The record-union., 1891-02-06
THE DIVISION OF COUNTIES.

LIE LII Ne wv
The State is biennially put to heavy ex-
pense, precious time is consumed, any
amount of bad blood engendered by the
contentious of county factions in the halls
of legislation over attempted county di-
visions. The matter has assumed, in
deed, portentious proportions, and at
each session of the Legislature so weaves
itself into nearly all legislation that it
becomes menace to State business and
hindrance to the discharge of legislative
duties.
This is much the situation at present.
There are several county division projects
before the Legislature obtruding to. the
exclusion of other and more needed legis-
lation, and even touching upon the very
quick of scandal, We have nothing to do
with any of these several schemes; feel
no interest in them, and are not con-
cerned about their outcome or that of any
one of them. AS to their justice or inn
policy; as to their character, the disputed
facts, the arguments on one side or the
other, we have taken, and have no con-
Germ whatever. But in common with all
who desire expedition in general legisla-
ton, carefulness in lawuaking, and it's
freedom from all unnatural ENHANCEMENT,
we deprecate these biennial contentious
before the Legislature and the activity of
rival professional lobbyists who bleed
both sides.
The local strife referred to is the fount-
ain head of great evil and the source and
spring of infinite contention. 1t is the
cause of harm and the tap-root of i'll to
the State and general public interests, and
should, therefore, be removed from re-
lation to or contact with the legislative
body, and strictly confined within the
local bounds of its origin.
The fundamental proposition embodied
in a bill already introduced, but the de-
tails of which we do not now consider, to
relegate all county division questions to
the people of the districts the dismem-
berment of which is sought, is
sound. These are questions upon
which the people should express their
will, not through petitions and the APP
peals of committees and large delegations
of citizens or the devices of lobbyists, but
through the medium OF the ballot. They
are purely local questions; they do rot
concern the State, since they do not affect
representation in Congress or the Legis-
lature, nor do they involve any issue re-
lated to State revenue.
1t seems to us, therefore, that the part
of wisdom is to refer all questions of
county division to the people of the area
to be affected, and by general law pro-
vide how the will of the people shall be
ascertained,. and what shall be the
methods of procedure TO effect division
If it is affirmed at the ballot-box.
The policy of good government is to
bring the government as nearly as may
be done with safety close to the people; to
provide in all cases whereit can be wisely
done for local self-government upon
general and fundamental lines laid down
by the State. Certainly this intention is
reflected in the Constitution, and it enters
into and is inspiration of the genius of
free government. The REeoRb- UNION
has been since its foundation champion
OF the doctrine of local self-goyernment:
itihas uniformly advocated all measures
that viii place responsibility upon the
people, and that will involve the fewest
possible removes from them of authority
or the agencies of authority, and in this
matter of county divisions, it finds a
striking instance of the wisdom of legis-
latiye application of the doctrine.
Repeating that we are unconcerned as
to any specific case, we submit that the
issues referred to should not be imported
into the halls of legislation, but should
by general law be passed upon by the
the people most Immediately affected,
and by them only.