The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-04-30
RAILROADLEGISLATION
ADDRESS FROM THE CONSTITUTIONAL
COMMITTEE.
CITIZENS URGED TO UNITE IN THE ELEo.
TIoN OF LEGisLATuRE THAT
WILL ENFORCE THE STATE
CONSTITUTION.

nt VI thttlbtIb vi tf1t
Constitutional Convention of 1878 has
issued an address to the people of
Pennsylvania, calling upon them tn Sc
cure the election of Legislators WHO
will faithfully enact the legislation re-
quired by articles XVI and XVII of
the State Constitution, relating to rail
roads and canals. 1t is as follows:
AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF PENN'A.
Fourteen years ago you called
Convention for the purpose of amend
ing the organic law of the Common
wealth. After nearly year of pa
tient and laborious deliberation numer-
Gus changes OF Importance for the gen-
eral welfare were adopted and submit
ted to the Judgment of the people at
special election held for the purpose
By majority of l45,000 votes the
new Constitution was ratified aDd went
into effect
Among the most important and val
liable changes thus made and adopted
were those contained in the Sixteenth
and Seventeenth Articles, relating to
the Private Corporations, Railroads
and Canals. They were intended to
limit companies enjoying corporate
franchises to the purposes for which
they were created, and to impose upon
them such wholesome and necessary
restrictions rs seemed needfnl, to pro-
tect the individual interests of citizens
and communities, as well as of stock
holders, from expressions and injustice.
Provisions were made forbidding un-
due and unreasonable discrimination
in charges for or in facilities for trans
portation of freight or passengers
within the State, or coming from or
going to any other State, between in
dividulals, associations or corporations;
against .he consolidation or control of
parallel or competing lines of railroads
or canals; against the absorption Of
mining and manufacturing business by
corporations having the privileges Of
common carriers; against the furnish
ing of materials and supplies to cor
poraJions by the directors or officers;
against the granting of free passes by
railroad companies to any person ex-
cept officers or employees, aud forbid
ding any fictitious increase of stock or
bonds of private corporations.
The Constitution is not agraran nor
cou munistic. 1t assails no right Ct
property, nor does 1t give countenance
to principles which would degrade or
demoralize society. Some of the
changes made by it are radical in scope
and purpose, but they were necessary
to cut down known abuses in govern
ment and corporate action; and they
are, rightly considered, conservative of
personal rights and of social order.
But the Constitution cannot wholly
enforce itself; nor could it provide de-
tailed regulations for its enforcement
by the Courts of Justice and by exec
utive authorities. These regulations
must be provided by the Legislature in
all cases where laws already in exist
ence cannot be applied or are insuffic-
lent.
Therefore, you commanded the Gen
eral Assembly to enforce these provis-
ions by appropriate legislation. This
mandate has not been obeyed; and, as
a consequence, reform in the manage
ment of corporate business has not
been fully secured. The peoples law
is habitually violated, evaded and de-
fed. The business interests of citi.
zens and communities are sacrificed by
reason Of unjust and undue discrimi
nations made by carrying companies
in the transportation of freight; and,
as a result, some are made to prosper
while Others are left to languish.
Consolidation of transporting com
panies, that ought to afford the advan
tages of free competition, has no,
ceased; free passes are abundant, il
the possession of those to whom the
Constitution forbids their issue; exces
sive issues Of corporate stock and
bonds, representing no actual invest
ment, have continued. The advantages
you had the right to expect to the gen
eral business of the State in the grea
departments Of mining, manufacturing
and agriculture, from an honest en-
forcement of your fundamental law
have not in many respects been real
lied.
In view of these facts the under
signed, a committee of members of tn,
Convention of 1878, invoke thoughtful
and efficient action by you in the Sc
lection of members of the Legislator,
at the next general election, by due in
quiry into the claims of candidates
upon your confidence when nomina
tions are to be made. BY persona
conference with nominees, by resolri
tions of instruction or declarations O
opinion in city, county, district an,
State Conventions, you can secure
Legislature which will take up, will
sincerity and earnestness, the lon.
neglected work of constitutional en-
forcement legislation, and carry it OF
persistently to successful results.
That work will involve, among 9th
er things, civil and criminal sanctions
: for the provisions of the Constitution
In proper cases the terrors of crimina
punishment must be brought to bea
upon willful offenders against tn
peoples fundamental law.
This undertaking of constitutions
enforcement should be carried out, a
was the work of the Convention itselt
independent of and free from all cor
siderations connected with party in
terests.
No free government can long exis
where the organic law of the State
: habitually defed.
JAMES p. BARR,
ANDREW G. CURTIN
: JOHN M. BRooMALL,
MORTIMER +. ELLIOTT
CnAs. r. BUcKALEw,
JAMES w. M. neville
LEWIS G. CASSIDY,
HENRY W. PALMEH
GEORGE N. CoRsoN,
LEVI RooKE
DAVID n. WHITE.
Furniture Burned in Williamsport
The large furnishing and storag