Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-04-22
Too.Muoh-Legislation Remedy.
tFrom thoiwheelins Rogi

too much The laws are too unstable. The
Statutes of the States become SO volumineus
and complicated as to render the laws OBJ
scure and imperative. Nearly all the States
have adopted biennial sessions of their Leg
islatures, in order to curtail the opportuni-
ties for superfuous legislation. But the cur
tailmeut does not curtail. West Virginia
can testify that with but forty five days of
law making in two years. her Legislature
will puzzle all the lawyers in the State to
keep pace with its enactments. It was stated
in debate the other day 10 behalf of bien-
NAL session of the Legislature, that "tbe
British Parliament, though it unites the
powers and functions of Congress and all of
our separate Legislatures and Constitutional
| Conventions, aud manages half hundred
colonies and fourth part of the population
| of the earth, does not pass annually as many
| laws as the State of New jersey"
| The same fact could, perhaps, be truth
| fully affirmed of any other State. We doubt
whether greater number of bills were in
trodused in the last Congress. than in the
West Virginia Legislature.
Such an unlimited liberty for Introducing
and discussing bills makes legislation expen-
sive and vexatious, besides depriving meri
torious and necessary measures OF time Tor
mature consideration. 1t requires much
time and money to discuss bad bill to death
as it does to give good one the dignity of
law.
There ought to be remedy for this, and
since every body complains of the evil and no
one suggests remedy we feel called upon to
commit the objectionable sin of making a
suggestion-of suggesting indeed, radical
innovation. ...-
We would strike at the root of the evil,
which we conceive to DO the unlimited lib
erty of introducing bills. IF there were not
too many bills there would not be too many
laws and too much time and money consumed
in making what laws We need. The reason
why the New Jersey Legislature, or any
other, passes more laws annually than the
British Parliament, as stated above, is sim
ply because Parliament has no authority to
! originate bills: Take away this. power from.
our Legislatures and you spike the gun that
| does the mischief.
Who would then control tho introduction
of bills, and where would they originate, if
not in tho Legislature
We would provide that at the time ap~
pointed for the election for the Delegates to
the Legislature every two years, there should
be elected three able and experienced men,
one from each Congressional district, who
together should constitute what might be
termed legislative commission, and who
should sit at the capitol of the interim of the
regular sessions of the Legislature, and to
VIII ON tho whole people, including the Dele
gates elect. should have the right and priv>
ilege of submitting measures for legislative
action. The duty Of this commission should :
be to examine and digest all such measures !
submitted by the people. and to frame such
of them as in their. Judgment were worthy of
legislative action. into bills that would har
al low 70
that were unnecessary or frivolous, and the
bills thus matured by the commission should
be submitted to the Legislature at its rcgu-
lar session for action, and should constitute
| the basis of legislative work-or in other
words, the calendar should be already pre-
| pared for them on assembling, and while the
| Legislature should have the power to amend,
alter and otherwise revise or reject the bills
| as prepared, they should be confined exclu-
| svely to the consideration Of the measures
submitted by the commission, without power
to originate or pass bill with any other
title than that framed by the commission,
| Tho functions of the two bodies would of
course have to be accurately defined under
comprehensive rules and regulations, which
would prevent any conflict of authority. We
only suggest the outline of the plan.
Some arrap cement of such character would
havo the following advantages
First, il would prevent the introduction of
plethora of bills of crude and useless
character. and yet
Secondly, it would give the whole people
the same chance of introducing measures
that now belongs exclusively to members.
Third, it would avoid tho expense of
printing, discussing and defeating i'll. con. |
ceived and unnecessary bills. 10
Fourth, it would save an enormous ex
pcpse by shortening the sessions.
Fifth, it would prevent the enactment of
loose and imperfectly drafted statutes.
Sixth, it would prevent a conflict of laws.
Seventh, it would avoid the necessity and |
expense of frequent codifcation of the |
statutes, and greatly diminish their volume
Aud with many other advantages, like |
every other good thing, it would be liable to
abuses. While it would be placing the power
in the hands of three men to say what laws
should not be enacted, yet the more import |
ant fact, oil what measures should become |
laws, would still remain in tho hands of the |
same body as now. And there are probably |
no three men who would DO chosen to such |
a position who would either have the incli- |
nation OF the motive for refusing to report a |
bill upon any matter generally demanded by |
tho people. IF they should defy public
sentiment it could soon be corrected at the
polls. or special power might be LOGGED in |
the Legislature, if two thirds so ordered, TO
direc: the commission to report any bill that
was deemed of special importance. We leave
the suggestion, without further elaboration.
for tho delectation of any whom it may con-
Germ.
SWEEPING DEMOCRATIC Welcomes
The Washington Post of the 9Th instant
says:
tThe municipal elections held in various