The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-12-07
THE SALARY Bill VETOED.
The Governor discusses the act
in forcible language.
THE BILL PASSED OVER THE VETO.

House refusiup To approve the salary
hill and stat;no b;a raasons yprv clearlv
- s.:Ii-. 7r,.1 tTe., ,J ~
a"' io'o'y' "0 iio"'o ~
OIL over tne VeIo ny Vote oi 100 W
70, Mr.. anderslice beng among the
yeas. The senate also passed the bill
over tho veto nv n vote of AZ To a. The
-, .--. ru
'e'o n"ooe"Bo 10 "o ioiio"e'
In accordance with the authority given to the
oovernor Tn d,aannrove ~ anv ,tems Of an appro.
priatop bin. dsapprove OF all items of the here
with returned hill except those items in section
three providlno for the nav OF certain employees
of rho sanote ana tboae ,tema IN section four for
tbe-nav NJ certain emn,ovea of the house and Sec
tion seven for he expense of serving a writ of
election Tn nj, Vacancy I'm the house of represep-
tatiyes To ALI the other items of the bill decline
In give NV annrovai
The members of the general assembly were con-
vened in speca, sesson for the p,rpose OF amor.
tion,no the state az commanded by the constitu
tion. The command was upon them TO pass such
laws at the regular session, but they adjourned
few days after their right to pay ceased with their
sworn constitutional duty unperformed. They
were Immediately recalled into session to obey the
organic law, tok keep their oaths and to accord to
the people the most important political rights.
They again deliberately refuse to perferm their
constitutional duty and are about to adjourn.
After wasting six months In contemning the con-
stitution they now send me this bill appropriating
over half million dollars TO pay themselves for
refusing to do what they were elected and sworn
TO do Every consideration OF law and the simplest
principles OF common Justice protest against such
an attempt to take the money OF the people WITH
out consideration. There Is no law authorizing
tNa.l,li ns.fRan to
law Such an inconsistency could not exist In the
Jurisprudence OF any enlightened government. NO
citizen In his private business capacity would
sanction such principle as that underlying this
bill. The fact that one has been elected by the
people to an office does not OF itself enttle him to
pay He must first perform the duties OF his Of
fee. As well might Judge claim his salary VINO
refuses to hold court or try the causes before him.
The members OF the legislature have refused TO DO
their duty In compliance with the command OF
the constitution the vow OF their onicial oath and
the purpose OF their election.
THE ELEVEN DAY RECESS ..
When this session was convened. instead of pro-
ceeding at once to perform their duty, the mem
bers OF the legislature, for their personal conve-
nience. Immediately took a recess for eleven days
BY this bill every legislator Is given OF the peo-
pies money ten dollars day for each day of that
recess. To sanction this would be to admit that
they might have taken a recess for the year and a
half remaining of their terms. and have paid
themselves many thousands of dollars each while
remaing at their homes and attending to their
private concerns. For over one-half the time
since the legislature was convened the senate has
not vet been I'm session at all, having by formal
resolution deliberately resolved not to sit or make
an effort to obey the law. On MANY OF the days
I. =
occupied and no single oficial act was done
looking to performance Of duty. The record Of
the house OF representatives upon this subject,
while not so culpable Is yet highly reprehensiblet
not having held sessions for many days. yet for the
whole 1882 days, from June to December 5, wheth-
er days of session. Lords days and holidays for all
alike, ten dollars day for the entire time is
given by this bill to every senator and men,
ber.
MonstrOuS as such claim would be under any
circumstances, it is yet the more repugnant to
law equity and common sense when asserted by
oficals who menace the very existence Of repubh-
can government by refusing to obey the plalnest
and most imperative constitutional commands
and gives to the people the most sacred and val
liable Of political rights. This bill exacts to the
last penny all the compensation that the most
faithful, industrious, patriotic and law-obeying
legislatures could get for the perform ance OF
e,ery uuIy nnposeu upon 'elil' anu .no iea.,a
.on vi every puolo Deneh' 'ii'' oouiu Do oNp'0'0'
hUn .ien
ohuer oiiis olii nilioaso olt,iou W III .nio,,s
anu anu o.n0eie ioi eoins nun Onon nUnes W ene
sea. vi sovernlhenI anu ,e'uraihs Mno "oio pi.S
el' ~ hariisours mnen .he eA.ia ses'ion was oa,,
GU na,nhs oeeh pau W .he s'a.o W en.io, anu
nave aiso peeh aireauy Pau ior returning W .her
noh'es, ~ .oo, Veii uoha'' auay 70 'iaeu W
inns plii ior sessions upon uays Mheh, W uso VI,
ians uaee vi Uhe ia"' oheIe "eie no ee'sioh' h'iu
~ "nioh nieliooiS oouiu oo'
AN INDISPENSABLE ATTEMPT.
1t would be useless for me to go over this bill
and discuss its unjust provisions In detail, 1t is
ow of justice or possibly of right, by body of Of