New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-07

blast for the p.st three months Statutes sufficient
10 fill half dozen volumes would have been manu-
featured IL has generally been supposed that leg
islahon accomplished throGst tie agency aGrnd-
ing Committee WA rather uus,fe. We think THIS
the opinion Of the Speaker OF the Houie 10 the
early p,rs of tire present. session. But be has doubt
lees discovered that be was in error. Perhsps BIO
did no. know bow Grinding Committee would
work. We are confident that he could not have
ant cpsted bow quietly and rapidly thi, little irven
tor would perform it's functions. Thirty or fIrty
bills are now run through tie mil every day, AL
20 doubt as many more might be ground out with
out the least trouble. Probably there never WAS
Grinding Committee organized that turned of
work go rapidly s the one we are nov blessed
with. II i, decided improve men! upon sl former
Grinding Committees, and the reason may be fond
in that fac. which some wicked and evil-dsP)sed
persons slleee (but which Of course We do not
credit), that ths Speaker runs the m.ehoe.
Thi. fact, however, we do know, that whereas
the Speaker Of the House was once strongly op-
posed to a Grinding Committee, he subsequently
changed bis vie 4s, and one day grayey announced
to the Assembly that Grinding Committee had
become thing of necessity. A Grinding Commit
tee Was then ordered. 1t was natural tha. no
should desire Committee that would work easily,
and accordingly, the Individuals constituting it
were selected from among the most pllable mate
rials in the House. Ofcourse it performs admirably.
fulfilling the most sanguine expectations OF all VINO
have axes to grind, whether inside or outside OF
the Legislature. We complain of the stupidity OF
those members who allowed three-fourths Of the
session to pass away before getting this conven'
lent apparatus. How are they TO excuse them
selves before their COZ sttuents Months sg), they
might have accomplished their work, aud now
been at home attending 10 the dutieso OF their farms,
offices or counting houses. What a scandalous
waste Of time and money they have been guilty OF!
And then what mierabe blockhesds were they
who framed the Constitution, and provided for tho
selection of 60 large a number of representatives..
Our Assembly is too large One hundred and
twenty eight men cannot transact the business
which legitmstely comes before them, in one
hundred days. The Grinding Committee Of nine
could accomplish more work in 0ne1ourth tue
time. Why pay one hundred and twenty-eieht
men for doing what 8 much smaller Lumber OF
persons could do, in much shorter period
Why Lot abolish the Legislature, and substitute
a Committee of nine, or one Of i've, or one OF
three Indeed, Committee of one would su-
swer a. well, if the impression entertained by
some very good men is correct, namely, that the
presiding officer of the House runs the Grinding
Committee.
What is the operation OF a Grinding Committee
II selects from the general orders su:h bills as 1t
prefers, reading the titles in some Instances but
seldom reading the bill. These bills are reported
to the House, when the Speaker refers taem to
Select Committee with power TO report complete
which Committee is sometimes selected by tue
friends Of the BILL and 10 all cases is constituted
that the majority are favorable I, its passage This
Committee, after little or 10 examination, report
the bill back TO the House, and it is 1T once or
dered to be engrossed for third reading. or
course, the bill is not discussed nor critically exam
med. In due time, it comes up fer third reading
and passes as matter Of course. No one knows
anything about il, and but few care anything about
It. 1t has been got up in distant county; the
constituents Of jenkins hsye interest in il, but
Jenkins must vote for if, otherwise Snobos will
not vote for Jenkin,s bill when that is reached
Gentlemen Of the Legislature! do you know
what you are doingf We make this inquiry in al
seriousness. We beg you to remember that the
interests, the welfare and honor of the State, are
committed TO you for the time being. The people
of the Commonwealth will hold you accountable for
what the Legislature shall do at its present session.
You cannot shirk the responsibility. You cannot
throw 1t OF upon a Grinding Committee. That
Committee should have been raised the first week
of the session, if at all. You cannot now act with
the elaboration you ought, upon the measures
which that Committee may bring forward. The
cour,e you are now pursuing is not only rendering
legislation complete farce, but you are bringing
dscredit upon the State, upon the Republican
party, and upon yourselves.