Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-11-18

occasions, since our location 10 this place, gave
crude opinion as to what should be the course
of our legislature upon several subjects which
We considered important. but whether from
the non-impoEiance Of the subjects, or from
our obscurity, OF want Of pretensions TO con-
spicuous rank in the corps editorial Of the Ter
ritory, our brothers Of the quill have not con-
descended to notice them, VIC are unable TO de-
eide. We have certainly made no efforts at
dictation to them, bot have been content with
being an humble follower Of those VITO have
presumed to be themselves the leaders, differ
ing with them only when we thought duty re-
CURED it,
AT length we have an opening out upon a
few subjects, by our brethren Of the Gazette.
apart Of which we lay before our readers, CO.
inciding ourself with every sentiment uttered.
In giving their opinion as to what our legisa-
ture should and should not do, they express the
following sentiments, which we hope will not
be passed BY as undecided as some of our sug-
gestions have:
Whatever the Legislature may do, we
hope and trust that they will not burthen
our Statute books with any more private
acts and petty corporation charters. More
than one half the time of the Legislature
has heretofore been occupied in passing
private acts, charters for petty incorpora
lions. Divorce bills. &c. We consider
Legislation on such subjects not only UNI
necessary, but wrong-wrong i'll prlnci-
Piles, wrong ia Justice, and wrong as a
precedent. lis effects when we become a
State will be more fully apparent than at
present. And what are these effects p.
Why every, person who wishes divorce,
decree to sell lands, or any petty busi>
ness done, will apply to the Legislature,
for there it will cost him nothing, while il
he applied to court, it would come out oil
his own pocket, consequently Legislation
upon such subjects has the effect of draws
ing money from the pockets of the many
to benefit single individual"
AS many as four years ago, we expressed a
hope that our legislature would adopt the course
above suggested, but it passed unheeded, and
the very reverse was pursued. Yet we tire
not" we have our own opinions, and SO long
as we shall find that body geing contrary to
what we think just and expedien,, (whe,hel
we are correct in our opinions or not,) we Shall
not hesitate nor neglect to give them to the
public, even though they may have no weigh,
in determining its action.
Corporations Of whatever nature, I,ave pro-
we'd curse to the people in many instances,
in every State in the Union, and Banks, 10 al
most every one Of them, have cost the people,
in paying the expenses of Legislatures in
chartering, investigating, and correcting their
abuses, more than the best of them have ben
Gifted the people, so we unite with the Ga
zette in recommending short session, and
setting an example to future legislatures, thai
if followed up, less legislation will soon be
asked.
The first Legislature Of Wisconsin, which
met at Belmont, in the winter of 1886, and
which had the task of forming a complete
code of laws before it, remained in session but
for'y-six days; yet our Legislature, with statute
laws numbering about thousand pages, holds
lis sessions the full extent of the time allow.
ed by law, and that too when the funds provi-
ded fall far short Of its expenses. If any one
is at loss as to the cause of this difference
in the length of the sessions, let them call to
mind the fact that in 1886, man could make
more than 3 dollars day by speculation, while
nowadays three dollars day is great con.
sideration. We sincerely hope our legisla.
ture, the coming winter, will act with a great.
er regard fer the permanent interests Of the
people than to run beyond the means provided
in creating interpretations.