The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-24
JAMES DUNN.

cat wants TO XIII all the mice there is
in barn, and for the same reason, it
would destroy their occupation.
Tooele.
JAMES DUNN.
We do not agree with our CORES
pondent in his structures on the legis-
lature. 1t is doubtless true that there
is more tinkering with the laws at
every session than is advisable But
much of it comes from the same source
as the complaints that are made about
it. That is, from the people who seem
to expect laws. to be enacted to suit
their several opinions as to what is
needful. and yet have them all har-
monte and remain as permanent as
cast iron implement or piece of
skilful cabinet work
Laws have to be changed TO suit the
shifting conditions OF society. They
have to be amended as their imper-
fections are developed by their bear
ings upon the people. They cannot be
constructed for all time nor to suit all
people. If carpenter or builder
may be sued for damages when his
work is not according to agreement,
there must have been fixed speciica-
tons and contract as to terms.
No such thing enters into the work
Of a legislator. He is chosen to repre-
sent the people and to act for them
according to his best judgment. If
that is imperfect it reflects on the
Judgment of the people who selected
him. He cannot be bound or be liable
to damages unless he violates an
agreement, nor be required to warrant
the proper working of the law as a
mechanic might machine. He does
what the people want him to do as
far as ne understands it.
AS to the estray law, that is case
in point The legislators of Utah have
tinkered and patched and repealed and
amended the statutes on that subject,
until it is perpetual source of annoy
ance to them. But they have done this
at the instance of the farmers and the
sto Aihen, who have conflicting inter-
ests and who have pestered the mem
bers of the Assembly on the subject
at every session.
Our correspondent thinks he has
found solution of this estray diff
Guilty. Why. the opposite opinions of
the two classes he speaks of have oc-
casioned all the trouble 1t is all very
well for him to say the estray laws are
framed by lawyers who do not know
a COW from an OK" That may look
funny in print But it is frivolous and
absurd in fact What about the gen
tlemen from the COW. counties who help
to make the laws? Why do not the
voters send the kind Of men they want
to the legislature? And why do they
not let those gentlemen know exactly
what they require as to local legisla-
ton?
There is nothing on earth to hinder
men who imagine they can fix up
measures for the public benefit getting
together and framing what their wis
dom can mature. Scores of bills have
been introduced this session "by re-
quest" Members who see through the
crude and impracticable bills prepared
in that way do not refuse to introduce
them, because they do not wish to ap-
pear uncourteoGs or unwilling to con-
slider the propositions Of citizens. But
in many instances that helps to bring
about the very tinkering and changing
and undoing that our friend is kicking
against.
If the stoclxmen and the farmers and
sheepmen could only agree among
themselves as to their respective rights
and wishes, and let the Legislature
know what would satisfy them, we are
sure that a bill would be put through
in quick order to settle the interminable
question. But we would not want to