The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-28
Constitutional Convention.

Whether the voters Of this State
shall cast their ballots at tn. election
next November. for, or. against. the
assembling of a Constitutional con ven
tion, is a grave question, deman ding
the most serious consideration from
the citizens of the commonw ealth
The proposition in no sense involves
political lines or party affiliations, but
should be determined solely from the
standpoint whether the interest and
welfare of the State require that we
should have a new Constitution. en-
bodying radical changes in the present
organic law.
When the necessities of the people
demand new Constitution, as the
situation was in 1873, the cost of pro-
curing relief should not stand in the
way, but when as now, the question is
precipitated upon the citizens of the
State without any previous, great, pop
ular demand for it, it is well for the
taxpayers to keep before them the ex.
traordinary expense they will be sub
jected to in making this experiment,
by bringing into existence conven-
ton, whose work, afterwards, may be
rejected at the polls, and the entire
expenditure of the money, obtained
by taxation, so for naught
1t is proposed that this convention
shall consist of one hundred and sew
enty seven members, whose salaries
are fixed by Act of Assembly at 81, 500
each, together with mileage. This,
without more, would readily amount
to over $4,000 but to this sum
must be added all expense Of the ma
chinery of the convention, the clerks,
printing, and various officers, and a
multitude of expensive details, which,
in the general aggregate, wi | readily
swell the gross sum up to nearly dou-
BILE the salaries of the delegates them
selves. But it is to be remembered
that the Legislature has no power to
fix or limit the salaries of the delegates
composing a Constitutional conven-
ton, and the limit Of $1,000. now
named in the Act, is of no force what
ever.
A Constitutional convention is le-
gal revolution, and when it is assem-
bled, it is the sovereign power, owing
no allegiance, except such as the con
science of its members may dictate,
and with unlimited powers, except as
far as the Constitution of the United
States may impose restrictions. This
principal was recognized and invoked
by the convention Of 1873, for, in that
case, the Act of Assembly fixed the
salaries of the delegates to that con-
vention at 81, 900, and ye. that con.
vention, in the exercise of its high per-
negatives, ignored the salaries designa-
ted in the Act, and determined that
the salary of each Of its members
should be $4,000, and they were ac-
cordingly so paid.
1t is fair to assume that the delegates
tothe proposed convention, in the event
that majority Of the vote'shall declare
III idNol vi IL, Will iiot NdiuS uiSh OIL
vices at less than did their predeces-
sors, and that they will at least take
S2,5oo each, SO that the tax payers will
then be called upon to pay salaries ag-
gresating $44s,soc, which sum, with
mileage, and the other sources Of ex-
pense, will represent as the cost of the
convention, probably the enormous
sum of 100000 to 100000. 1t is
wise that each tax payer should con
slider this subject Of expense; more, It
is duty to do SO, in connection with
other vital subjects to which we shall
refer later, involved in this. question
should there be a Constitutional con
vention. Is the necessity forit 50 great;
do we labor under such present disad-
Aantages as to justify this great cosA
for the taxpayer must foot the bill p
Doylestoacm Democrat.