Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-02

EcIsLATl0S.

LEGISLATION.
The Legislature of Washington Ter
ritory mst yesterday At Olympia 1t H.
% think, q fairly representative BODY
of man. and without doubt JEALOUS 70
ssrve the people Of the Territory to the
ret Of iss individual and collective
ability. The majority Of the members
Of the present Legislature are compare
tively new 70 legislation A fev suR-
sestions may therefore at this time Dc
In order. The statute books OF WASH
instou Territory, like those OF every
,,,her State and Territory. are cum
bsred with laws. Their multiplicity u
only equaled by their crudify ana IN
n..v casse usslessnees. II appears TO
Ia the impression Of every neophyts In
Legislative business that bis consti'u-
anita have sent him TO the capital 70
rsahs laws. and that unless be can show
At the end Of the session, by the records,
q eoodly number Of bills intrsdeced
and enacted into laws, be has failed 70
DO his dnty and has not earned his per
diem. No more serious mistake can be
made. The people nowadays elect legis-
laturss in Washington Torritory, a.
elsewhere. mainly because the organic
cot provides that every two years the
Lsoislature shall be elected and asssIn-
bic. There are bat few new laws needed.
some of the old ones need amending;
others, perhaps, should be repealed;
oertsin IL Ia that dozen carefully CON
sidsred and digested acts will cover all
the points upon which legislation at
this time 10 necessary or desirable. In
Law making. a. In all serious pursuits
in life, the principle Of 'makinR haste
slowly" should be applied. The reports
of the several Territorial officers and
the message Of the Governor will be in
hand and should be carefully studied.
They give information, and en-
body suggestions and recommendations
which are the product Of intimate
knowledge Of the subject referred TO
and discussed. In general. in enacting
laws relating 10 the collection and dis
burssment Of public moneys-the care
and maintenance Of slsemosynary and
penal institutions, and the matter OF
public sducatisn-the Recommendation
Of the administrative branch Of the
Government should have exceptional
and ordinarily conclusive weight. The
present Legislature should, in some way
70 b determined by careful and OK
haustiye discussion, provide for press
ing the claims Of Washington Terrific
~ TO b admitted a. State Of the
Union, and, II thought best, after delib-
Grafton send on 10 the National Capital
two or more representative men 70 aid
COR delegate in Congress in procuring
the enactment Of an enabling act. II is
time. We are qualified for admission in
I'll respects, and II statistics Of our pop
ulation. growth, wealth. and resources
are presented in due form, emphasized
By an earnest memorial from the Legis-
lsture, IL 10 fair 10 presume We shall be
Afforded an early opportunity Of don
ning the robes Of statehood. There are
many important matters which may be
probably investigated by committees
Of the present Legislature. The prison.
the insane asylum. the University, all
claim attention. and viii doubtless re-
csivs due consideration We do not expect
that many laws will be enacted. We
hope not; but lot us have the few which
may b passed framed In good shape,
models Of brevity Al well as complete
NESS. We shall discuss from time 70
time all bills Of public interest which
may come before the Legislature for
sction, and once more call the attention
Of ambitious members 10 the fact that
In completeness, and not amount Of leg
ialation. lie the best interests Of the
public.