The morning call., 1891-06-28
AFTER DINNER
SPEECHES.
The Evils Of Private and Special
Legislation.
Remarks Of EX-PreSident Cleveland at a
Banquet by tha Commercial Club
Of Providence.
Special to THE MORNING CALI

PROVIDENCE OR. L., June 27.-The dinner
of the Commercial Club this evening was
the last of the season, and distinguished
assemblage sat at its board. Private and
special legislation was the theme of the
evening. Ex-Chief Justice Durfee was the
first speaker. He lamented the eorruptness
of the lobby and emphasized the Importance
of citizens and business men taking more
active interest in politics.
Ex-President Cleveland spoke at length
nate neglect Of matters of politics and legis-
tion has actually reached such pass that
business men think and speak of politics as
something quite outside of their interest
and duty, which, if not actually disreDuta-
BILE, may be left to those who have a taste
for it. The ex-President sought to remind
his hearers of the interest which all of us
have as members of our American body
polite in wholesome general laws and hon
est administration. In order that the pa
triotism and intelligence of the country
should prevail in our legislation patriotic
and intelligent men of the country must see
to it that they are properly represented in
our national councils.
PRIVATE LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Cleveland said it seemed to him that
private and special legislation. as it at
present prevails. is an evil chargeahle to
great extent to the listlessness and careless
ness of the people. The people have right
to claim from their representatives their
best care and attention to the great subjects
of legislation in which the entire country is
interested. This IS denied to them in their
representatives who take their seats bur-
dened with private bills in which their
immediate neighbors are exclusively inter-
ested and which they feel they must be dill
gent in advancing if they would secure their
continuance in public life. They are led by
the exigsncies of their situation, as they
view it, not only to the support of private
neglect of important questions involved IN
general legislation. Furthermore, the im-
pOrtance OF the successful championship OF
these private bills seems so vital TO them
that they are easily led to barter their votes
for measures as bad or worse than theirs,
and thus is inaueurated a system called
lOg-r0lling, which comes frightfuily near
actual corruption, and the people at large
lose not only attention to their affairs, but
they are often no better than robbed OF the
money in the public treasury.
GOVERNMENT AID.
Another and more pernicious aspect of
special and private legislation is the habit
it engenders among cur people of looking
toward the Government for aid in the ac-
eomplshment of special and individual
schemes aud the expectation which it ere
ates that legislation may be invoked for the
securing OF Individual advantages and un-
earned benefits No thoughtful American
should shut his eyes to the truth that when
our people regard the Government as
source of individual benefit and faY0ritism
our popular Government is in dangerous
hands and its entire perversiOn is alarminglY
imminent These perilS are not alone charge
able TO confessedly private and special
legislation. Measures of a general character,
apparently proposed for the public good,
frequently originate in selfish calculation,
and neither the cry OF protection to Ameri-
can interests nor the pretended solieitude
for public good ought to succeed in conceal
ing schemes TO favor the few at the expense
OF the many; nor should the Importance to
the country of legislative action upon any
subject divert us from inquiring concerning
selfish motives and purposes which may be
hidden behind the proposal of such legisls-
ton. 1t is quite time that our business men
and all American citizens who love their
country bestir themselves for a battle
against the evil tendencies OF private and
special legislation, whatever guise it may
assume.