The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-04-05
What Canada Could Teach Us,


Prom the Philsdelphis Pres
When the day comes for amalgamat-
ing the United States and Canada the
former ought TO be ready 10 adopt a few
of the features in the government OF the
latter country. The American people
viii De reluctant to admit that their nor
thern neighbor upon whom they have
been accustomed TO look with a gOOd-na-
tured tolerance has been able 20 work
anything eommendable in governmental
science. It is nevertheless a fact that
the methods Of legislation in Canada are
as much superior to those in the United
States as is possible at the present time.
probably, 10 make them. They are dis
tinguished Just as much by care, deliber-
alton and watchfulness over the public
interests as the legislative methods in
the United States are marked by haste,
csrelessness and disregard Of the general
welfare.
One Of the distinguished features in
the.methods Of the two countries, as de-
scribed by Mr. J. 6. Bourinot in the An
mails Of the American Academy, IS in the
initiation of legislation by the Canadian
ministers. or, as We would call them,
membe-s'of the cabiuet, and the absence Z
or indirect nature Of this influence in the
United States. Before the Canadian par
liament meets the ministers have the
bills prepared which they desire TO have
embodied in laws. These bills have been
drawn up with the utmost care and have
been submitted 70 the whole council OF
ministers for suggestion and revision.
Their progress through the two houses
is watched closely and all amendments
are subjected to the closest scrutiny. The
utmost publicity end deliberateness are
encouraged, and at all stages the bills are
printed and reprinted and scattered
broadcast 50 that everyone can become
acquainted with their contents In this
way legislation by artifiee Is prevented
and public sentiment has ample opPOr-
tunity to make itself felt favorably or sd
yerseiy.
But the duty and influence Ofthe min
is,ers do not end with the legislation
they initiate. Their supervision extends
to al bills introduced BY members ofpar-
Lament, and especially 10 those Of pri-
yate nature. 1t Is interesting to trace
the course Of procedure in respect 10 the
latter. Two months before bill Is in
trodueed for charter for a private or
local object notice Of An intention 10 in
troduce il must be printed in the Gov
ern nent Gazette and in the newspapers
Of the locality Interested. If the commit
tee for investigating this bill reports that
ali formalities have been complied with,
the bill goes, after weeks notice, 70 e
select committee, before whom all per-
sons interested in opposing or supporting
it can appear. With the ministers, who
have seats on these private bill commit
tees, carefully noting how the measures
effect the public interests and able to
make their opposition at any stage Of
their progress felt, it is not strange that
few obnoxious bills become laws
Any one at all acquainted with the
methods by which private bills many Of
them opposed to the public interest, get
through congress and the state legisla-
tures car see how beneficial change 70
the Canadian methods would be- Not
only would the laws passed be Of q bet
ter class, but there would be little oppOr-
tunity for the siipshod ways noE 50 COM
mon. These we're probably never better
illustrated than in the recent session Of
congress TIE immense mass Of bills
thrown into the legislative hopper and
the lack Of order and system we're strik-
ingly manifest when tee closing work Of
the session came to be reviewed. The
DELAY Of the appropriation bills made II
necessary to rush them through at the
last moment when il gas impossible 20
watch particular items or fJT the elr0ll-
ID GirEA- 70 prAAOlLA -tlcAt N1AtCs pup
erly. Errors are now found in every
page OF these laws, some Of which will
nullify necessary appropriations The
criticisms passed on the result Of these
methods by Senator German few days
ago were severe but appropriate.
Vicious and poorly dieesied laws are
the crying sin Of American legislation.
Besides the harm they 10 directly 10 the
public the courts are compelled TO give
up much time e. passing on their ,on-
stiiuiionality. The opportunity these
methods offer for corrupt legis-
laiion is also the chief cause for the ex-
istence Of the lobby. With greater de-
more publicity, and the diIec,
scrutiny and responsibility Of the higher
officers Of the government, in the prePa-
ration and passage Of laws most Of these
evils could BE- cured. u might be well
10 invite Canada - Join the uniOn a.
to teach Is this lesson