, 1875-05-24

1uO 4fNLi1H tNIlk6 L0ht 6t1t0 LeBlHlaLn1G3
have pnssed their period Of usefulness, and
mny ero long DO abolished. This sweeping
sentence upon tho fundamental iden Of free
institutions tho complete severance Of the
executive, judicial, and legislative powers,--
is supported by tho moagro argument Tint
the citizens Of Now York wero very glad to
havo thoir Legislature adjourn sins die, and
approved Gov. 1tLnEs's policy Of having
commissions appointed to tako evidence and
propare plans Oh all the mora important sub.
jocta Of Legislative action, instead Of requiring
such action at once without the taking Of avi-
dsnce or tho preparation Of p1ans. The Ma
ton apparently mikes the b]undor Of conal1-
eriug that tho commission thus t0keH tho
place Of the Legislature, md TINT q govern
ment Of commissions is tho thing we need,-
view which latly cont1adiota ono Of the
best articles that eyer appeared in that
iournal, In which the radical faults Of gov
ernment by boards were pointed out. In
truth, board or commission is one Of the
worst executive machines In tho world,
sinoo It destroys inaisidum responsibility
for official actions, and 30 furnishes q cloak
for all sorts Of rascality. No average board
can DO safely trusted to award . fat contract.
But as m adjunct Of the Legislature, rs m
instrument for collecting facts, preparing re-
ports and drafting laws, tho commission Ia
Of the utmost value. It is superior to q
Legislative committee, because It's term Of
existence Is longer, it is less apt to bo swayed
by partisan" considerations, its members
usually have no other ofllcial duties to dis
trnct thoir attention, and it Ia SOLICITED
from tie community at large instead Of
from small body Of men. The Now York
Legislature did very wise thing in creating
the commissions for which Gov. T1LDEN
asked, because their work will serve % it's
guide in future legislation, but 1t would hayo
done very foolish thing II II had clothed
these commissions with independent 1egiala-
two or executive power. We fail to noe in
tie popular approval Of It's action any sign
that the people of New York think there is
nothing left for It to do.
Tho future Of tho American Legislature
seems to ba by no means an insignih.
can't one. Let Us tako the 6inglo State
Of Illinois, and see what our Legislature will
BE- chilled upon to do within tho next few
yeara+ Our whole tax-system must bo 4adi.
| emily changed, and the cost Of collection re-
duced from more than 20 to loss than 2 pe1
cont. A sound savings-bank Law must be
framed and passed. a new land-registry sys.
! TEN, in place Of cur cumbrous and costly
| method, should bo adopted. Tho powers,
duties, and responsibilities OF the diHoren,
executive boards which manage or mis-.
manage our stats institutions should be
concentrated In individuals. Education
should ho made universal. Here are av<
great measures, each one Of them fraugh'
with moral, social, and political results o1
grave importance. They must be acted upor
by our Legislature. The minor matters or
which legislative action Is needed arc fsx TOT
numerous 10 DO namea. But II thoso ay,
wors oil, the body charged with their enact
nent certainly should not be Aippnntly pooh
pooled out Of oxistonce, rs the Natnn woult
hive it.