New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-01
BURrJNG THEMSELVES AND THEIR PARTY

HURTING TREMSELV YES And THEIR PAhI J..
Governor Pattison, of Pennsylvania, ana
Governor Hill, of this State seem 10 snare III
the belief that they can dictate the course Oh
legislation, regardless of the wishes Oh INC
ne,ple as expressed in both branches OF INC
Iegisloture. These two Governors secureu
oaice ne the result of the exceptional cilcui'-
stances that ruled in the elections or 1857. III
both States the people have since successiFcy
returned Republican majoritles IN the Legs
latures. The two Governors pay no heeu 10
tbat fact but set up their individual opinions
~ sunerior to the expressed will OF the people
In tho census matter, Governor Hill even
wont 60 far "a 70 override the precedents set by
the greatest of his own party leaders anu 10
nullify an existing law and disregard the consul
tuition. which says that the census shall DC
taken "under direction of the Legislature"
Governor Pattison has taken somewhat
similar course on the question OF reapporton-
ing PENNSYLVANIA into Congressional and Legs
Iotive districts. The preceding Legislature
failed to agree on this subject and the Gov
ernor foolishly called an extra session to con-
slider il. as though the Legislature was any more
likely to agree in extra session than i'll the
regular one That act cost the state Eali
million dollars and accomplished nothing. The
1uestiOn went before the people and they gave
n verdict by electng enough Republicans TO
give them majority of 81 in the House, though
In the preyions body the Democrats had ma
iority of 25. Under this popular expression OF
opproyal the Republicans framed ConeIes:
sional apportionment bill which was accepted by
many Democrats and unanimously agreed to by
nf hath lnuspa \
Democratic paper The Philadelphia Times, said
of the bill Z 1t is really as favorable to the
Democrats rs the bill they would have been
willing to pass and the Governor to approve at
the extra session if they had not gone so lar
lin their own partisanshlp that they could not
then reccde.n But Governor PattisOn vetoes
the bill on partisan grounds, and, like MIR. Hlll'
assails the integrity and morality OF the Legs
lature. He asserts that the Democrats, who are
given ten districts ont of twenty-eight, do not
get share in proportion TO their aggregate
vote. But he fails to explain that the majority
ia so located rs to make such division inevi-
table.
The bill Is fair enough to satisfy many Dem
ocrats Inequalities cannot be altogether
avoided without disregarding the convenience
and the natural association of communities. The
same thing is true of the Legislative apportion-
ment bill, which Governor Pattison also vetoes
There is probability that enough Democrats
may vote with the Republicans to override these
vetoes. If that is not done, the duty which
the Governor has urged so perslstently upon
the Legislature will be indefinitely postponed
II Is hardly possible after the severe condem-
nation of the people last year that he will again
attempt to force his will upon the Legislature
by calling an extra session. If the State is APP
portioned it will be done by n Republican Legis-
ature and in no event is il likely to please the
Democrats. But, fortunately, the present ar
rangement does not dsplease the Republicans
By his dictatorial course Governor Pattison
hurts his own party. as did Governor Hill in
New York