Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-26
Remedies for Crude Legislation.

July, Simon Sterne discusses, with
much freedom and vigor, the '.crude
methods of legislation obtaining at
the present time in this country. Mr..
Sterne starts out with the proposition
that ''the annual coming together of the
law-making power is regarded with APP
prehension, and its adjournment is fol-
lowed by a feeling of relief, on the part
OF those members of the community
who do not actively engage in politics
and who pay the taxes. After citing
the amount of unripe and unwise legis-
lation that is poured upon the country
every year, Mr.. Sterne proceeds to his
remedies.
For general legislation, he would pro-
vide san organization similar to cab
met in every state, whose duty it
should be TO prepare public bills 10 adj
vance of the session, so that their pro-
visions might be known and considered
in advance. In regard to private and
local legislation, the general tone of the
authors argument is in favor of the
mode of procedure practiced in the
English parliament, where every pri-
vate interest that seeks protection is re-
garded las sutton for the bill, while
those who apprehend injury therefrom
are admitted as adverse parties in that
suit" All private bills, according to
the standing order of parliament,
must be deposited in the box for pri-
vatc bills, in the house of commons. six
weeks before the assembling of Parlia-
ment. In the cases invoking the power
of eminent domain notice of the proposed
bill must be published in the official ga
zettes, and personal notice, in addition,
be served upon all persons whose land
is taken, should the bill become law.
But this is only the beginning. From
this time onward. the burden of proof
rests on the shoulders of the proposers
of the bill, who have to show, by coun-
sci or otherwise, that bill is not obiec-
tionable, while the opponents are rep
resented in like manner, aud the pro-
ceedings follow the formalities of a
court of justice. All the expenses of
the measure are borne by the promot-
ors; and, should they fail, they may
also be mulcted in q heavy bill of costs.
Private bills legislation. says the
author, sis not only not a burden under
this system, but is source of revenue
In speaking of the efforts made in this
country to reform the present methods of
legislation and check the enormous flood
poured out, Mr.. Sterne classes these eff
forts under two heads: requiring that
legislation upon local subjects shall be
by general law; and diminishing of
the frequency of legislative meetings;
both being simply palliative. In this
connection, the author pays his respects
to biennial sessions, in the following
manner:
duction of the activity of the legislature
by one-halfis a captivating one to a COM
munity which regards with dread any
meeting of its legislative body Yet Il
little reflection will show how utterly
Ineffective this proposed remedy will
be. The Legislative body can commit as
great a sum-total of mischief when
convened but once in two years as it
now does when convened every wear.
and the mischief is sure TO be greater.
for the reason that when the legislature
meets but once in two years The number
of bills which will be crowded upon it is
sure to bclarger then whenitmectsannu-
ally. Already, under the present inor-
ganized habit of legislation, the indl-
vidual members of the legislature can
not acquaint themselves properly. with
the merits of any proposed law, for
want of time and judicial machinery.
With the inevitable result of being more
occupied when it does meet, the evils
that must result from ignorance alone
will therefore be considerably increased
when the Legislature meets less often
To any che who gives the matter the
least thought the amount of legislation
which emanates from the legislative
mills, is appalling and it is palpable
that something will have to be done
ere long to materially check what is
each year growing more aud more
an intolcrable evil. The biennial
session theory has been on trial in
different states, including our own,
for some years and there is evidence
enough already at hand to show that
this system of protection does not pro
tect. Some of the plans proposed by
Mr. Sterne have the merit of practical
tests, which have proved their effective
ness. Whether these or some modiii-
cation, embracing their essential fea-
lures, might not be adopted. could be
considered to advantage by some of our
leading jurists and law makers, as well
as by the people at large, who are, eac h
and every one. directly interested in the
matter.