Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-05-22
FREELAND, Pa, MAY %, 1899
Twisting the Constitution.

The constitution of Pennsylvania pro-
yides that 1.-THE governor shall have
power to disapprove any item or items
OF a bill making distinct appropriations
of money, embracing distinct items. }"
Our readers are aware of the history
of this amendment. Its wise object is
to save the governor the embarrassing
alternative OF vetoing general appro-
praton bill or giving it his official
signature in spite of many obnoxious
and extravagant features. In the abb
sence of such a provision in the con-
stitution of the United States the presi-
dent is frequently obliged to approve or
veto appropriations carrying many
millions of money, no matter how great
ly he may desire to save the public
treasury by Withholding his approval OF
extravagant and wasteful items Of ex-
penditure. Before the adoption of this
amendment in Pennsylvania rings in
the legislature were in the habit of
saddling upon the general appropriation
bills all kinds of jobs of plunder, and
the only alternative of the governor
was to give them his official approval
or suspend many operations of the state
government by veto.
Awaiting himself of the discretion re-
posed in him by this amendment, Gov
ernor Stone has not merely dsapproyed
items in appropriation bills, but has de-
creed how much money should be paid
out of the treasury upon single item
OF expenditure. This is not Legitimate
exercise of tho negative power OF a
veto; it is a fragrant usurpaton of a
function which belongs only to the legs-
lature. 1t is for the legislature to de-
clare how much or how little money
shall be paid on any particular item Of
appropriation, and it is for the governor
to determine whether the expenditure
for this item be a proper or improper
use of the public money.
Instead of properly exercising the
veto, Governor Stone legislates. The
power to reduce the amount Of money
in an item of appropriation implies the
power to raise the amount fixed by the
general assembly. II the governor car
determine that any item of approprla
ton conveys too much he can determine
when an item conveys too little, and car
raise the sum at his discretion.
Nothing but the dire necessities O.
the Quay machine could have driver
Governor Stone to such wanton and per
verse twisting OF the constitution tt
machine purposes. But for the pre-
carious position Of the machine he woulC
have summoned the legislature in extri
session to provide more revenue. In
stead OF this, he has preferred, in /
strange perversion OF the veto power, t.
hew and hack not merely the limbs o
an appropriation bill but the body itself
But an extra session would have involv
ed the election OF senator of the United
States in place of the man who holds
Governor Stones bogus brief of ap
pointment. That was peril to the ma
chine to be averted, even at the expense
OF all the schools and charitable insti
tutions of the commonwealth.
An extra session would also have dem
onstrated more clearly to the people o
PENNSYLVANIA with whom lies the re
sponsibiity for the want of resources fol
needed public expenditures. The house
which passed bills to increase the reve
nues in the regular session, is ready tt
re-enact these or other measures Of tax
alton should an extra session be sum
moned for the purpose. But the OBJ
struction now, as then, is in the ma
chine senate. An extra session, then
would incure the risk of the election Of
United States senator, without af
fording any assurance of the passage Of
needed revenue measures.
In this dilemma of the machine Gov
ernor Stone has cut the knot by assum
ing full legislative power and determin'
ing how much money shall be paid on
the several items of appropriation
This method, If further pursued, would
obviously save the general assembly oi
Pennsylvania a great deal of time and
trouble by taking this function off It's
hands. The serious difficulty in the
way is that one of these days genera
assembly might impeach governor sc
wantonly unsurping legislative power
and convict him of high crime and
misdemeanor.