The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-02-09
yicarious Legislation.

Democratic newspapers have been saying
for a good while, and now there will
be immigration. Such rush US there is
going to be has never had parallel ex.
cept when the $4,000 best citizens" left
the State some four years ago as a result
Of tho amendment of 1866. The editor,
patriot, committeeman and statesman who
now presides over the Senate OF "thls
young and tlourishing commonwealth"
has opened tho iloodgates; and nOwit be-
hooves US all to get quickly on the high
benches. He has introduced u bill, The
title of tho bill says 1t Is TO "encsuragc"
immigration, The encouragement con-
sists IN this; that the Board Of Public
Works is required ITO settle upon and
carry into operation q practical plan Tor
tho introduction of sober and indus
trious immigrants, &C., &c" This
Is u clever stroke Of statesmanship.
The devising of "practical plan "
is just where the pinch comes on. That
Is just where tho brains and the labor arc
required. 1t is the business Of legislation
and the duty Of statesmen, like the Presi-
dent of tho Senate, to prepare the plan in
all It's details, and then provide the officers
to execute them. To attempt to impose
their duties on the State officers who have
not tho time, perhaps not the inclination,
possibly not the brains, requisite for such
n work, is simply trifing with legislative
duties.
To devisca practical plan OF encouraging
immigration is us difficult q task as it is
important; and whenever the Legislature
gives us one we shall be among the first
to give them credit Tor il; but they can't
deceive an intelligent people and make
any cheap glory by such enactment by
proxy, saying somebody else shall do
what II is their business to do-cspecially
when the proxy appointed has not the
time nor the capacity to do It.
Our Senator takes care, however, to
provide that this board shall. appoint a
Commissioner o: Immigration" "and all
necessary clerks and agents." fix their
duties and salaries, and provide for oil
other expenses. We may be assured that
no legislation will bc either overlooked or
shirkCd that promises offices or pay.
OF one thing there cannot be mo.
mcnts doubt, viz that the Board OF Pub.
lie Works would be utterly worthless rs a
board Of immigration; and another is
equally certain, that no board will accom-
pliSh anything il allowed TO make the law
Tor Its own government. A searching,
rigid, elective law is needed first then
live and capable men to execute 1t, who
will be paid to make it their business, and
will earntllcir money. Unless our Sena-
tor is capable Of preparing such law, or
can get some one To do 1t for him, he had
better leave that department Of legislation
10 other hands.
Ills scheme To saddle tlismatter on tue
Board of Public Works, requiring
that Board to devise u law and then exc.
cute it, is about thc.lamcSt thing yet pro-
posed Tho Board OF Public Works, us
everybody knows, is only q sort Of legal
ilgurehead in this State. Tho officers Of
whom ii Is composed have enough duties
ofthcir own to perform, and ncithcrc can
nor will attend efficiently TO other bust.
ness that requires much time or labor
This scheme would simply provide sal
aries and places for commissioners, clerks
and agents, and result in nothing. twill
take something alittlc less shallow than
his scheme 10 mako bunCombc with peo-
pie Of average intelligence.