Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-01-17
Politicians Planning to Give
Pennsylvania New and
Modern Constitution.
THINK 0LO ONE is 0UTCROWN
Would Abolish Minority Representa-
tion on Boards of County Commits.
sioners and Perhaps Allow People to
Indicate Choice for U. S. Senator.
Especial Correspondence.)


Harrisburg, Pa.-The reconvening of
the legislature Monday night, January
IA, and the Inauguration of Gov. Ed
win S. Stuart the following day are
the principal events scheduled for this
week in the capital city. In accord
ance with the new governors express
wishes, plans were made for simple
exercises attendant upon his inaugu-
ration. His administration is to be
business one, according to previous
announcement, and good, hard, per
sistent work is to be begun right at
the start.
The committees selected by the
speaker of the house during the two
weeks recess will have plenty to do
Immediately. Some extremely impor-
tant and urgent measures will be pre-
sented early in the session. One of
the bills that has been prepared pro-
vides for a constitutional convention.
1t is contended that Pennsylvania has
outgrown her old constitution, now
more than 80 years Old, and that it is
absolutely necessary for the welfare
of the state that new constitution
be drafted. The bill will provide that
three delegates be elected to the con-
vention from each senatorial district
in the state, making a membership
in the convention of $50, and that the
election shall take place next Nov.
ember, the convention to be held the
following January, 1908. Then the
new constitution as agreed upon by
the convention shall be passed upon
by the next legislature two years
hence.
Several Schemes on Foot.
In support of the contention that a
new constitution is needed it is ar
gued that all the elections in the
state should be held at one time and
that there should be but one election
year. In order to accomplish this
1t would be necessary to lengthen the
terms of some officials and shorten
those of others. A change in the meth
cd of holding court trials IS also urged
and a provision will be contained in
the proposed new constitution which
will more equally distribute the work
of the courts in those counties where
more than one Judge is employed It
is argued that this will save the time
of iitigants, lawyers, judges, and the
money Of the taxpayers. Another
amendment desired is that doing away
with minority representation on the
various boards of county commission
ers. 1t is contended that such minor
ity representation is bad thing polit.
ically and especially is inimical to
good government. Democratic lead
ers say their party has never benefited
by the law and that while it may have
been of personal advantage to the
Democrat holding Office under the law,
it has been a handicap to the party.
Republican leaders contend that the
party in power should be given full
responsibility for running the offices
and that better government will re-
suit if the responsibility is not divid-
ed between the two leading parties.
Popular Vote for Senator.
Some of the western politicians Of
the state are considering a bill which
will permit a popular vote to be taken
on the United States senatorship. 1t
is thought that it is unnecessary to
amend the constitution in order to
allow such vote to be taken, as the
intention is only to allow the people
to indicate their choice, the election
to be held as usual by the legislature.
1t Is more than likely that such
measure will be introduced. How far
it will go after it's introduction is
problematical There are 12 or IA
states in the union which have the
popular vote method for indicating
choice of United States senator and
it Is argued that no harm could come
TO this state If the people were allow
ed a voice in saying who their senator
shall be. There would be no doubt
that the legislature would elect the
man indicated by the popular vote
Senator Boies Penrose's successor
will be elected two years hence. What
Senator Penrose's attitude will be On
the proposed popular vote method is
uncertain, but doubtlesss he will have
something to say about it when the
time comes.
Many Candidates in View.
Whether there is popular vote on
the United States senatorship or not
it could not be taken in time to affect