The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-04-29
Too Much LegisIatIOn.


A sense of positive relief is felt through
out the State since the final adjournment OF
the Legislature. The day on which it
meets is always 10 ,ked forward to with fea r
and trembling, while its dissolution is re-
garded as an escape from a constantly
threatened danger. As long as it is in Ses-
sion it is the sword of Damocles suspended
over the head Of the people. and it is only
when it ceases to exist that the taxpayer
can breathe freer and deeper. That the
late Legislature was corrupt beyond most of
its predecessors seems to be universally con-
ceded. 1t stands almost alone as a monu-
ment Of legislative infamy. One of the
Harrisburg papers makes the grave declara
ton. that the lower house contained Just
eleren members who were above suspicion,
the remaining eighty-nine being either no
toriOusly venal, or honest with mental re-
servation. Has human nature entirely
changed, and do men now aspire to legisla
tive honors, no: for the good they can ac-
complish, but solely for the purpose of using
the process of legislation for their own and
their friends selfish and pecuniary benefit
AT the commencement of every session
loud professions of rigid economy and Prac-
tical reform are freely INDUCED in, but as it
progresses the existence of organized rings"
conceived in fraud and corruption, is rapid
~ DEVELOPED, and thus the foul and muddy
current of legislation runs on, uutil at length
it is swallowed up in a seething maelstrom
OF political debauch. The remedy is alone
with the people, If they possess the nerve
and independence to apply it. But if they
continue to sow the whirlwind they must
expect to reap the storm.
If the press in other State is to be credit
ed, their Legislative bodies are as dishonest
and corrupt as our own. The same is true
of Congress. The future of the country
is fearful to contemplate. The virtuous
Chancellor Oxenstiern said to his son, ''Go
forth, my son, into the world and see with
what little wisdom it is governed" In addi
ton to the dsarth of wisdom which charac-
terized his day, we have to deplore the most
shameless official villaiuy and corruption in
our own.
There is no truer adage than that "the
world is governed too much" Excessive
legislation has become q chronic disease and
is blighting curse to the land. While
Congress has been in Session almost con-
stantly for the last two years, each State
has had its own legislative mill in full blast,
furnishing its annual supply of general and
special laws-the proportion Of the former
to the latter being about as one to one hun
dred The volumes of our Acts of Assem-
bly, are being increased and enlarged with
fearful rapidity. The Pelion of legislation
is literally piled upon Ossa. 1t is legislation
here, legislation there and legislation every
where. Can any valid reason be given why
our Legislature should meet annually We
have never heard it even attempted, while
weighty and convincing arguments can be
aGduced why it should not. The principal OBJ
ject for which the Legislature meets every
year is to frame and pass a general appro-
priation bill, in order that the different
branches of the State government may be
kept in successful operation. There is no
good reason why the government machine
cannot be kept running for trro years, under
the provisions of an appropriation bill. just
well as it can for one. Besides this,
about three -fourths of the local or special
legislation which now engrosses most of the
time of the Legislature, could and ought to
be disposed of by the Courts. We are,
therefore, in favor Of having the Legislature
meet every tacO years and in favor of amend
ing the constitution in that respect. as we'll
as of securing additional guarantees, against
the present almost unlimited powers of the
Legislature. 1t is the proper commence
ment of a much needed reform. If the pee-
pie must endure the course of vicious and
corrupt legislation it would be better, and
less noxious, to have it inflicted periodically
rather than at one fell swoop.