Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-12-12

the regular session, but they adjourn
ed few days after their right to pay
ceased with their sworn constitution
al duty unperformed. They were
immediately recalled into session to
obey the organic law, to keep their
oaths and to accord to the people
the most important political rights.
They again deliberately refuse to per-
form 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 dol
lars 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 without consideration. There
is no law authorizing public, officers
to pay themselves for defying the
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 un
derlying this bill The fact that one
has been elected by the people to
an office does not of itself entitle him
to pay He must first perform the
duties of his Office. As well might n
Judge claim his salary who refuses
to hold court or try the causes be-
fore him. The members of this LIE
gislature have refused to do their du
ty in compliance with the command
| Of the Constitution, the vow of their
official oath and the purpose of their
election.
When this session was convened,
instead of proceeding at once to per
form their duty the members of the
Legislature, foi their personal con-
venience, Immediately took recess
for eleven days. By this bill every
legislator is given of the peoples
money so 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 half remain
ing of their terms and have paid
themselves many thousands of dol
lars each while remaining at their
homes and attending to their private
concerns For over one-half the
time since the Legislature was con-
vened the Senate has not been in ses-
sion at all, having by formal resolu-
ton deliberately resolved not TO sit
or make an effort to obey the law
On many of the days when it did hold
sessions but few minutes were oc-
cupied and no single official act WAS
done looking to a performance of
duty. The record of the House of
Representatives. upon this subject,
while not so culpable, is yet highly
reprehensible, it not having held ses-
sions for many days. Yet for the
whole one hundred and eighty-two
DAYS. from June to December D,
whether days of session, no session
or sham session, Lords days and hol-
idays. for all alike, so day for the
entire time is given by this bill to ev-
cry Senator and member.
AIonstrous as such claim would
be under any circumstances it is yet
the more repugnant to law, equity
and common sense when arrested by
officials, who menace the very oxis-
tence of republican government by
refusing to obey the plainest and
most imperative of constitutional
commands and give to the people the
most sacred and valuable OF political
rights. This bill exacts to the last
penny all the compensation that the
most faithful. industrious, patriotic
and law abiding Legislatures could
get for the performance of every du-
" imposed upon them and the realf-
zation of every public benefit that
could be'expected from them.
Under this bill the mileage is claim
ed by members and officers for going
from their homes to the seat of gov
ernment 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 re
turning to their homes. So, too. $40
day is claimed by this bill for ses-
sions upon days when, to use the
language of the law, there were no
sessions held "at' which members
could be.
An UNLAWFUL RAID ON THE TREASURY.
It would be useless for me to go
over this bill and discuss its prcvi-
sions in detail. It is most indie
fensible attempt to take money out
of the public Treasury without war
rant OF law, shadow of justice or pos
sibility of right, by body of officials
which, as the Executive of the Com
monwealth, / am obliged to say re
sists, defies and assaults the consti-
tutional government of the people
There often come times in the history
OF popular governments when the on
ly hope of their preservation rests,
not in the functional power given to
officials, but in that last and might
est resources. the intelligent and re-
solute action of free people at s1ne
ballot-box This hope alone is left
to the lovers of free government in
Pennsylvania for the enforcement of
the laws and the preservation of the
| Constitution. l have exhausted all
my power to that end without avail
and confess the futility of my efforts.
Not only may l be unable to secure
obedience to the Constitution and see
that the laws be faithfully executed.
but [ may also be powerless to pre-
vent the gross injustice attempted
against the people in this bill. So
far as I am able, however, L shall