The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-03
IOWA LE0IsLArORs AND LEGIs.
LATnON.

We have some very singular notions.
amongst others is this, that We regard q
session of the Legislature, in nine cases
out of ten, a calamity to the people of the
State. If we had our way the Legisla-
turs should meet only once in seven years,
and then every member who proposed a
law which failed to receive the approval
of the people should be perpetually ex-
cluded from the General Assembly.
The truth is, the General Assembly
contains over a hundred members, each
one OF whom has his own pet hobby, and
feels bound to impress himself in at lesat
one general law and special one or two
on the statutes of the State; besides hag-
ing several friends at home whose idid-
syncracies he feels under obligations to
enact into permanent laws and incorpd-
rate into the code. Besides, every young
lawyer who has found in his practice that
some provision Of the code has stood ih
the way Of his gaining a case, is bound to
wreak vengeance on the code in an
amendment, while many other persons
who are threatened with suit themselves
or propose to sue somebody else, apply
to the Legislature to throw up obstruc-
tons in the way of their adversary or to
clear off distractions in the shape Of stat
utory enactments in their own way. Add
to all these the local and personal interests
which prompt changes in the old laws
aud the enactment of bew ones and il is
not strange that we are afflicted by q
chronic biennial diarrhea of Legislation,
producing arrangement and debility in
the body polite.
Hence we have had propositions fol
amendments Of old laws and bills for new
ones in almost countless numbers already
presented, and the work is but fairly be.
gun. II there be any member OF either
House who has not already presented s
bill or two or is not preparing them, w
here proclaim our profound respect fol-
him and shall be happy to make his ac
quaintance, even at the expense Of triE
to Fort Dss Moines.
On general principles We think it would
be entirely safe to vote nay, as genera
rule in the Legislature, and we're We
there we'd make an effort at once t,
organize "Negative Club amongst th'
members. And to-day We feel perfectly
clear that the member who shall vote il
the negative on the passage Of every bill
viii stand much better with his eonstItu
ents than the man who votes for half th
bills that will be passed.
What we have said by way of intro
ductlon may seem somewhat extrayagant
but what We have further TO say is mer
PLAIN common sense, which ought 4
commend itself TO the consideration Of ou
| Legislators. As general rule the peopl
are not suffering for lack of Legislation
and there is no general demand from then
for legislation upon any subject; there
fore, unless there is the most imperativ
reasons for change of old laws and th
enactment of new ones, it is best to leav
we'll enough alone. We need not urg
the expense, Inconvenience and annoy
ance resulting from frequent changes i
the laws, especially when they affect th
interests and business of the people ger
orally in their public and every day trans
actions. The best policy is that whic
Einterferee with the business and habits ,
the people to the least practicable exten
and. leaves them undisturbed to VIII,
they have become accustomed TO, an
not be raspine and CALLING them with ne
harness and requiring them to travel ov,
new roads.
/ Now, BY way of illustration, let us r.
fer to several cases selected from gre'
number now before the Legislature j
which the movers at least propose to vi
late these principles, and to enact Law
no better, if SO good, as those already
force.
REGISTRY LAW.
| A. Registry Law IS not demanded |
the people aud is not essential to the i
terests of the State. We are gettir
along very well without one, and its el
actment would interfere very material
with the habits and the comfort of OF
, citizens. Many persons barely ge.
the polls now, under the excitement ar
solicitations incident to election day, al
LII they are put under legal compulsion
spend another day in registering the
names as voters, more legal voters v
absent themselves from the polls then th,
there are illegal votes cast now.
FoREfGN BANK CURRENCY.
Tha v,rahshsti rf Tim niroslof,on