Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-03
ALLY POSI.INTELueENcER
rug lEcsslArTgg-

rssuects the session vill be among toe
most important ia the history Of the
Territory. 1t sbosId be among the
most beneficial. There IL an immense
amount of work 10 be done, and Il u
prineipaIiy vefk which cannot safely
be left updons. There are many bad
laws On our statute books, aud the more
thorough the overhauliDg given then
the better will the people be satisfied
There are points in the criminal lag OF
The Territory xhish shoold not be neg
Isossa. The crime Of perjury, for in
stance, should be more clearly defined,
and The Isop holes through which per
iursrs have been allowed 10 escape the
pssitsntisry In the past should be
closed. The statutes relating TO EN-
bszzlement, also, are 20 vague and IN
satisfactory that lawyers admit IL TO be
almost impossible TO obtain q eonvic-
ton under them. These should receive
attention.
Bot 1t Is not our criminal law alone
which needs revision. Indeed, that will
fern the lsast portion of the work Of
the ssssion. The election laws need q
thorough overhauling. They should be
made more stringent. The present free
and easy way Of receiving votes renders
sur elections little better than farce.
The honest voter should be made more
secure in bis rights by making illegal
voting more difficult. A general cleo
ton Law should be framed embracing
the best features of the election laws IN
toe Eastern States, bat adapted 10 the
conditions Of life in the Territory. The
attachment Lac must receive attention.
Our business men have been chatting
and groaning under ths operation Of
this Law ever since its passage. IL has
hosts of enemies aud no friends. Ii
should bs radically changed. The
gross earnings tax lay should be re-
pealsd. This Law Ia hideously unjust.
and at the last election the people.
without regard TO party. placed the
seal OF their condemnation upon il.
The men Who we're elected pledged 10
labor for its repeal, should not forget
their promise 10 the people.
There should be legislation on the
subject Of alien ownership Of land. and
the employment Of aliens incapable Of
becoming citizens by corporations
working under Territorial charters.
This. Of course, will include attention
70 the Chinese evil, subject upon
which the people OF the Territory have
Sufficiently expressed their views. In
addition 10 such laws In regard TO this
a. II can properly pass, the Legislature
should memorialixe Congress, setting
forth the views and requirements of the
people Of the Territory on this subject.
This is bat q small portion OF the
work 20 be accomplished. In order
that the Legislature may do all that the
people expect of 10, the session must be
devoted 10 business from the moment
that the two houses are first called TO
order. II Ia fortunate thai among the
members are many whose decision Of
character and capacity for work are
veil known, many who are earnestly de-
voted 10 the best interests OF the Terri
tory. and who possess In large meas
ure the confidence of the people. many
whose minds are broad enough TO csn.
slider questions with care only for the
best interests of all the people, and too
broad 10 be confined In their Judgment
By local rivalries, OF the petty jealossies
Of towns or counties.
There should be no division Of our
people on geographical lines, no setting
OF one section against another. II the
coming session is TO be saeoess, II il is
20 BE- what the people expect, the iegis
lators must approach their work With an
eager desire 10 complete il in the most
expeditions and satisfactory manner
psssible. Local feelings aud iealousies
should be laid aside. The man who Is
guided BY them will be faithless 10 his
trust. There is no reason Why Eastern
Warrington should be arrsyed against
Western Washington. vhy the river
counties should DO arraysd against the
SQUAD counties. or Why the country
shoeld be arrsyed against the cities.
Our intersats are common, aud togeth-
Or vs should labor for their advance
msnt. II the Legislature comes togetk-
or With the mind Of each member
sloesed By narrow local views and local
iealousiea; II, instead OF q faithful
Transaction Of the pablic business, there |
b 70 be clash Of local interests and a |
sectional contest. the session will be An |
utter failure. The demands OF the PEG
pie will be unhesded. and when the |
anal Adjournment takes place each |
me mbef will confess TO himself tia. no |
good has been accomplished. And, it |
may b well 10 remark parentheticaIly,
each member viii leave Olympia, 60 |
home. and walk ssrsieh, into his polisi |
sal grave. there 10 lie until some Ca
eriel appears With 9 trump iood enough |
70 call him forth.
Zach member, Of course. rspresents
his own particular constituency. hui, in |
. broader ssnse. each member repre-
santa all the people OF the Territory.
whatever advances the interests Of the |
whole will advance the interests OF the |
psrsa when the Territory Is prosper
Gus the counties Composing ID viii be |
prosperoos. and vhea the Territory is |
moi prosperous the counties cannot be |
%. There are times. hus they are not |
frequent. when general interests and |
heal interests coehie,-wAen the pas- |
sied legislator recognises the fsss tina,
the measure which viii sabserve che |
BEST interests Of tho peosie as a whole
wiii not s1hserve the best interests Of
his ovn immediate constituency. In
such cass u is best for The local inter