The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-03-13


H c. BROWNLEE. Manager.
=s-.-..s--s--.s.
THE REPUBLICAN LEGIsLATuRE.
The Legislature, which has just dis
solved, has been the most extraordi-
nary Assembly that ever convened in
this territory Not because Of any re
markable legislation, or any brilliant
measures. or any startling exhibition
Of wisdom or of oratory But it is the
first Legislature in Utah controlled by.
Republicans: the first to enact meas
ures designed to cripple public institu-
tions and injure if not destroy, the
school system for the purpose of pro-
noting private and comparatively IN
Important interests; the first to make
appropriations Tor specific purposes
without providing revenue to meet
them; the first to strike direct blow
at the sheep interest: the first to send
bills TO the Governor signed in due
form but which had only passed one
House; and the first to insult
the Executive by dissolving with
out notifying him of the intention to
adjourn, or receiving formal notice
that he had no further communication
to make
The legislature viii be notorious for
those reasons. Also for the intensely
partisan character it assumed on the
part of the majority. and the despouc
rule of the caucus by which Republi-
can members were whipped into line
and compelled to vote according to the
policy Of the self-appointed leaders, in
different to the personal opinion of in
dividual members or the wishes of
their constituents.
The people of Salt Lake city have
had an opportunity Of seeing what a
blunder they made when they sent a
Republican to the Assembly from this
district, when the vacancy which oc-
CURED might have been filed by
Democrat. Their interests have suffer
ed materially, and instead of states
manship. they secured vanity, pompos-
ity, assumption and dismal failure.
The people of Utah in being beguiled
from the Democratic path into The by
way of Republicanism, have received
an object lesson as to their folly by
the exhibition afforded in the first Re
publican Legislature. What measure
of Importance has been enacted during
the sixty-three days of wrangling, plot
ting, contemplating and playing for
party ends? If there is single law
emanating from Republican sources
that exhibits the qualities of wisdom,
judgment and devotion TO the public
welfare, which is it and what is 1t
about?
The masures projected FOR union
of the University and Agricultural col
lege. or for adequate support to those
institutions if kept apart; for the dis
position of the Reform School anG the
deis:A mute and blind asylum; for the
capitol wing; for sufficient revenue for
the territory, and other bills that
might be considered important pro
voked incessant discussion but failed
Of enactment.
Perhaps the most important of the
bills that passed, with the exception
Of the appropriation bill, was the fire
and police bill, introduced by a Demo-
crat. The estAay law is inadequate
for the protection OF the farmer. The
sheep inspection bill gives the worst
black eye to the sheep industry it has
ever had. The cattle and meat bill is
of doubtful validity: and most Of the
other bills passed are Of small import
ance and indicate no great ability in
their preparation
The Democratic minority fought val
santly against great odds for Che pub
lie interest. IT IS conceded that the
ability of the Assembly was principally
on their side in either House. Those
who have watched the debates have
seen that in talent and fair argument
they had the weight Of power and only
lacked in numbers.
The escapade of the flying Repnbn-
cans who ran away hatless ard hid
themselves when unable to meet fairly
sheir Democratic opponents in the
Council, is fresh in the memory Of the
public, and though arbitrarily and i'm
that body, viii remain in print ana be
remembered by the decent people 81
Utah as disgraceful incident without
a parallel in the history Of American
legisAStion.
It was probably good thing for The
tsratory that this Republican legisla-