The daily state chronicle., 1891-03-04
IMMIGRATION,
Election of Commissioner by the Gem
eral Assembly.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE

Liection OF commissioner by the Gem
eral Assembly.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.1
The Constitution and the spirit of our
institutions are both against the mixture
and amalgamation of the powers of the
separate departments of government.
The essence Of free government, ancient
or modern, is that the same body of men
should not make laws and then appoint
men to execute them. Contrary to the
genius Of Jefferson there is a rapid drift
both N the State and nation toward
monopoly in legislative branches of gov
eminent. Congress now practically die
tates to the President the appointment
of nine-tenths of the U. S. officers, and
they are the meanest the world ever
saw-ht offsprings of such prostitution
The law making power is nearly al
ways unfit to make proper selections
both, because it is charged and often
| crowded with other duties Of the govern
ment and Because it acts then
under the taint of the suspicion
that it is creating offices for some favo
| rite, Or abolishing offices to show spite
against somebody. When offices are to
be created or laws to be made, persons
must be left out of view. Jefferson
| CodN tuae mcu COulO uOG dCI Justly or
wisely, or in the public interests if
they had persons or the interests of per
sons in view at the time of their action.
How can body of men, human nature
being as it is, escape the taint of perso-
nal interest in the discharge of great
public duty, when even before a bill has
become law and while they are trying
to consider what is best to be done they
are approached 10 the interest
of persons. The air was so thick two
years ago with nominations and presen-
tations of personal claims that the Legls-
lature got lost in the iargon of personal
interest and forgot to pass the Railroad
Commission, though they met together
with that avowed purpose. They could
not have passed it this time if they had
not patriotically excluded themselves
from the personal benefits of its
, provisions. In the light of the
wisdom of Jefferson and the commands
of one Constitution and the plain
4, intimation in the other, let the Leg
: islature free itself in the discharge of
9 Its duty from any entangling alliances
9 with persons, and from the taint of sus-
!, picion that it or any member of it have
|; any animus against the Board of Agri-
II culture or other citizens. Let 1t refuse
IS to put itself voluntarily in double fidu-
ciary capacity where its duty and its in
n terest, or it's duty and its feelings, NAV
10 conflict, and it will be above suspicion.
Russia may be the best governed country
on earth, but the Car makes aud then
ID executes his own laws, and the foul breath
ar of suspicion is on his every act. The peo-
le pie hate him and his government. He does
~ not trust them and they do not trust
ID him. The AIkansaw traveller sold whis-
to key to his wife and his wife sold whis-
key to him to keep the money and the
te whiskey in the family ly-and they kept it
a there, but it never got above family
)n business. In my judgment, nearly all
Us the political ills we have come from du
ne pleX administrations of trusts or trusts
Ill and duties Or trusts and interests Wise
men will not voluntarily put themselves
where public and personal interest con
IL filct, no matter who or how worthy tn,
le- person may be. AS soon as the matte
is is properly brought to the attention o
in the General Assembly or to public atteu
lion the election of all officers and trus
tees now elected by the General Assem-
no bly, will be taken out of it and put wher
,at it belongs under the Constitution O
"a where it will not conflict with other du
ties.
Now in the light of all this there is
vas proposition to add yet other burdens
., our legislative pack horse, and at th
late day Of the session to charge it vii
the duty of selecting Commissioner
immigration. The General Assemb
eo- has given little or no attention to tt
10 subject-many members do nc
ty; know personally the leaders of this NOV
ina ment of modern thought in our Stat
oW The sentiment in favor of immi CRATIC
the has not yet chrystalized around any pc
Q q son as the best man for the place. The
'Cer is a proposition to cut down the salal
OK when we right now need the stronge
on; man that can be had. There is no nee
we of any rush or haste unless it be in IL
on interests of persons The Board of Ag!
OF culture is now charged by law with Il
duty and have full time to consider
with the advice and assistance this ye;
nty of the great interests involved, it wi
ner do far better than any legislative con
mittee could hope to do. 1t is a ne
in subject to most of the members of Il
was committee. 1t is too late to reorgani
ich- the Department of Agriculture now, al
lge any attempt to make reorganization
lentl the Sub Department of immigration ma
ONE be regarded by the people as feeb
,nly and Intellectual effort at reform by %,
.gis.. who did not have the time, or VIII
nty. for some hidden reason, did n
ent. care to enter upon real reforr
;ond If there is any spirit of hostility
the Board Of Agriculture, it ong
Col. not to find vent itself in I'll
way. They are public officers, aud
,ria- they have mismanaged, they ought to
lical attacked openly, as | did two or thr
.ken years ago, when | disagreed with the
man about the curriculum Of the a. IL
!, ap- college That time they showed ratt
,pos- a rare virtue for these times; they
nit formed and modified their first positi
ting under fire. If the legislature will ST
ston, ply pass what appropriation they thi
! the proper and leave the consideration
State persons out, and leave the developme
375,. of the department to the sentiment of I
people which now sustains it, no mists
E the will be made. w. j. PEELR
llege -
/ an