Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-03-14
Our Legislature.

We have not sufficient data before us
to determine what good or evil our late
legislature has accomplished during its
late session. We copy to-day, from the
Avalanche list of the acts passed, but |
tie character and provisions Of those
acts We know not. II We we're to judge |
Of the wisdom Of that body by its de |
lays ia getting an organization Of the
house till nearly half Of the time allotted,
in which to do business, had elapsed, we
should judge them very harshly, and
yet perhaps the members found !. an
impracticab,lity to organize sooner. III
it were mere partizan struggle, then
We can offer no apology for the repre-
sentatives Of the people 10 consuming
70 much valuable time in mere parti
Fan struggle for asceadency, to the ne.
elect Of needed legislation for the terri
tory. What tinkering has been done
with the laws ~ they before existed is
not apparent and will not be till the al
tcrations and amendments are pub
lished and hence we cannot pass upon
the question Of their having been i'm.
proved till we can see them. But there
are some measures Of legislation which
in our judgement should have been ia.
vorahly considered. We think in our
condition as territory some sort Of q
militia bill should have been passed.
If that PROF osed was not good and
perfect bill, it shout have been proper
" amended, o. substitute introduced
Of proper character, and an act passed
under which the people Of the terrific
~ could hold the arms furnished them
By the federal government and have
them available in times Of danger, and
yet in responsible hands. This neglect
practically neutralizes the liberality Of
the general government in providing Us
with arms, which had been furnished
to Us upon the faith Of our having q
military organization. But it seems
that the governor and the Legislature
had some misunderstanding and BY rea
zF4
son Of that the passage Of militia bill
failed 10 the house. We have but 4
read tho papers published under tn
ewes Of the legislative halls to discove
that vast amount Of wrangling ha
taken the place Of active and jadiciou
legislation necessary for the country
Who il to blame il is not for us to say
but that blame rests somewhere canno
b do. bted. Such misrepresentation
Of the wishes Of the people is enough /
sicken tho people Of North Idaho an
make them more earnestly desire 70 b
eoMe disintegrated from the majorit
portion Of the territory and unite on
fortunes with Washington and becon
a sssse At the earliest practicable perio'
II seems that however good and vii
tho resolutions Of members elected
representatives, TO 60 10 the capital an
do their duty aud their whole dur.
whom they 20. there they soon 6r
themselves envelopsd IN an atmosphe
ofopinion and purpose that warps u
stiles these good resolutions fr
formed. We are told by one who V
present that both houses were compos'
Of men whose purposes seemed to
honest and patriotic, and that the mel
bers Of the council we're men Of mo
than average ability, and yet from pre-
ent indications neither body will ha
high praises sang 10 them BY their O.
stituents for the work they have do
or that which they have neglected to
which WAS needed.