Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-24
VETOED THE BILL.
Governor Pattison Disapproves the Police
Disability Fund Measure.

Governor Patfis0n Disapproves the Police
Disability Fund Measure.
Governor Pattison, this morning, sent mes
sage to the House, vetoing the bill creating
fund for aged and disabled Pittsburgh and
Allegheny policemen. In his message the
Governor says:
THE purpose of this bill is to permit cities
of the second class to apply certain revenues,
raised by taxation. licenses, costs. fines, penal.
ties and sales of city property. to the care.
maintenance and relief of aged or disabled po-
lfcemen. Under the language of this bill, it is
left to the option Of any city of the second
class, whether or not it shall become subject to
its operation. I might with confidence rest my
objections upon the broad ground that, II snch
proper one TO he established by direction of
the Legislature, it should be extended to and
imposed upon not only all cities Of the second
class, but all municipalities in the Common
wealth.
''The ju dicial approval of special legislation
for cities by classification thereof is. declared
by the Supreme Court to be grounded upon
necessity alone. Repeated notes of warn.
ing to this effect have been sounded.
IL have previously said in filing objections to
bills of this character, the fact whether d law
is general or special. 10 to be determined by the
force of its operating words at the time of the
passage, and cannot be made to depend upon
the happening of any such contingency as the
desire or action of the Councils of city or the
act OF Board OF County commissioners.
Passing by these considerations, however. it
will be found that by the terms of the act of
June IA, 1887, entitled An act In relation to the
government OF cities of the second class pro-
vision already exists by which the objects Of
this bill can be realized. 1t is to be found IN
section 10 of the act referred to: the City Coun.
ellis are hereby empowered to provide by ordi-
nance fund for the care, maintenance and re-
lief Of aged or disabled policemen and fremen.
So far as legislative authority can be granted or
can be effective. or SO far as the same is needed
to enable cities of the second class 10 provide
for the relief of aged or disabled policemen, 1t
has already been granted In this act.
"The precise manner IN which that provision
is to be made, the amount and kind OF revenues
to be applied to 1t, the manner of disbursing
this fund, and the organization of the board to
controlit. are subjects for the exercise Of that
power of local self-goverpment which It is i'm
portant to preserve, as far as possible to all
the municipalities of the Commonwealth.
"The Councils Of cities of the second class
being already empowered to provide by ordi-
nance for all purposes which this bill proposes
to reach. see no reason why the Legislature
should undertake to supplant the municipal
powers or to substitute legislative enactment
for an ordinance of Councils. This is such an
interference with and regulation of the affairs
OF cities as are not tolerated by the Constitu-
tion. Every city of the second class ought to
be left free to provide and control the fund
contemplated by the act Of 1887 in such manner
as may be best suited to its own local con-
ditions."