Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-09-27
The Governors Veto.

The Governor withheld his approval
OF the concurrent resolution instruct
Ing the appropriation committee OF both
houses TO report an appropriation bill
for senators and members, up to and
including sept. 10th TO report no other
appropriation bill except for officers and
employee lie objects to the resolution
on the ground Of unconstitutionAlity,
and calls attention 10 the fact that the
law provides that the members shall
receive $40 per diem at each adjourned
or special session, and that it is not in
the legislature 10 diminish that com.
pensatIon. The reason for the dissent
Of the Governor are clearly stated in
the following extracts taken from the
message:
VIOLATION or THE CONSTITUTION.
Il is in violation of the constitutional
provision requiring 3 separate orgADizs
ton Of the two houses OF the Legsla.
ture. Under the Constitution Of l776
the General Assembly consisted OF but
one body. The Constitution Of 1870
divided the General Assembly into two
houses, each having an independent
organization. This separation has been
continued until the present time under
the amended Constitutions, and the
existing Constitution, in the I'd section
Of the third article, recognizes the com.
mittee Of the respective bodies as essen.
tial and necessary IN perfecting legisla.
ton. The Senate has no power or
control over tho House Committee, and
the House has none over the Senate
Committees. The concurrent resolution
presented 10 me is not only futile and
vo,d Of any conclusive effect upon
either House, but violates the constitu.
tional principle OF separate organization,
and Is clear and distinct departure
from former precedents, II the limo.
vation here attempted should obtain
currency OF practice. it would result
in the entire obliteraiion Of the func.
tons intended to be exercised by the
Committees of the two Houses in the
consideration Of legislation and destruc
ton Of their independent and separate
character contemplated by the Consti
tuition. This reason alone would be
sufficient to withhold my approval Of
the resolution, but there are other OBJ.
jec,ions to it equally cogent and conclu.
sive.
why IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
The resolution contains two distinct
provisions. One is an instruction to
the committees to report bill Of Ger.
tain character and for a definite amount.
| have already stated my objections 10
this branch of the resolution. The
other provision is an instruction to the
committees TO report no other Appro-
priation for the pay 10 Senators and
members after September 10th. In this
instruction | am asked to join. II this
branch Of the resolution is intended 10
affect the compensation Of mem bers as
fixed by the act Of Assembly, IL suggests
several legal inquiries 10 me. called
upon. as am, TO give IL validity by my
signature. The act of Assembly of May
llth, A. D., 1874, provides that the
"compensation" Of members Of the Leg
islature ''shall be ten dollars per diem
ct each adjourned OF special session
The act was the law at the time Of the
election Of all the members Of the pres
ent Legislature. The 18th section Of
the Sd article Of the Constitution pro.
vides that mo law shall extend the
term Of any public officer, or increase
or diminish his salary or emoluments,
after his election or appointment" ID
is true the resolution before me is not