The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1873-05-09
spcc1al Liquidation

epCcoou U4cHeNuuuiO0
LEGISLATION for special objects or
for class interest has invariably in all
countries produced political rro'igary,
IN all its varieties uf private dishonesty
aud of official corruption. Such lcgis
lation does not contemplate tho good u
tho whole. bnt the advantage x the
few, anil ~ far as the favored few are
successful tie many must suffer. Hence
oppression on one sidc, aud discontcn,
on tho other.
As long ~ wc can remember, there
has existed in this country public cla-
NOR against monepolies, in which noisy
protest and sentimental patriotism
gave vent to vast amount Of inlcii,
mite moral indignation. But the hated
monopolies multiplied Notwithstanding,
Every ycar swellel their lists, \ con'-
mon instinct bound together these Al
ready created. and their success III their
several fields Il operation hcget q rage
among capitalists IT, form special com-
binatipns whereby they might compel
untold riches to run into their cail,r
How all this WI. being dauc came
very near Mt least to hciag an p,en
secret. l'liant political tools, ncedi
knayeR. men ofcass virtue or Of no yir-
tue Mt MI, retrospective If party stlii'a-
tions. were selcc.cd BY their masters
NJ iii candidates fur Office. Money was
freely spent on tho primaries; voters
were hired 10 ems, their ballots 10 that
IN tho cnd, the desired nomination
should bc made sure. Then followed
a lavish outlay Of funds, by the parties
in interest, te carry the election for the
selected tool. Installed IN his llaee,
say at Albany. Trenton. or Harrisburg,
this honorable gentleman bcgi,ls to
plan. Ilc ia tho legislative agent II a
monopoly already IN existence, or Of
sundry persons wishing a chance % get
into tho business q professional corpor-
atc plnndcring. Ilc soon finds out
how many other honorable gentlemen
are placed like himself. They too have
each single scheme TO put through
How shall they succeed individually,
unless they join forces collectively? Ae
cortlingly, bargain isstrnck all around
aud thus while the single agent Of n
private bin won't into tho Legislature
to secure its passage, he discovers that
his success il conditional upon the
success of hundred or five hundred
othor private bills. In making up and
arranging al this mass of business, the
time Of tho Legislature il waa.cd. and
laws of general utility remain on the
general order list untouched, and, oi
course, unconsidcrcd.
Lattery the old system Of buying
tho voters has been openly and ostcnta.
tiously dropped by the stronger monop,
olics. inasmnch m il has been found
cheaper to purchase Senators and a..
semhlymcn after they had reached TIC
legislative markrt-i.lacc. Rnt at lasi
this easy and cficc.ual method of ob,
tanning special Legislation II coming 4
bc irksomc An cra of investigation
has dawned. A rcviying conscienc,
aud clear perception Of public danger
have hcgotten an eager curiosity 4
discover mon md measures associated
with Legislative frauds. Enough. ant
more than enough ef the workings o
legislative bodies has become known |,
excite determination among tho hcs
members " MI parties ~ put stop 4
these kinds u special legislation whicl
have bccn at tho bottpm 81 tho corrnp,
tions that have ~ lung tainted tho bod,
polite.
| During his period ofoIicc, Govcrno
Hoffman repeatedly urged upon sacccss
ivc legislatures tho duty of giviu,
their attention to tho general interest,
of tho State. and tho impolicy Of ,
course which had proved itself injurious
70 itr solid prosperity. Ills protest.
against special hills were honorable |,
himself. but had small weight In check
Ing tho owl. Governor Dix cntcrc,
upon bin term of ofice. and madc pro
clamation of his opposition % tia