The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-10-28
Shall We Have a Constitutional
Convention in Pennsyl-
vania?


wealth ordained and established q new
Constitution Since then the Legislature
has, with more or less esrnestness, been
engaged in remOdeling our laws to con-
form to its requirements. Seventeen
years have passed, however, without any
very serious efforts 10 enforce many Of
its most important provisions The ju-
dietary Of the State has expended much
time on its Interpretation, and il is only
within the past few years that its mean
ing has been 50 definitely determined by
the highest Courts as to partially end the
chaotic conflict between the statutory
laws and the Constitution.
On the 18th of June, 1891, the Govern
or approved an act requiring the electors
of the Commonwealth to vote at the No
yember election for OF against holding q
Convention TO amend ths Constitution
The title Of the act is misleading. 1t is
called ~an act to provide for Convention
TO ame7sd the Constitution" but the sixth
section gives the Convention "power to
propose to the citizens Of this Common
wealth, for their approval or rejection, q
nesr Constitution o: amendments to the
present one, or specific amendments to
be voted for separately" In other words,
= convention is to be created possessing
and representing the sovereign power Of
the people, with power 70 destroy, alter
and amend the whole structure Of Gov
eminent, and all the laws Of this Com
monwealth, and without any limitation
on the exercise Of this power, save the
Constitution of the United States, which
guarantees to every State in this Union
a republican form Of government"
The Constitution provides an orderly
method of amending It's provisions with
out resorting to the extraordinary means
Of a new convention. To make its pro-
visions more stable, and to protect it
from sudden changes by every wind Of
doctrine" it wisely provides that amend
ments shall be agreed to by q majority of
the members elected to each House, then
published for three months before the
next election in two newspapers in every
county, and then if another and new
Legislature agrees to the amendments
they shall be again Published for three
months and submitted to the qualified
electors of the Commonwealth At an cleo
ton. Each amendment is TO be voted
upon separately, and no amendment is
to be submitted oftener than once in Eve
years
In utter disregard Of the great con-
servstiye principles regulating future
amendments embodied in the provisions
Of the Constitution itself, the Legislature
proposes a new Constitutional Conven-
ton. II is not called in the usual way,
by first submitting the call Of 8 Conyen-
ton to 8 vote of the people, and aferwsrd
selecting at another election proper per-
sons as delegates, but, with marked cum
ming, the delegates are to be voted for ct
the same election at which the people
pass upon the necessity for Convention.
The object is plain. One hundred and
seventy-seven members are 10 be elected ;
tweniy-seven in the State at large, and
three in each Senatorial district. If the
people vote for Constitutional Conven-
ton these gentlemen will all be elected
to office and receive s., $50. In every
district, therefore, there are at least three
men whose activity and personal inhu-
snce are secured by the prospective
honor Of 50 high an Office and its emolu-
ments 10 persuade the people TO vote for
this new Convention. Without such
machinery the people would be indiffer-
ent and the whole scheme defeated. We
are not confronted with such a serious
condition Of public affairs as to justify a
new Constitutional Convention and the
expenditure Of s265, 500 to pay the sala-
ries Of the delegates, plus at least $685.
600 to pay mileage, incidentals and gen.
eral expenses, making total cost Of hall
q million dollars. No one should be
grudge the expenditure Of 20 large sum
if necessary TO secure the best possible
form Of government; but under existing
conditions the chances are that the mon
ey would be wasted and the end not at
/ tanned This Is q most inOpportune time
to undertake the formation Of a new OF
a general revision Of the old Constitu-
ton. The electors will be required 70
vote on the rejection or adoption next
year, when there Is a Presidential elec-
ton. National politics, involving most
important issues, will engross public at
I tention TO the exclusion Of State issues
The Convention may submit q new Con
stitution 10 be voted for as q whole, or il
may submit specific amendments to be
voted for separately" If new Consti-
tuition, or many amendments are submit
ted, an intelligent Judgment by the aver
age voter will, by reason Of excitement
and interest in general politics, be rem
dered inpracticable. 1t is always haz
zardous 10 remodel great organic law
There are many provisions Of the present
Constitution which are SO favorable &C
the general puOlic that powerful infu
ences have for seventeen years success
fully delayed their enforcement. VII
We act wisely if we offer a tempting op
portunity for their repeal?
The advocates Of the Convention tel
Us that the amendment Of the Constitu
ton is necessary TO secure secret bal
lot" and without it We can never hsv'
the Australian system When the new
Constitution was adopted the provisioI
for numbering ballots was to be the pan
acea for all illegal voting. Now this very
provision Is said 10 stand in the way o
honest election laws The unvisdom o
Incorporating such provisions (which
should be left to legislative control) il
the Constitution mas become apparent
But Is the question 50 vital IS to take
outside the provisions of the Constitu
ton for its amendment? 1t was quit
possible to substantially adopt the Aus
trailian saystem, notwithstanding th
Constitutional pTovisiea for numberin
ballots. The new election law" is th
work of astute politicians. Its evzsioI