The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-04-30
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
Citizens Urged to Unite in the Election
ola Legislature that VIII Enforce
the state Constitution.

The committee of members of the |
Constitutional Convention of 1873 has |
issued an address to the people of Penn !
sylvania, calling upon them to secure |
the election of Legislators who will
faithfully enact the legislation required
by Articles XVI and XVII of the State
Constitution, relating to railroads and
canals. 1t will be noted that the name
of Franklin B. Gowen has disappeared
from the list as originally printed. The
President of Reading refused to sign
the address, and it is probable that he
| will be dropped from the committee.
Secretary Newlin has sent out the fol-
| lowing
| AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF PENN
sYLVANIA.
| Fourteen years ago you called con-
| vention for the purpose of amending the
| organic law of the Commonwealth.
| After nearly year of patient and lsoo-
| rious delibeTation numerous changes or
| importance for the general welfare were
| adopted and submitted to the Judgment
ment of the people at special election
| called for that purpose.
By a majority of las, 600 votes the
new Constitution was ratified and 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 10 pIl-
| vate corporations, railroads and canals.
| They were intended to limit companies
| enjoying corporate franchises to the pur-
poses for which they were created, anu
to impose upon them such wholesome
and necessary restrictions as seemed
needful to protect the individual inter-
ests of citizens and communities, as well
as of stockholders, from oppression ana
injustice.
Provisions we're made foTbidding un-
| due and unreasonable discrimination IN
charges OF in facilities for transportation
of freight or passengers within the
State. or coming from or going TO any
other State, between individuals, asso'
ciatiens or corporations; against Uhe
consolidation or control or parallel OF
competing lines of railroads OF canals
against the absorption of mining and
, manufacturing business by corporations
r having the privileges of common car
riers against the furnishing of mate
rails and supplies to corporations oy
I their officers or directors against the
i | granting of free passes by railroad COM
| panies to any person except Directors
and employees, and forbidoing any nc
titi0us increase of stock or bonds OF prl-
r vate corporations.
The Constitution is not agrarlan nor
. commuu;stic. 1t assails no right OF
: property, nor does it give countenance
It to principles which would degrade and
% demoraliZe society. Some of the changes
made by il are rational in scope and
~ purpose. but they we're necessary to put
e down known abuses in government and
d corporate action and they are, rightly
10 | considered conservative of persona
n rights and social order.
~ But the Constitution cannot wholly
lG enforce itself nor could itlprovlde de
B. tailed regulations for its enforcement
I'd by the courts of justice, and by execu
o. tive authorities. These reputation
nust be provided by the Legislature II
as all cases where the laws already 10 ex
as istence cannot be applied OF are Insuhl
ke cient.
l., Therefore. Won commanded tie Gen
- eral Assembly TO enforce these prOvis
~ ions bv appropriate legislation. Thi
" mandate has not been Obeyed and, as
a, consequence, reform 10 the managemen
hit of corporate business has not been full
~ secured. The peoples law is habltuall
violated. evaded and defied. The bus
'o ness interests of communities and ind
II yiduals are sacrificed by reason OF VI
ats lust and undue Determinations made
lid carrying companies in the transports
yer tion of freight and, as result, son
.. are made to prosper, while others a.
left to languish.
'ch consolidation of transporting comp
not MES. that ought to afford tie advantat
rs. of free competition. has not ceased
70 free passes are abundant, in the posse
a. sion of those to whom the Constitute
0 fol bids their issue excessive issues
The stock and bonds, representing no actu
ost investment, have continued. The a
eat vantages you had the right to expect
-, the general business of the state In I
great departments of mining, manuta
turing and agriculture, from an none
ute enforcement of your fundamental la
md have not, in many respects: been TeS
ifi- lied.
-. In view of these facts, the uGde
OiS signed, a committee of members OF
can convention OF 1873, invoke thought
re- and efficient action by you in the sele
he tion of members of the Legislature
- the next general election, by due inq
~ into the claims Of candidates up
your confidence when nominations {
to be made. By personal conferer
with nominees, by resolutions Of
Ihls struction and declarations of opinion
J. city. county, district and State cow
ster tiOns. you car secure Legislature Il
sla- will take up, with sincerity and et
90 nestness, the long neglected work
constitutioual-enforc legislati
S'd- and carey it on persistently to success
rtg' results.
med That work will involve, among OF
the things. civil and criminal sanctions
the provisions of the Constitution.
oI proper cases the teTrors of criminal p
the ishment must be brought to bear N
re- wilful offenders against the peOp
ense fundamental law.
- This undertaking of constitutio
iins enforcement should be carried out,
the was the work of the convention its
par independent and free from all consit
8 to ations connected with party Interest,"
,s to No free government can long g
where the organic law Of the STATE
anu habitually dehej.
'niS JAS. P, BARR, A. G. CURTTr
en- J, NJ. BRooNALL, ME-. ELLIC
] on G.. r. BUCKALEw, J. w. NEW
aled. L. G.. CASSIDY, H. W. PALM
GEO. n. CORsON, LEVI ROOKIE,
DAVID n. WHITE.