The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-01-07
THE LEGISLATIVE Assembly.

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
The Legislative Assembly of Utah
will convene on Monday. A number
of the members-elect are already on
the ground. Convenient and well ap-
pointed quarters have been provided
for their accommodation as a delibera-
tive body. and they will be better off
in that respect than any previous leg
islature in this territory.
1t is to be hoped that the Assembly
will. as far as possible, put aside par
tisan feelings and motives and place
before all things the public welfare
Every measure that is adopted should
have that prime PURPOSE and that
chief object in view. Mere party ad-
vantage should have no bearing upon
the legislation to be adopted Party
principles can scarcely be excluded.
The honest convictions OF men ought
not to be stihed. But they need not
be so exemplified in legislation, or so
prominent in debate, as to make them
extensively partisan or provocative of
the bitterness and strife of a political
campaign.
The national questions that disturb
Congress and agitate politicians do
not necessarily enter into the work of
the territorial legislature. The affairs
Of Utah; the necessities of her people;
the demands of the period; the amend
ment Of old statutes to meet present
requirements; the enactment of laws
which affct the people who elected the
members of the Council and the House;
they are the subjects that should en-
gage their attention, and party poll
tics relating to national affairs may
well be set aside to give way for local
issues.
The welfare of the public should be
studied in preference to the demands
Of any faction, corporation, locality or
individual. Public not private interests
are to be promoted Legislation is
for the people and for the territory.
not for section or fraction of the
population. And while in the distri-
button of benefits to be bestowed from
the public funds the claims of differ
ent districts must be considered. vet
it must not be forgotten that the
principle Of equal rights should govern,
and that it is the money OF the whole
people that flows into the treasury
from taxation. Public funds are for
public uses.
II is desirable that as soon as the
committees are organized and the
necessary preliminaries are ar
ranged. the legislature will get
down TO serious work. Too
much time is usually frittered
away in contention over minor matters
and the airing of personal oratory.
Important bills are frequently delayed
50 that they are not passed until very
late in the session, and then go to
the Governor in such numbers and
at such time as to preclude that
careful examination which he should
give to them. This may be avoided
" taking time by the foreIock and
getting down to steady business at
once. Send bills to the Governor as
soon as they can be passed.
We have seen instances of members
trying to defeat a good measure. be-
cause Of its introduction or chamnion-
ship by some person or persons in
strnmental in dereating another meas
ure. Also OF one House voting down
a bill from the other House in re-
taliatior for the rejection of a bill,
originating in the first. All that is
very humiliating to people who take
pride in our territorial institutions and
proceeds from the lowest impulses of
weak humanity.
The gentlemen elected are supposed
to be the true representatives Of 2
majority Of the people. We hope they
will act in that position, and that the
views and desires of their constituents
viii stand far above their own private
opinions and ambitions. We look for
some good measures to pass in this
session Of the legislature. But we
suggest that in view OF the probable
change to the full liberties of state
hood, caution be exercised as to any
enactments but those that are imrne-
dtately necessary.
We also advise that the burden of
taxation be not greatly increased. The
people are not able to endure it. There
win be much dissatisfaction if appro-
priations are made which will either