The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-23
ovERDosEs OF LEGISLATION

Inc IeUubHcy VI luo AmollChu pcOHlo
at the present day is strongly toward too
much legislation. The whole country
is honeycombed with legislative bodies OF
various kinds. and under all sorts of
nsmes. Many of them are large, many
others are of medium proportions, and a
great many more are so small that a
maanifyIng glass is almost needed to dis
cover their whereabouts, and especially
to enable one to see their usefulness.
But through the whole list from the big,
unwiedly congress of the United States,
down to the most diminutive town board,
all are clothed with power to make laws.
And the worst of it is they use that
power indiscrim inately, often stupidity,
and sometimes dishonesty. The PEN
chant for piiing DIP new laws and ordin-
ances seems to be steadily growing, and
when, where, or how 1t will be checked.
not even the wisest of men can tell.
Every year brings the enactment OF
scores and hundreds of new laws, all of
which are printed at heavy expense to the
people. and few of which the people yer
read or understand. nor are they as a
rule more than half understood by the
legislative bodies which create them.
Whenever q law-making body asse m bles
for business its mem bers seem to think it
is their duty to grind out as large a grist
as possible OF laws for the governments OF
their constituents. The mem Der who can
in given time hatch up the largest
number of bills,is the one generally con.
sidered tb. greatest statesman of the lot.
The prevailing idea is that they were
selscted to make new laws-lots OF laws
more Iaws-laws by scores and hun.
dreds. This idea is based upon the the
ory that the more laws the people have
the more happiness they will enjoy and
tie greater will be their prosperity. Be
hind each legislator are numerous
classes, cliques and interests, all selfshly
bent on getting some kind OF special en-
actments that Will help them, regardless
OF the general good.
If all these legislative bodies would
practically cease to enact new laws and
spend most OF their time when in session
in repeating the many useless or worse
than useless statutes and ordinances now
in existence, they would come nearer earn
ing their salaries by the sweat of their
tongues than they usually do. The tfite
saying that "the nation is governed best
that is governed least" is not only true
but very significant. As matter of fact
the proper function of a civil govern m en- t
is to protect everybody within its Juris.
diction In the exercise of all natural
rights. Beyond that government cam
not go without encroaohing upon some
body's natural rights Legislation that
seeks to put each psrson in straight
jacket, or to prop up privata interests, or
to encourage special industries at the ex.
pense of the whole people, or to hampe
the Legitimate production of wealth, or 10
discriminate as to where, when or how
people may exercise the trading instinct,
which was born in them, or to in any
other manner poke its nose into the per-
sonal affairs of Northumberland egisla-
ton is fraught with evil. only evil, and
evil continually. The prevailing fear
among so-called statesmen and political
teachers that the masses may have 900
much freedom for their own safety and
happiness has no foundation in reason
or common sense. A few simple, under.
standabie laws, based upon reason and
Justice, are all that the people need so
far as human legislation is concerned.
Natures laws, which are infallible, are
always safe guide as to each PERSONS
duty toward others.
The reader need not go outside of Los
Angeles county to fno striking illustra-
lions of over-production in legislation,
and therefore ground of justification Tor
these criticisms. If the county board and
the various town boards continue the
multiplication of laws and ordinances a
few years longer at the rate of speed
heretofore INDUCED in, there il danger
that the people may be eventually hurled
gu. OF sight by an avalanche q lesisla-
tive rubbish. On the other hand, those
official boards could do good work in the
line of repeal; but they are always pain
fully reluctant to use the pruning knife