The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-22
FRIDAY, JANUARY %, 1869.
The state LegisIature-HOw Can IL be
Purified?

posed Of better material than It's predecessors
There are painful indications that the session
will be characterized by the usual neglect OF
the public interests, the usual suoservleaoy
TO few influential individuals, and the usual
prostitution Of legislative powers to unworthy
purposes. 1t has been no uncommon thing
for the members of former Legislatures to COM
pare notes with their confidential friends after
the conclusion Of their labors somewhat in this
fashion:-"What sort of session had you ?"
"Good-plenty of paying bills, and fne
chances" or if the exalted ideas of legis-
lation which prevail were not realized,
this doleful answer has been given:-"It was
a poor session. No thousand dollar envelopes
were handed around this year, and time was
wasted in considering dry bills that had no
money in them" The State Capitol is dis
graced with the presence Of not few nominal
guardians of the honor and welfare of the
Commonwealth who measure the value Of
legislative proceedings by the amount of cash
that reaches their individual pockets, and who
act upon the bills presented without the
slightest reference to their intrinsic merits or
their effect upon the general welfare, but with
an eye single to pecuniary profit. These
legislative bummers go to Harrisburg with
q resolute determination to make the
acquisition of pennies, dimes, or dollars,
as opportunities offer, their main bust
ness, subOrdinating to this primary object
Old.fsshioned ideas of honesty, and casting
aside as dead weight conscientious scruples
and sincere aspirations for the welfare OF the
State. We do not pretend that the General
Assembly is composed exclusively of such
elements, but it is painfully evident that 1t
comprises them in sufficient proportions to
taint legislation with corruption, to cripple it
with ineficiency, and to make the annual ses-
sions which should prove a public blessing
little better than public curse. We know
there are number of gentlemens in the lower
house as we'll as in the Senate, who are above
corruption, who sincerely and honestly desir9
the welfare of the State. These should have
the eyes of Argus, and guard with jealous
care our public interests. II they do, the in
terests of the State can be protected despite
the wrong -doers who may creep in and seek
to pollute legislation.
AS year after year passes by, spasmodic
attempts are occasionally made to improve
the character of the Legislature. Sometimes
they are partially or wholly successful in por-
tions of the Commonwealth, but thorough
reform is never effected, for residue of the
old lesven is always preserved through the
error or neglect of some of the multifarious
constituencies. 1t is easier to deplore the
evil than to point out a remedy. The pre-
vailing indifference to the action of the nomi-
of legislative honers by unworthy, unquali-
fed, and corrupt aspirants. II the people
take no pains to seek out proper representa-
tives, bad men will be sure to force them
selves upon the tickets of the respective
parties, and to secure a reluctant Endorsement
at the polls. 1t is perhaps vain to hope
for any thorough reform before public senti-
ment is so outraged that hosts of intelligent
and disinterested men will labor earnestly and
continuously to effect it. As an aid to such a
movement, it has been proposed to increase
the number of members of the Legislature;
and this change would perhaps do as much as
anything else to impress voters with sense
of their responsibility, and to bring legislators
face to face with their immediate constituents.
1t will be remembered that the number
members has not increased with the growth
of the State, and that now each Assemblyman
represents population of more than 10000,
whereas in the earlier and purer days
of State legislation each member repre-
sented but a few thousand people,
who exercised great care in their selections,
and held their representatives accountable
for every important vote and act. The lower
branch Of the Massachusetts, Legislature con-
tsins two hundred and forty members, and
similar ratio in Pennsylvania would give this
State more than five hundred members.
Although such bodies may be deemed un-
wieldy they possess some great advantages.
They thoroughly represent the whole people,
and are directly ansWerable to small and
Jealous constituencies. They are compelled to
act on subjects of general interest and import
ance, because they have not time to perfect
sufficient special legislation to satisfy ma
jority of their members. They cannot be so
easily bribed cajoled, or bullied as small
bodies, and they are sure to contain enough
honest men to expose any tlagrant wrong.
THs Indiana Legislature, unlike the Legs
iatures of some other States, is not entirely
subject TO caucus sway. bakers dozen o
independent Republicans still hold out agains
tne election of Lieutenant Governor Cumbacl
10 'ne united States Senate. We are not ac