Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-03-13
s. ,. ROW, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
CI.EARFIELD, PA, MARCH. Is, 1867.
An Important Move.

Inc Lake Erie HreSS Association, at their
meeting on the l4th February, 1867, ap-
pointed Committee to prepare bill "re-
lating to the publication of Local, General
and Private Laws, and of Legal advertise
ments in the several counties of the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania.
A copy of the bill, prepared by the Com
mittee referred to, has been received 10y u.s.
The first section provides that certified
coyy of each general law, except the Gen
eral Appropriation bill, and each law spe-
cially relating to each individual county,
shall, as soon as approved by the Governor,
be sent to the Commissioners OF the respec-
tive counties, by the Secretary of the Com
meawealth. The second section makes it
the duty Of the Commissioners as soon as
said laws are received by them. to publish
the same In one newspaper of each of the
two leading political parties, if there be SO
many published in tie county, not less than
twice, at such rates as can be agreed upon,
not exceeding usual rates of advertising sim
liar matter. The third section relates to
corporations, the acts to be published in
like manner as the above, the expenses to
be paid out of the corporation treasury
Section fourth has reference to the publica-
tion of the annual reports of County Com
missioners, Auditors and Poor Directors of
each county, and the Court Proclamations,
Sheriffs Sales, Election Proclamations, in
like manner as the foregoing, the costs of
publication to be betrayed out of the county
treasures; and section fifth makes this act
applicable to all general and local laws pass
ed after the first Tuesday in January, 1867
except the Appropriation bill as aforesaid
The publication of the laws in this man.
.ner has been practise1 for several years in
New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and other
States, with general satisfaction to the peo-
pie in those States. And, there is little
doubt, that the publication of the laws of
Pennsylvania, in the several county papers
throughout the State, would be approved
by the people generally. Under our present
system Of distributing limited number of
copies of the Pamphlet laws, compare
lively few persons ever become familiar with
the laws yearly passed by their Representa-
tives; and hence many of our statutes are
violated, and persons subjected to severe
penalties, for want of proper knowledge
of the existence of such laws. Then, as a
preventive of the violation of many of our
laws, the people should be made familiar
with them, and the mode suggested in the
bill referred to, seems to- be the most prac-
tical way Of accomplishing that end. And,
in view of these facts, the publication of
the laws in the county papers is, at least
worthy the earnest consideration of our Rep
resentatives at Harrisburg.
In connection with this subject, friend
at our elbow makes the following sugges-
ton: I" 10 have all propositions for laws,
whether general or special in their effects,
pabaished before they are presented for final
passage, so as to give the people immedi-
ately interested, fair opportunity of ex-
pressing their opinions upon them, and
instructing their Representatives to act In
accordance with their views