Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-04-20
FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL 20. 1894.
4COUATNTING THE PEOPLE WITH
EGT ATOM

LEGISLATION.
The Clifton Forge Rerier suggests that
the laws passed by each legislature should
be published in full, for the information Of
the people, in the newspapers in one
paper in each county. 1t thinks $4,000
would cover the expense which in detail it
puts at 500 for each newspaper. That the
people should be fully Informed about the
laws under which they live, is highly i'm
portant, but we hardly think our cotempo-
rary's plan for informing them is practical
bic. The sum of $4,000 biennially would
not begin to meet the expense, for no paper
having circulation that would reach a
large number of people would think OF pub
fishing the laws for 800 year. Their pub
lication-even the general laws, emitting
those of exclusively local interest-would
be a big job for any newspaper, and anything
like proper remuneration for their publ
cation would bring the bill Of each paper
nearer ST. 900 than $780, The burden on
the State Treasury would be entirely too
heavy. A plan somewhat to this effect was
proposed during the Malone regime iii
Virginia, but the calculations of the ex
pense when made by men who knew, stag
gered the proposers and the matter was
dropped.
Another very decided objection to it.
would be the political leverage it would
give the party in power. A newspaper to
preserve needed independence and the
power Of frank criticism, should owe the pc
litical administration of a State no favors.
The press of the State to-day is dependent
for it's existence absolutely On the people:
it receives 10 stipend from any State au
thority. We would have itso always.
But in its purpose-the informing OF
the people, our esteemed contemporary, the
Review, is clearly in the right, and its ar
guments in favor of some better mode OF
Informing them Of the laws are unanswer
able. We would suggest this as a practi
cable mode:-Let a law lie passed requir
ing
l. That each bill that is introduced in
either house of the legislature have it's Oh
ject set forth in it's title so that every man
may understand it. That is to say, when
member introduces all act to amend the
present code he shall not simply say ''to
amend sec 40 of chap. 81 of the code'' &C.,
but shall say in plain English rhat the bill
is for.
3 That every bill introduced in either
house shall, as sOo9a as printed, be mailed
to each newspaper in the State.
g. That bill amended at any stage in
either house shall, as soon as printed as
amended, he mailed to each newspaper.
4. That each bill signed by the Cover
nor shall, as soon as printed, be mailed to
each newspaper.
5. That at the adjournment of the legis
lature copy of the Acts Of Assembly be
mailed to each newspaper.
This plan would cost the State only the
expense of striking off about seventy OF
eighty extra copies of bills, and paying the
postage Every editor would he glad toI
keep his readers accurately Informed of all
laws of interest to them, local and general.
and Of their progress, from their introduce
ton to their passage-it would he the most
readable local or general news he could give
them and could be condensed into a brief
space. Not only would such a plan KEEP
the people informed, but it would call 9
halt on many Of the jobs introduced in the
legislature-no bad legislation can stand
the light. 1t would also secure accurac
of information. We have seen seY eral bills |
published in the newspapers since the leg
islature adjourned, as having become laws.
which contained many inaccuracies this
paper republishes one this morning in or
der to correct inaccuracies. This could
all be avoided if the law required that q
printed copy of every bill signed by tie
Governor, be seht to the news papers.
We trust that at the next meeting of tile
legislature some member will introduce 3
bill to carry out these suggestions. 1t is
the best way we can think Of to give the
people of the State early and accurate i'll
formation of the laws which are to govern
them, from their introduction to their pas
sage.