The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-01-17

and express their opinion relative to the
time requisite for its satisfactory com
pletion. They ask repeal of so much
of the first section of the joint resolution
as excepts from their labors "those
statutes revised, codifed, and enacted
under the resolution approved March
-, $780," and an amendment of the
fourth section, so as to extend from
| two" to three years, the time allowed
for the completion of the work. The
proposed amendments will give them
control of the whole body of the statute
law, and such allowance of time as they
deem necessary for its satisfactory re-
vision. The accumulation of our public
statutes, during a period of nearly two
centuries, can hardly fail to present a
confusion which it is elAinently desira-
bic should be corrected and the only
practicable mode of accomplishing this
is the one indicated by the resolution of
the last Legislature, and having conf
dence in the gentlemen selected for this
work, it is due to them, as well to the
public, that they should not be restrict
ed, either rs to time or by exceptions,
which would prevents perfect and desi
rable embodiment.
The task is one Of more than ordinary
magnitude, requiring deliberate consid-
Grafton, critical acumen, and careful
comparison and arrangement, together
with high order of talent, literary at
tainments, legal research, and energetic
industry, to bring it to that perfection
which its Importance demands and the
Legislature intended and will doubtless
expect.
TIE LAWS.
The Auditor General, Secretary of the
Commonwealth, and State Treasurer,
appointed by the Legislature at its last
session to revise and digest the tax laws
of the State, have disc arged that duty.
Their report will be submitted at an
early day, and bespeak for it that care
full examination which the Importance
of the subject deserves.
PUBLIC NOTICE TO BE GIVEN OF GER
TAIN BILLS.
Your attention is also invited to the
acts of May 13, 1857, and April 2, 1860,
Digest, page 49, requiring pu0l lie notice
to be given of the application for all
private acts relating to real estate and
for acts OF incorporation. The wisdom
and justice of these are manifest, and
their enforcement cannot be otherwise
than beneficial.
LEGISLATION.
At the last session certain bills were
passed in which large numbers Of citi-
zens sweredeeply interested, the response
bility for which, after the adjournment,
but few members could be found willing
to assume, or even to admit any knowl-
edge of their passage. 1t is expected
| that every legislatorshould be acquaint-
ed with all that is transpiring in the
| legislative halls. He is not simply
chosen to give his support to certain
bills which have been called to his in
dividual attention, but to be constantly
on the alert to Illustrate every act that
may have tendency to ieopardize the
public interests. TO plead ignorance
after real or imaginary wrong has
been done, is to acknowledge want OF
attention to the trust repoSed by his con-
stituents. One bill, the authorship and
knowledge of which has been generally
disclaimed, passed both branches of the
Assembly, and was sent in due form
. with the signatures of the proper Off
GERS, for the Executive approval, and il
several instances bills We're passed ant
sent for approval in duplicate. Al
such hastyand careless legislation shoulC
be avoided, Sld the members of tn
session now about to commence be en-
abled at its close to give an account o
their participation in every act, hov
ever unimportant. The Legislature
coming as it does, fresh from the rank
of the people, should set an example il
economy, retrenchment, and reform
1t is the custodian of the public inter
ests, and any unnecessary extravaganc
or prodigality in the expenditure q
public money is reprehensible. 1t wa
a matter of common notoriety at tn
last session that II number of subordi
nate officers, in both branches of tn
Assembly, were appointed, to whom
.. liberal salaries were paid, and who wer
never seen at their designated posts
and rendered no service to the State
This practice has been eInphaticall
condemned by the press and the people
and will not be continued by any Leg
islature which means to acquire repu
tation for faithful performance Of duty
Your attention is respectfullyinvited {
the law on tnis subject as contained i
,, sections fifteen to eighteen of the act az
, proved the 7th day of May, 1850.
. ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS.
, Your attention is directed to the pra,
tico of Withholding the annual apprC
priatiOn bill until the latest moments
= the session. In the public estlmatiO
great importance is attached tothiS bill
; and no action OF the Legislature unde
; goes closer or more careful scrutin!
Its provisions concern the entire con
munity, and in their enactment tC
! much caution cannot be observed. La
l year the appropriation bill was ~
i passed until the last night Of the sessio
when it was hurried through bot
4 branches of the Legislature, and on Il
: following morning presented for a
i proval, without atiording time for Il
necessary investigation, and subjectil
the EXcCutivctD the alternative Of sig
t ing it with all its impcrfections, or su
| pending for the ensuing year, the i
i dispensablc means for the operation
i the State Government. 1t is therefor
d earnestly desired that the appropriate,
h bill be taken up, discussed, and pass
e at n sufficiently early period during t
l. session to enable il to receive that Tho
= ough eXamintion which its importar
l. demands.
g PERQUISIrES OF OFFICE.
! Very many serious complaints ha
l. been made for many years past relati
to the disposition of the debris viii
- annually accumulates about the Capit
al This seems to have been regarded
70 Legitimate perqulsites ofcertain attach
\ of the several legislative and other {
~ partments, and has consequently led
nj practices which should be prevent,
1t is alleged that valuable property |
f. thus been taken possession of and ,
,e piled to personal uses, or sold for me
n nominal sums, and the amount obtain
,g privately appropriated. a remedy
,e this evil is TO allow no perquisites VIII
- ever to any of the employees ofthe @,
ernment. Salaries, sufficient in
IL cases for the services rendered, shol
er be appropriated beyond which no otl
ett consideration should be allowed. I
~ adoption of this principle would RENE
~ the temptation for young men in the
W partments to resort to improper pra
w ces. All the public property, of ev,
ie description,as well as the buildings q
u, grounds, should be placed in charge
&C the superintendent appointed for I
II, purpose, chosen for his known intol
~ ty yandgencral capability and required
oi give sufficient bonds for the faithful I
III tnrnonpn of his lutins An rr,,f