Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-03-27
Legislative Reform.

One Of the crying Legislative evils of the day,
says the Reading Journal is the disposition to
postpone action on the most important bills to the
closing days of each session, when they are either
lost between the two Houses or passed in very
crude state The events connected with the re-
cent adjournment OF Congress afford several in
stances of this kind The Postage and Appropria-
ton Bills barely managed to get through, while
the River and Harbor Bill, with majority in each
House in its favor, was killed outright by the
trickery and management that enables an unscru-
pulous minority to defeat an unpalatable measure
adjournment.
So it is at Harrisburg. At the close of the last
session, the two Houses and the Governor were at
skies and sevens in the regard to the Legislative
than Gov. Johnston occupied the Executive chair,
our State would have been most shamefully gerry
wandered. Or had the legislature adjourned, as
they threatened to do, after the vote of the BILL
there is no calculating the fearful consequences
that might have ensued.
The Legislature now in session looks very much
it was disposed to follow the bad example of It's
predecessors. Over two months have passed since
1t convened, nearly the whole of which time has
been occupied in the consideration of private or
bills The great work of the session
Is yet to do. The Free Banking Law has made
small progress. The usual appropriation bill has
scarcely been touched, while the judicial apportion
ment of the State, and regulation of salaries of the
Judges-most important of all in view of the ap-
preaching election of these oficers-has for some
time been entirely forgotten. The latter measure
is one that should engage the earnest attention of
our representatives. The system, as at present Or
ganlzed, is said to be unequal in the duties i'm
posed upon the respective judges-burdensom to
the people on the score Of expense-defective in
not enforcing labor which would demand and Sc
cure industry and undivided attention. and unjust
in not afording salaries which would be an ade-
luate recompense for the services rendered A
reform is loudly called for, and, we were told in
he early part of the session, was to have been
warmly pressed, but the matter was referred to the
who have not up to this time made any
report The probability is that bills will be repor-
led on the eve of the adjournment, that they will
be hurried through without giving the people in
he several districts time to demonstrate against
my unjust or unequal provisions they may contain.
Another evil in legislation, that prevails to a
great extent, is the system of 'log-rollng or in
'ludlng in the same bill half dozen objects total
y distinct and opposite in their nature This is
always done to secure the adoption of improper
'r unpopular measures, for in these omnibus lines
every member who is passenger or Joint stock
proprietor, is supposed to be interested in putting
t through A good example against this shame
ul way OF doing business has been set by Dr. Brow
r, of the House, who announced in recent speech
lis determination never to vote for bill he believed
o be wrong, from mere personal courtesy, or be-
'ause he wanted reciprocation of the favor He |
aid, if bills are right sanction them-if wrong,
EJECT them, irrespective of any other considera-
lon,' This is good old fashioned, republican
loctrlne, which if every member would follow
would greatly add to the honor and promote the
interest of the Commonwealth.
We think it high time for our legislators to be- |
sin at the right end of their work-to take time
y the forelock, and act upon important bills in the
orepart Of the session, leaving those of private
+ local nature to be disposed of after the main
usiness shall have been accomplished.