Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-12-13

culpable, is yet highly reprebensble, 1t
not having held sessions for many days.
Yet for the whole lS2 days, from June
I to December 8 whether days of session
no session, or sham session, Lord 's
Days and holidays, for all alike, $40 a
day for the entire time is given 10y this
bill to every senator and member.
uENAC!SG rHE CONSTITUTION.
Monstrous as such claim would be
under any circumstance, it is yet the
more repuEnant to law, equity and
common sense when asserted by officials
who menace the very existence of Re.
publican government, by refusing to
obey the plainest and most imperative
of constitutional commands and give to
the people the most sacred and valuable
political rights.
This bill exacts to the penny all the
compensation that the most faithful,
industrious, patriotic and law obeying
legislatures could get for the perform.
ance of every duty imposed upon them,
and the realization ofevery public bene.
fit that could be expected from them.
Under this bill mileage is claimed by
members and officers for going from
their homes to the seat OF government
and returning, who were present in
Harrisburg when the extra session was
called, having been paid by the State to
be there, and who have also been
already paid for returning to their
homes. So, too, $40 day is claimed
by this bill for sessions upon days when,
to use the language of the law, there
were no sessions held at" which mem
bers could be.
An USLAwTuL RAID oN THE TREASURY.
1t would be useless for me to 60 over
this bill and discuss its unjust provisions
IN detail 1t is q most indcfensible
attempt to take money out of the public
treasury without warrant Of Law, shadow
Of justice, or possibility Of right, by
body Of officials which, as the Executive
Of the Commonwealth, am obliged to
say resists, defes and assaults tho con
stitutional government Of the people.
There often come times in the history
Of popular government when the only
hope Of their preservation rests, not in
the functional power given to officials,
but in that last and mightiest Of re.
sources, the intelligent and resolute
action OF free people at the ballot box.
This hope alone is left to the lovers Of
free government in Pennsylvania for the
Of the laws and the pres
ervatiou OF the Constitution.
I have exhausted all my power TO
that end without avail, and confess the
futility Of my efforts. Not only may !
be unable to secure obedience to the
Constitution and see that the laws be
faithfully executed, but may also be
powerless to prevent the gross injustice
attempted against the people IN this
bill. So far as I am able however. I
shall thwart the wrong by this disaP
proval.
ALLOWING PAY roE rHr EsrroYrs.
1t is only right for me to say that
there are, I know, many members Of
the Assembly who have faithfully
striven to perform their duty, and who
by such efforts have equi,ab!y earned
their pay. They are in no wise charge
able with the default of this session.
| regret that they should suffer 10y
this veto. tis their misfortune to be
member. OF body whose acts must
view As a whole. They will have the
consciousness. however, OF having hon.
estly tried to serve their State and the
people. The people, it is certain, will
not fail in the end TO recognize and
reward upright servants, and seperate
them from the faithless and avarieous.
/ have no power TO distinguish the
worthy from unworthy, the deserving
from the reprehensibIe. The fault Of
the gross, not the merit of individuals,
is all of which can take notice.
Seeing no legal reasons, however, for
depriving of their pay the employees Of
the two houses, whose attendance was
compulsory and who are in no way
blamable for the failure OF this session.
| have approved the items, for their
compensation. wish to be understood
however, in allowing these items, to
approve Of the compen sation of these
employees Only for the days when they
were necessarily employed about the