Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-03
Tinkering the Constitution
philadelphia Public Ledger1

Philadelphia Public Ledger1 .
At the election in November, now
little more than five weeks distant.
the voters of Pennsylvania will be
called upon to pass upon two i'm
portant amendments TO the state
constitution. Both of these pro-
posed changes have been acted upon
attirmatively by the Legislature at
two successive sessions, and the vote
10 be taken in November will finally
determine their ratification or rejec-
ton. One involves a radical change
in the financial policy OF the state.
the other concerns the city OF Phil
adelphia alone and is in the nature
of an amendment TO an amendment
adopted in 1915. which in turn was
an amendment to The original con-
stitution.
1t is not the present purpose to
consider either of these pending
proposals on their merits. but to call
attention TO them as evidence of the
pressing need of a general review
OF the states fundamental law in
stead of the piecemeal method of
tinkering to which we have been
forced by the defects in that instru-
ment and by the changed condi-
tions since its adoption forty-five
years ago. Since 1901, when the
process of patching was begun. no
less than twenty-four separate
amendments have been submitted to
the people, two more awaiting rati-
fication. and at the last session of
the Legislature four additional
changes were passed on for action
by the Legislature of 1919. And as
already stated, one of the latter
proposals is TO tinker still further
one of the two to be voted upon
next month.
This record alone would indicate
that the time is more than ripe
for a general revision of the con-
stitution. The politicians. however,
have preferred to dodge the issue.
raising the pretext when the issue
was last mooted that the radical
spirit of change progressiveness in
the land made the time for revision
inappropriate" Yet it is freely ad-
mitted that the present constitu-
ton has long outlived its usefulness.
that it abounds in restrictions and
limitations that are bar to pro-
eress, and that it is an obstacle to
that effectiveness in administration
which is the measure of good gov
ernment. The state government as
now existing is a hopeless tumble of
divided authority and responsibility;
it lacks the first principles of modern
efficiency in action and is hope
lessly behind the times.
The need for a careful and delib-
crate study of the needs of the state
and for the formulation of new
basis of fundamental law is grow
ing more urgent every year, ana
the LEGISLATURE cannot long defer
the calling of a convention of the
states wisest and best minds to un-
dertake the task The very fire.
quency of the amendments is con-
vincing proof of the pressing need
for action: but another reason is
found in the unsatisfactory condi-
tions under which most of the recent
amendments have been acted upon.
The majority of the voters as rule
take little interest in referenda or
this sort and too often fail to mark
their ballots on the amendments.
But a general revision and the pub
lie discussions that would attend the
process would concentrate the public
mind upon the subject and insure
greater interest and more attention
to the merits of the questions as
they shall be presented when the
draft of revision, shall have been
completed. The question ought to
receive the imme ediate attention of
the state and local bar associations,
of the judiciary, and of all good
citizens to whom the present unsat-
isfactory conditions in the state ad-
ministration are a reproach.