Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-07
THE m ESSAGE.

I1Curo IN extra session
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COMMON
WEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, OFFICE OF
THE GOVERNOR, HARRISBURG, June 9Th,
1SS3-To the Senate and House of Rep.
resentatives, of the Commonwealth Ol
Pennsylvania-Gentlem By virtue OF
the authority vested in my by the consti-
tuition hereby convene you in extraordi-
nary session on Thursday, the 7th day of
June, Ammo Domini, one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three, at 12 o'clock
noon of that day. In the judgment of
the executive such an extraordinary Occa-
sion has arisen as to require the exercise
of the power. The constitution commands
the General Assembly, Immediately after
each United States decennial census" to
apportion tho state into senatorial and
representative districts. This imperative
mandate has not been obeyed. By the
joint rules of your Houses the time has
gone by when any bills disclosing a
purpose to perform this duty can be pre-
sented to me for approval. Tho obligation
is imposed upon tho governor to "take
care that the laws be faithfully executed. "
| deem it my duty, therefore, to exhaust
my lawful authority to correct the grave
default of the Legislature.
EYudlIy buu uOCOSo0Iys
though not 50 specifically command I'D by
tion the state into congressional and judi
apportiOnment of the state into senate
judicial districts as subjects for legislative
consideration. The right of the people to
fair, Just and lawful representation in the
legislative councils of the state and Union
is secured by the constitution and must
not DO denied. The importance of the
right cannot be overestimated. 1t is the
essential principle Of our form of govcrn-
ment 1t underlies all our political rights
1t is to be jealously guarded, carefully
conserved and faithfully carried out.
The time is peculiarly fitting for the
passage of bills to secure q fair, just,
equitable and non partisan apportionment
OF the state. The two Houses of the As
sembly are composed of majorities Of diff
erent party affiliations. A greater degree of
fairness is to be expected from suctr Con
dition of the legislative body than if it
were dominated in both branches by ma.
.jOrities of the same party conviction.
Each House will prove check upon the
other in any attempt to obtain unfair ad-
vantages. Mutual concessions and a spirit
of cOnciliation ought to result in an ad-
justment Of the difference of tho two
Houses and the prompt passage of bills
fair in spirit, giving just rep
resentation to the people in all sections Of
the state. In addressing ourselves to these
subjects wo must keep constantly iu view
the guide provided in the constitution,
directing that the legislative districts
shall be composed Of compact and con
tiguous territory, as nearly equal in popu.
lation as may be- This is a plain and
simple rule, established for our guidance
by the fundamental! law. To follow it in
its spirit will result 10 just conclusions.
There ought not to be any doubt of the
Legislature speedily agreeing upon the
subjects designated for their consideration.
1t is their duty to agree. A further
default in this matter will result in at least
SIX years of the decade elapsing without
the apportiOnment required by law being
made
To prevent such an iudefonsible condi.
tiOn of affairs have deemed 1T obligatory
upon me to proclaim this call for an extra
ordinary session. have selected a time
for your assembling Immediately succeed
ing the day of adj djOurnment of your regu-
lar session, SO as not to necessitate your
recall after yOu had dispersed to your
homes. In this way tho expense of the
session will b. lessaned. rs the machinery
for the conduct of the business of tho As
scmb'y is ready for use. 1 reluctantly
convene tho Legislature ut this season of
the year. Nothing bat i sense of impera-
tive duty impels me to adopt this course.
| hope, however, that in a few days you
will have concluded your labors to the
of the people, and, having
discharged your constitutional duties, will
be able to return again to your families
and homes. ROBERT E. PATTIsON,