Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-12-13

-..eurance that our liabilities are every
- becoming less, and that at no dis
.~er;od they will be entirely extingush-
handsome overplus might be Sc
- for this object, without any increase
~ rsse Of taxation, by merely 50 i'm
Lao our revenue system. as to place
~ assessment rolls that large amount
n advisable wealth, consisting OF stocks,
~ ~ interest, and various kinds Of per-
..c.l property which, by escaping assess
..rs under the present law, leaves on the
s.-.r;ny community whose lands cannot
1900 notice, q more than due share OF
- n,,bl;c burdens; the exemption OF a
-. from taxation is fraud upon the
p.;,.e The object can be sufficiently.
e ~, better attained, by imposing pc
a,,n;.rv penalty Oh such as withhold pro-
.,.,,y from taxation, than by administering
p.,h. which expose to temptation and
crime. and which already. by the frequen.
cy Of their requirement. are Du' 100 wei,
calculated to diminish IT not Destroy all
regard for their nature ana obH9aton. LEI
the penalty proposed be IN proportion 10
,,e amount Of taxablcs withheld from as
.essment, and sufficient to justify sum
mary proceeding for lis recovery. The
subject in some Of its aspects wa referred
10 more in detail in my last annual mes
saye. TO which you are respectfully refer
red. II is one Of much Importance, and
i urpently recommended to your early
and favorable consideration, in the hope
that the present session may not close
without the needed action on your part
1t is with unfeigned reluctance that
another topic is approached; that Of the
growing amount of our legislation, and
espccialy of our local and private lcgisla-
ton. Having given my views in regard
10 this subject in my first inaugural adj
dress having again called attention to it in
nv annual message in December 1915,
and having repeated it at every session
since. it would certainly not be again pre-
sentcd, were it not for a deep conviction OF
duty, arising from the constant, regular,
and rapid growth of the evil. This will
be manifest from a comparison Of the
number of large octave pages OF printed
matter occupied by the general laws. as
distinguished from those of a merely local
or private character, passed at the last live
sessions Of the Legislature. The number
of pages OF general laws passed at those
sessions respectively. commencing witt
that Of 1854 are consecutively; 122, 81
1856, l6I, and I25, while the pages Of :
local or private character are, $50, 5Ol
500. 43l. aud $50 respectively.
Thus while the amount Of our general
legislation has for the last five years re
manned nearly stationary, that OF local and
private character has, within the Same
period, advanced more than three hundred
and fifty per cent; the bills and Jo.nt re-
solutions, passed at the last session, were
over six hundred in number, averaging
more than four bills to each member, and
more than thirteen for each working day
Of the session. Besides these were the
nu,ncrou, bills which were introduced, bu
failed Of passage for want of time, Oh
other causes. This immense mass of lc
sislation is not only calculated to lcngliter
the scssou-to increase the labor of the
menI5ers-to Interfere un Justly with tho
rights of absent individuals, and to render
the law complex and uncertain, but /
serves by occupying the mind and distract
ing the attention, to hazard the passgc o
dangerous measures of a general charac
ter, and if the proper examination OF thlr
teen bills every day for six or seven week
successfully is an unreasonable task 10
the mind of the legislator, what shall b
said OF the condition of the Governor VIII
is expected to personally examine all G
,hcm before signing; and as the far create
portion of them linger in their passage
until but Il few days are left towards tn
close of the session within which TO per
form the accumulated labor! But tn
condition Of the citizen, hc for whom a
this is done, is far worse. lie is respon
sible for his presumed knowledge Of tn
law, and to acquire that knowledge i
,eality he is compelled to search for il in
wilderness of cnactments, and to tur
over new and large volume every yea
trausht with repeal, with change. and wit
burdcnsomc addition.
For the last five years, the amount c
legislation Of each session has exceedc
that of the previous one. at about the sam
rate, until the local and general laws pas
sed at the last session have grown into a
unwicldy volume of screen hnndrcd on
sirty-one pages What is the remedy fl
this growing evil!
But little reflection is required TO satisf
us that it will continue TO increase until
remedy is applied. In my last annu;
message. occasion was taken to recon
mend the passage of general laws. undo
which more appropriate tribunals shout
be clothed with the necessary power 10 a
ford the relief now sought for by NEAR
of most private and local statutes. TIL
is perhaps the only reliable remedy
which the evil is susceptible. 1t is NJ
intended TO deny the expediency of havin
diversity of subordinate regulation,
varied by the interests. habits. and wishe
of different parts of the State. We alread
have an illustration Of that diyerSify q,
hibited in the bylaws and ordinances
different towns and cities. and in the buit
ings, taxes, and other matters Of intern;
economy. of the different counties II
only contended that the outlines. or gene
nj statutes, under which such diversi,
may exist, should. like that under while
the counties now exercise their discretion
airy powers. be general and uniform, +
while it is very desirable that the Legisl
turc should pass such general laws. y