The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-03-17
Special Legislation.

l. r.u Special Legislation. 3l'o,rq u
! Special legislation is the bane of good
government. II is the most expensive, hence
the most to be avoided. In case two or
three persons wish to associate them
selves together, for any purpose whatever,
they must go to the Legislature and ask for
"specian charter. This would be very
well if the people wanted it, or If 1t was
to correct a wrong, redress a grievance or
when if enured to the benefit of any pub
|, lie interest. But the necessity does not ex-
;st in one case in ten. How many of the
Especial charters" association or corpora
tion. which have passed the present or for
mer Legislatures have been called for by any
! public interest, or have ever been, or ever
will be used Our statutes are filled with
private" and especial acts" There is
not session of Congress which is not
besieged to grant this OF that special act,
for no other reason than to get good
franchise" to SELL "
Congress has chartered several Pacific
Railroads,upon which lines not farthine of
money has been expended, but the parties
who obtained them, have sold out for hun
dreds of thousands of dollars. This is an
increasing evil, and it is not confined to
either party-Democrats and Republicans
alike are constantly presenting "little bills''
''for my people" Yet, outside of the in
, corporation, not ten of his constituents know
anything about it. This is expensive to the
people The time consumed in passing
such bills-not unfrequently whole days
the printing of the bills and afterwards pub
fishing them with the laws, is so much of
the peoples money wasted, and in no case
is there any benefit to the people, which
could not be obtained under general law.
If we wish to open mine, develop
water power, build turnpike or Rail-
road, give us a general manufacturing
or corporation law under which to organize.
This is done in other States. Why not COM
mence the reform in North Carolina now?
1t costs the people not less than $500
per day to run the Legislature. We are for
the material development of the country.
We are for building Railroads, when they
are for the whole people, and used to expe-
dite the internal commerce of the country.
| North Carolina wants bapks and insurance
companies; let her have them. We will sus-
tain and patronize them, provided they
have solid foundations, upon which to
transact business, but all of these can be or
ganized under general law. There is
no interest of this kind which needs spe-
cial legislation. If we watch our law
makers, State or national, We are
led to the conclusion that all men are elected
for the interest of people in their districts,
and that much time is spent, not so much
that good laws may be made, but to secure
their reelection. If he is Republican,
lie must give his people something with
high-sounding title to perpetuate the
party. And every Democrat will try
to give the "dear people" of his dis
trict charter" hoping thereby 1t may
go Democratic at the next election.
The evil does Dot stop here. 1t ere
ates morbid sentiment over the country
to get at the crib and feed directly or in
directly upon the public Treasury. 1t has
got to such pass that, to clear AN acre of
land or build COW shed, some leading I"
man hastens to the Legislature for a charter
and. what is more, for an appropria-
ton of money to accomplish what pri-
vate means and private industry should do.
We call upon the Legislature of North Car
olina to set the example, by framing gen.
eral law, so that the peoples money shall be
expended for public egislation-general
laws for the benefit of the whole people.
No more special legislation, say we; no
appropriation but for great national or
State work.
We clip the following from the Philadel-
| phia Inquirer, which shows the great evil
of special legislation" felt in other States:
"The public acts passed during the present
session, for instance, arc absurdly small, consid-
ering the time occupied in their discussion,
| while the number of private bills which have
been enacted are curiously out of proportion.
| especially as most of these latter acts tended
solely to the advantage of few parties whose
interests were promoted entirely at the public
! cot. Indeed, many of them were so manifestly
| improper, and SO clearly an infringement OF the
rights OF the community, that the people might
justly declare that they could very well have
dispensed with the passage of any and every
general measure, simply to have been relieved
| from the infiiction of those private enactments
which would be more properly designated us
public wrongs" -r.. b.. ,-...,-. -. .