Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-06-27
The Governors VetoeS.

The following are specimens of Gov.
Pattison's vetoes of some of the bills
passed by the present Legislature. 1t
seems strange that bills of the character
to which the following vetoes relate
could be passed by any Legislature.
And it shows the watchful care
Governor has to exercise in the matter.
There are but few citizens of any party
who will not strongly approve OF the
Governors reasons given for the below
vetoes:
POVERTY NO CRIME.
HARRISBURG, June 20.-Governor
Pattison has filed the following vetoes
in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,
HARRISBURG, June 20, 1888.
herewith file, with my objections,
in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth, House bill No. 1888,
entitled "An act for the Government
of Cities of the Fifth Class" This is
a very long bill, containing many pro-
visions. Indeed, to such minute par
ticulars does it descend that if it should
become a law the cities thereby affect
ed would have little discretion LETT as
to the government of their own affairs.
AS TO the wisdom of many of the de-
tails of the bill the executive has grave
doubts, but one of its provisions is so
highly Objectionable that he contents
himself with resting his disapproval
upon that alone. The first clause of
Section 4 provides that treasurer of
city of the fifth class may appoint col
lectors of unpaid taxes, to whom he
shall deliver his warrant authorizing
the collectors to levy and sell the per-
sonal property of the debtor for the
payment of the taxes due.
The bill then further provides that
"said warrant shall also empower the
collector, on failure of personal proper
ty being found sufficient to pay the
taxes assessed against any person or
persons, and twenty days notice having
been given to such person or persons
to pay said taxes, to take the body of
such delinquent, if found in said coun-
ty, and convey him to the Jail OF the
proper county, there to remain until
the amount of such debt, together with
the costs, shall be paid, or secured to
be paid, or until he shall be otherwise
discharged by the course of law" |
will never give my approval to any
law to re-establish Imprisonment for
debt in this Commonwealth. Such a
step backwards, out of the humane
civilization of to-day to the repellant
harshness of the laws of a century ago,
would be blot and reproach upon the
fame of the State. 1t is difficult to
imagine how bill containing such a
provision as the one cited ever passed
Pennsylvania Legislature of to-day.
The insolvent delinquent taxpayer may
be unfortunate, but l will not consent
to the barbarism Of making his poverty
and misfortune criminal act
ROBERT E. PATTIsoN.
THE SURVEYORS ACT DEAD.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, [
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,
HARRIsBURG, June 90, 1888.
I herewith file in the Office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth House
bill No. 22O, entitled Gan act relative
to surveyors" This bill is an attempt
to regulate the business of surveying.
1t requires surveyors, before proceeding
to take the bearing and distances OF
boundary lines of surveys, to obtain at
station No. the bearing to certain
visible and permanent objects, and, as
they proceed, to correct doubtful marks
in the corners of surveys by taking
bearings to similar permanent objects.
Aside from the question whether the
Legislature has the right thus to direct
surveyors how they shall perform their
work, the bill itself, even if wise and
legitimate exercise oflegislative author
ity, would be absolutely impotent as
an enactment. 1t directs certain things
to be done by surveyors, but imposes
no penalty of any kind for their failure
to obey the injunctions. 1t amounts
to little more than mere request,
which may or may not be obeyed, ac-
cording to the pleasure of the citizens.
The measure, therefore, being futile to
compel any good, and having doubts
as to its lawfulness, l decline to en-
cumber the statute books with its
provisions.
ROBERT E. PATTIsoN.