The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-01-14

1sAAAn-s neutrality-suspicious. VI ttItr
business than common carrying. or
against the issuing of free passes by
such corporations. Al these things
are prohibited by the seventeenth
article, and are openly carried on
to-day.
Yet the Legislature mas studious-
ly and persistently refused to en-
force the organic law. Moreover,
am perfectly clear that providing
merely civil remedies against the
companies fer violating the law
viii be Intellectual in It's enforce
ment. What Is needed Is the max
ing such violations a criminal Of
fense, punishable by the fine and
imprisonment Of the officers and
employees knowingly committing
the criminal act, as well as giving
a remedy in damages to the party
aggrieved, and also subjecting the
corporation to investigation of its
business, and, If necessary. forfeit
Gre of its franchises. The processes
of the civil courts are too slow and
expensive 10 be effective for the in
dividual enforcing. them against the
power and wealth of vast corpora
tons. But if the wrong to public
and against the supreme law be
made a criminal offense. and the
power of the Commonwealth be ex-
erted in enforcing punishment, there
viii be a more reasonable hope of
deterriug wrong-doers, and inhict-
ing retributive Justice. 1t IS a mis-
take to regard the evils OF such cer-
porate wrongs as Indifferent and
trifiing. They are of the most ser
ious character. They yex and har-
ass the individual citizen in his busi-
ness and estate, they oppress large
sections, masses and enterprises;
they build up ore man and one 10
cality at the expense Of others: they
meddie with the natural develop
ment OF trade, and they levy i'm
poverishIng tribute upon farmers,
artisans and consumers of one COM
munity IN favor Of those Of another.
Every day the enterprise of the in
dependent press Is disclosing the
enOrmity Of these abuses. | there
fore urge the General Assembly in
the strongest manner 10 give efficacy
70 the organic law, in obedience to
the dictates of justice, and accord
ing to their sworn obligation, by
the prompt passage of an adequate
law enforcing the seventeenth article
OF the constitution.
AS TO APPoRTIoNMEST.
l again call attention to the fail
ure of the Legislature to spportion
the State into Congressional. Sena-
torial and Representative districts
in accordance with the provisions Of
law and the explicit demand of the
This duly has been
neglected by two successive Legis- .
latures. After the failure at the
last session, | made an Intellectual
attempt to enforce the will Of the
people. as expressed IN the com
mand Of the organic law, by recall
inr the General Assembly into extra
session for the purpose OF perform
ing that plain duty. The effort IN
this behalf was a complete failure.
The two houses remained in 0sten-
sible session for six months, during
which there was little or 10 attempt
to carry the law into effect. They
adjourned at last, with the eOnsti-
tuition still unobeyed, but not with
out easily succeeding, by sinking
all their differences which they bad
paraded for the pre-
vious SIX months for the purpose OF
defeating the law in coalition TO
override the executive veto, and
take over a half million dollars of
the peoples money without render
ing anv return in service The con-
viction of dutv which induced me
10 call the extra session has not
By reflection, and | would
have again recalled the defaulting
Houses into session, had / seen the
slightest reason for believing that
thew would have done anything
more than feplete the public treas
lry. Besides this it was evident
hat the people were not so unani-
nOusly in accord with the executive
in his purpose to have the eOnsti-
tuition obeyed at whatever cost
heir representatives might choose
% iufiict upon toes as 70 justify an
extra session. | therefore permit
ted the members, without recall. to
20 to their homes with their IN
earned money in their pockets, and
With the record of their disregarded
Jaths and a defed and violated con-
;titutiOn behind them. The reasons
which actuated me then are set out
1t length in nv proclamation con-
gening the session. TheO are equal
" foaceful now, and | call attention
20 them as my views upon the duty
IF the present General Assembly
n the premises. The reason which
made me particularly desiTous,
lside from the legal command. that
should be m5de at
he last session, was the fact that
he two Houses were then divided
q political opinions. Such a con-
lition I believed to be most favor
.ble to fair and Just bills. The
present Legislature in each branch
5 overwhelmingly Of the same pO-
itical prediIectiou- | hope, how
.yer that by attention 10 the rules
aid dowa BY the fundamental law
Tou will De enabled to pass equi-
able apportionment laws, tree
rom partiality or partisan unfair
les, to which the Executive can
promptly affix his signature, and
hus give effect to the direction
# the constitution and the hereto
ore defied viii of the people.
The Committee Lunacy is cordial
ndorsed and liberal allowance IS
sked forit.
The National Guard of Pennsyl-
-ania will furnish a good working
model to other Statest0f the Union
which desire TO establish their mill
in on a fam and liberal basis.
The doctrine of civil service re-
orn IN endorsed and the Legisla-