer
ready for the popular verdict. Thr
Senate has so distinctly expressed
its refusal to compromise ii
differences with the House, that i
Is generally believed that the appor
tionment bills cannot be passed and ii
this situation an adjournment or recess
of the Legislature seems to be called for
especially if the members must be paid
The governor is distinct in his declara
tion of his refusal to express his opinion
upon "the question OF the compensation
Of the members "until in due cOurs
of law the appropriation bill for the ses
sion shall be presented to me" This h
may declare in Difference tD hi
expressed opinion that it IL IN
proper for him to announce hi
views upon matters Of legislation unit
they come before him for his sanction
or he may know Of some way IN whcl
the salaries Of the Legislators may be law
fully refused them if they do not do thei
duty. He may be reseTving to himsel
the privilege of declaring that officer
VINO do not do their duty do not ear
their salary. His decision that the cor
stitution prohibits the increase or de
crease of the compensation of the LEG
islature would not necessarily stand i
the way of his subsequent determinatio
that legislators, who refuse to do I'll
plain duty for which they are assembled
do not earn any compensation thoug
it certainly does not strengthen thu
first named conclusion,
The governor in this veto message hs
dealt u powerful blow, between the eye
upon the body Of the Senate. Tie RI
publicans of that body gave the chit
magistrate an opportunity TO de!iyt
himself and expose them before the pc,
pie which they will have reason to regr
that they afforded him. They are
clearly in the wrong in refusiu
to confer with tie House tn,
lis well Considered blow toppl
them over. In general the deliyeranc
Of the me sage are slun1 Wa do M