New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-20
FOR LEGISLATIVE REFORM.

The commission appointed to recommend
changes in methods Of legislation have per-
formed their task with obvious care anu nave
made report which merits equally carerul con-
sideration TO those politicians OF both parties
whose chief desire is TO keep the business OF
lawmaling under their personal control, III or
der that they may, at every moment OF Il ses-
sion. he prepared TO hinder or to expedite inc
progress of bill according to their estimate
of party or private interest, the recommends
lions of the commission will be distastefu
Indeed. we have already begun to hear as
parasing remarks concerning them. ana no
doubt the opposition will readily find spokesman
in the Legislature That they will be able TO
preycnt an intelligent discussion Of the subject
we do not however, believe. and II nothing more
than that is accomplished the labors OF the COM
mission will not have been valueless.
Internationally something more than that
ought to result from so clear an exposition OF
the evils and the dscredit which existing me'h'
DDS Of legislation produce. 1t Is n rather meiah-
choly reelection that under free institutions SO
great need of reform should have become APP
norent and that the public welfare should i'm
pcratively demand the adoption OF so many spe-
cifc precautions against both the incompetence
-"
theory are especially qualified to serve the State
If our lawmakers were uniformly fitted by char
acter and capacity for their work. THESE pro-
posed restrictions upon their liberty OF actlon
would be unnecessary. If this Is merely eq'liVa-
lent to saving that the millennium has not ar
rived there is at least full warrant for the state
ment that the proportion OF foolish ana iniqui-
tous legislation is inconsistent with that stand
ard of civilization which we actually do claim
to have achieved.
In commenting the report Of this commission
we do not predict that Its adoption would GER
tainly accomplish the ends desired nor do we
SUPPOSE that Mr.. SaXon and his colleagues
would venture to guarantee the consequences
of their work. Experience has shown that de-
vices TO check such evils as this inquiry was de-
signed To correct are often vindicated In dis
cussion only to break down in practice. Inc
closing of one door may open another' as diu
the constitutional restriction concerning private
and local bills, which led to a great development
Of the practice Of concealing the real character
and purpose Of legislation. Some such defects
may be inherent in the scheme proposed by the
commission: and we are sure that It's authors
are anxious that il should be subjected to honest
and searching examination. SO far as IT with
stands that test they may fairly claim that they
have done their work intcligently, and that their
proposals are entitled TO be submitted to the
final test of practical operation 1t seems to us
wellnigh certain that their plan II put in force,
would at least diminish the output OF statutes
having no relation to the general welfare, and
that alone would be considerable gain. The
report, whatever criticism II may hereafter APP
pear to deserve, expresses the present convic-
tiops of sincere intelligent and experienced
men, and any attempt to thrust it aside III the
Legislature would indicate either sinister p'ir-
pose or amentable Indifference to the evils
which it is meant TO cure.