Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-01-25
TIE TASK or nkFORH.

TIE TASK or rKFoRd.
adopt rs Of direct application to the present
time, a sentence from President jackson htHt
inaugeral i'm which he says: The recent de-
monStrGtIUn of public sentiment inScribes on
the list OF executive duties, in characters 700
legihle to be oNerlooke |. the task ol reform.
! This task. clearly set before him, the present
Executive viii 2ealouSiN strive - luthl: hap-
pilN for him there cln he no DOUBT OF the llai-
tcular subjects as to which the public anAletN
for improvement has manifested ltSGIl' th'Sc
| are wei defined. The people demand S'rlct g
couOWN in the expenditure Ut tFClr moneys.
simple and business like conduct 9t the auails
| OF goVci nmeGt ANA repeal oi al laws cfeu,nE
| avenues for the needless spending OF Iuolic
| funds at Tie diScr tton OF oiuct3S.
| UNIFORMITY IN TAXATION.
The people demand that the hurdeny rs wen
rs the benetitSo Of government ~hali he ulSirtnul
! ed with tdrnesS justice and importantly. .htn
! demand uniformity and simplicity IN Et\atl'u
and IFS al ,trihutinn in such manner aS lht'
while all shan bear their lust share II tA' COM
mon burdens, those shall utrihNte MoSt VINO
receive most and those suffer least VINO can
! bear least. Thrle il no more difficult p' ohl'm
! IN government than that relating To ta\alton'
EeherHr must ne raised ny the state ior tlS e.
! hcient conduct rf is affairs. care >h'utd he
| taken. hoWrVer, l., The Imposition oi tNoS lnal
We dn net lose sight of these upon wh"m the
! imposition finally rests. the hand thNt pays
the tax iatO the trCa urv IL net always the mana
| that earned the cnntyibutiot. The system y
most equitable which, recognizing THIS rnth;
So distributes the taxing weight that none S!lail
c>t1be ana none Dear more tltn ANtH J''N' w.
portion. cur present system in its STATE. coun-
| " ana 10" nShip ramiit9tiln - intricate, ull'
| equal and iildiGoSted II is to he hoped tue pre-
| sent Legislature will devise some method lol
Slmpcf ard luS;er allotment ui these hutuchS'
CARRYING OUT THE CONSTITUTION.
shall urge upon the General Assembly the
passage of legislation necessary for carrying III.
| Y effect the provisions Of the Constitution ol
ne state. The benefits ot some oi lt'e nioS' NJ
| lutarE SECTIONS of that instrument nave hot
been secured h, the people because OF tue tth,
| ure ot the Legislature tn pass the laws hceHe"
| Tor lis complete enforcement The care "
slowed by Che convention in framing ths '"h
| Sltution, aud the large majority ol N"S'S SaS'
! for IL when before the pe"pl" for adoption
should have inspired their representative ia
| the Assembly 10 prompt action III PASSING t.e
measures needed 10 give il iuil effect. ihtl-
! culariy shuul this have neen dnre since TIE In
Shumrnt itself erJoinS the Legislature So To 40
| ANA their oi!ciai uat!S pledge them 20 us sup
/ port ohedienea and defense. When the peHpe
| adopted III" Constitution they sanctioned Us
wisdom. II thea became the supreme Ia" Hi
| the state and the highest exposition nl Inc VIII
| ot The people, aSccri3iucd in the most sacred
/ way known 10 democratic governments. ~
| does hot become the representatives oi the
! people to question or eVtde such law. 4Atlt
| single duty is to obey Ii.
ROW CORPORATIONS HAVE EsCArEp.
| Some of the sections of the Constitution from
! which most good Was rNpeN'tcd and most c'utd
! he secured nave a> Vet yielded TO measure Hl
benefit or left any Vi>ih' effect. This is partI
cuIarly trur OF article l. OF that instrument. re
! Garding railroad aud canal companies by ta'lt
| eoaSent construction ot that article has heeh
aCquicScr I'd in hy which the great corporate bl-
| dies ot The State have escaped its hmtd-!ohS
| ANA been exempted from lis provisions. theN
| have violated il constantly, drhantlN and Lag
rantly. The people are entitled 10 have ht least
a fair trial made of their ability 10 DrlnE tAe
vast corporations they have createt and toSt-
cred uude their just regulation and control
! More th"n Ills i not contended for In article
4 of tn Constitution. II commands notiin>
hut what is clearly wrong. Ii simply requires
corporations 10 act justly aHd treat II the
people dixie, with uniformity, fairness aud I'M
nartaiitN Ii prohibits unfair discrimination
against persons or places f0rhds eStoftion and
seeks TO prevent mouupoueS ana cohVet thc
the people. To tie law n3ed.ent anu not use Their
.ran ed powers 10 har2sS ari Cypress. The
same article specifically commands the l.eeis-
lature TO enforce lis provisions bN 'appropri7te
| legislation" surely an honest enOlt should b"
made 10 give adequate cffrcI IT, 20 Wise aid just
Il section of the fundamental law,
THE POWER Or CORPORATIONS.
This leads me 10 say that. il, my judgement.
there Is much 10 b. done in the way ~ !egl >la-
| ton tn prevent the power Of corporations from
| becoming too vast and irresponsible. They are
a new element in our modern ciFiMailon.
! They have grown the most Sduguine expect
| alton in their dcVclopcmcnt and have intro
| duced new evils as Well lS new benefits into
our system. Their influence has extended tsslt
! lnto almost every q ptItmtnt OF business and
uf life. Their motions not only affect the great
centres of money aud OF trade but the mnut-
| est affairs Of individuals affected by their
! capl ice. Thousands of lahoTers look 70 them
| for employment and depend alone upon their
| dete mlnAtion for the measure ~ hire. The
prices of the neceSSarieS ol life, too, are often
regulated hy their will. Al this is an eShihi-
] tiCn of power not contemplated in their crca
/ ton. which had in view solely the public inter
| est and general good. The existence Of such
| power ii any combination of men is 10 be de-
regulated and controlled il is idle to lament
| this condition of affairs unless something ~
| done TO correct it. Corporate law'cSSnes5 must
| be made as amcnabte to punishment as person
| ii Law leSSncSS
! For tRe government to shut its eyes and close
| lis ears TO the complaints and petitions Of any
body cf its citizens is folly. Such course cor
! reefs nothing and settles nothing. Particularly
| Sh1nid heed he iven To the appeals ot 50 large
| and important part OF the community ~ those
depending fer Subsistence upon the wages OF
| toll. Labor is the main pillar OF the State. As
an honOred statesman of our own country has
| said Labor Is the superior OF capital and de
serves much the highest considerations" But
the consideration given to such matters should
! lie deliberate and searching aGd the relief tho
| rough and systematic, ii it i 10 be lasting and
! eifcCtu3l. cannot but indulge The belief that
| Onr political system Is capable Of providing some
other remedy than The bayoaet for the settle
ment ofSuch disputes. Our form OF government
| l have no doubt, Is competent To deal With this
matter lairly AID effectively. without injustice
to the rights or interests Of either party to the
controversy. Upon The wisdom Of the LPgsla-
tive Department rests. in the FIRST instance, the
responsibility for proper solution of this ques-
| ton.
| The Assembly has also failed to enforce by
| appropriate legislation n number nf other pro-
visions Of the Constitution and pass laws the
enactment OF which IS enjoined 10y That instru-
ment
The salaries OF certain Judges Of the Com.
mOnwealth have no: been fixed by the LegiS.a-
| ture, and they have hPon receiving cOmpcnSd-
ton most without authority ni law and by the
sllterance OF the accounting officers.
THE APPcNTMENT QUESTION.
The Assembly at its last session, though pro-
lonGed beyond precedent. AID ut great expense
( to the Commons eath, failed to aDp0rtio the
State into Legislative and Congressional dis
tricts, thou h the Constitution commands that
| such apportipnment shall be made immediate
| Il after each UnilCd states dccenhial census"
| There was not even an attempt made to obey
! this Injunction. Such default is ineXcus4blc.
| H. is tie duty Of tie present Legislature to
| promptly pei form this neglected duty. The
Assembly will not b. called 10 act upon a more
! important measure diI lnT ifs session than that
! of the aDpOrtinnmPnt. 1t touches government
| ;n lis most vita! parts Fair ard Just represent
alton to 3 II sections of III" State unleTlics the
whole fabric OF our political system. Ii is the
| cornerstone Of our government. COnSldrra-
tons of party, OF actions. of locality or Of indi-
Yiduai@ have nothing 10 DO with the Sul ject OF
dpDortiOnment. This duty Sn0ald be PERFORM
ed by the Legi stature upon uniform and Just
principles.
A POOR OUTLOOK FOR CRIMINALS.
The exercise OF the paI doninG power by the
Executive has been the subject OF much public
criticism. Nor is this recent only. So great had
become Tie popular complaint that the conyen-
ton which framed the Constitution atteLnte
to correct what vas admitted tO b. an abuse by
creating board for hearing Of applications for
DardOn. whose judgement should be Suhyoittad