Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-02-07
Wesklg Trimitg 9oarnal.
Weaverville, Saturday, Feb, 7, 1868.
The mOdus operandi of Local Legislation.

The Assembly on Friday last, by an almost
unanimous vote, laid on the table resolution
offered by Mr.. Wheaton for the appointment Of
a committee to consider local and special bills
We are not surprised at this action of the As
sembly, though it is much to be regretted that
the Legislature will persist in system so absurd
upon its face and so wrong in all its details as
the one now in vogue. AS an illustration of its
workings we will give an example. Suppose the
Representative from Merced county has con-
stituent who, living on the river bank finds it
would be convenient for him to have bridge
near his residence, and thinks it would be a
source of profit to him if he could collect toll
from his neighbors. Under the provisions of
general Bridge Law, he could either singly, or
in combination with his neighbors, construct
bridge without application to any one out of his
own county. AS it is, however, he writes to the
member from Merced that he wants bill passed
granting him the desired franchise and, some
times, he offers to divide the profits of the enter
prise with the Representative. Accordingly
bill is introduced, and n the same way, by other
members, twenty, thirty, fifty, or hundred bills,
each authorizing the construction of bridge in
some portion of the State, are introduced during
the session, although all this multiplied legsla-
tion would be rendered unnecessary by single
general law on the subject.
So much for the system as a whole-now as to
its details The member from Merced having
introduced his bill, moves that it be referred to
the Merced delegation, which is done. The men,
ber from Merced constitutes the delegation"
He receives his own bill from the House, ex
amines it ! (over the Lefty reports it back to the
House, and of course recommends its passage
The bill is then read by its title, and is passed
solely on the recommendation OF it's author, no
one else feeling sufficient interest in the matter
to make any careful inquiry Thus the bill goes
through the forms of passage, often without
ever being read, except by title, and without be-
ing once seen except by an interested party. He
prepares the bill he introduces it; he is the
committee to which it is referred, bnrcnorrts Il
formality, considers upon H. nnds ;,s roos
age. lie is the Legislature, so far as his bill is
concerned. In the Senate it goes through the
same process--the Senator from the District of
which Merced is a part going for the bill Of his
friend in the Assembly on condition that the
Assemblyman shall do similar favors for him. 1t
all sounds very well when the Clerk reads the
history of the bill previous to its passage:
In Assembly Jan 22l-Read st and I'd time by titlel
and referred the Merced delegation" Jan. 23d-Re
ported and passage recommended" Jan. 2th-Read 3d
time [by title and passed"
In Senate Jan 26h-Read 1st and 2d time by titlel
and tO oTtl-Rc
ported and recommended" !" etc.
No member stops to consider that by referring
it to the Merced delegation the bill is simply sent
where it came from, and where it will be most
certain to escape investigation, and that when it
comes back again it is just as good or bad bill
as it was before, and no one is the wiser for the
reference. Its author says he recommends its
passage OF course he does, or he would not
have introduced it. The whole system is sham,
and IL s ahout time To treat IL as such