Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-25
TOO MUCH AT STAKE.
Col. Bayne Thinks 1t Risky to Hold a
Constitutional Convention.
BEST PEOPLE NOT INTERESTED.
Ex-Governor Beaver Hints That Pattison Is
Too Free With the Veto.
LEGISLATORS BADLY OUT OF POCKET

T wish THE DISPATCH with all its influence
would oppose the Constitutional Conven
tion," said Colonel Thomas NJ Bayne yester
day. He still fingers at the Schlosser
| before he goes abroad. "Such q gath.
ering at this time would be very
dangerous. Conventions of this kind are
| only called when the people are greatly
stirred up over public abuses and then they
send the best people to represent them.
| When the last Constitutional Convention
was held the voters felt that it was time to
! check the evil of special legislation and to
limit the taxing power of municipalities, so
that if the sum to be raised should exceed
certain amount it would have to be sub
m1tted to direct vote of the people. These
were evils that had to be corrected, but
nothing will be gained by another conven-
tion now, and 1 feel sure the people will de-
clare against it.
"Ifsuch gathering were held this year the
best representatives would not be selected.
They would be a lot of muttonheads who
would tamper with the Constitution, and
nobody knows where they would stop. The
risk is too great. Within the last few years
q number of queer isms in politics have
arisen, and the best thinking people admit
they are not good.
The Old System Is Good Enough.
"I claim that when the ballots were num-
bered that it was a wise provision and
avoided all the hypocrisy about voting
which the Australian system covers up. In
order to change the voting system it is not
necessary to call a convention"
Ex-Governor Beaver was at the Union
depot last evening, going home from the
Washington and Jefferson College com
sons vetoes, Mr.. Beaver said "When / was
Governor never turned down a bill be-
cause l would have voted against it,
if 1 had been in the Legislature
unconstitutional, against public policy. or
there was loud dissent from it, or there
weren't funds enough to pay an appropria-
ton, L used the veto, and for no
judgment against the Legislature, and
never felt that such prerogatiye
was my right. Governor Pattison believes
that if he can furnish reasons fora veto he is
justified, and he is honest in his opinion 1
do not think that he seeks for causes
to veto rather than hunt for the
good points in bill. 1 was opposed
to the Constitutional Convention, but now
that the measure has passed the Legislature
will vote for it; though think it is useless.
In my section of the State we are not boom
ing anybody for State Treasurer, but if a
Western man like Mr.. Price, of Erie, is
chosen for Auditor General, the other nomi-
nee will come from the East and vice versa
The Republican party in the State Is
unlIeU anu pull1nS together. The loss of
the Governship was a personal matter"
They Are Down on Pattison.
j. S: Fruit, of Sharon, chairman of
the Appropriation Committee, went East
last night. Representative W. T. Mar
shall, of Allegheny, met him at the
depot and they naturally expressed
their disgust of Governor Pattison for veto
ing the expenses of the Appropriation Com
mittee. Mr.. Marshall said they acted ac-
cording to Mr.. Pattison's instructions and
with his approval, and it is strange that he
should dump them in this fashion. The
members paid the hotel bills out of their
own pockets, but the next Legislature
would rectify the evil, as it was a bad prece-
dent to set.
A meeting of the Young Mems Republican
Tariff Club will be held at 7:30 tomorrow
evening. Among other matters of interest
a committee from the Thirtieth Ward Re-
publican Club, of Philadelphia, will be pres
ent to present resolutions and testimonials
from their organization. Some distinguished
speakers will be on hand.
Chairman III. P. Ford stated yesterday that
he had called a meeting of the County Re-
publican Committee for 1 o'clock Saturday