New-York tribune., 1896-05-10
THE FLOOD OF LEGISL4TION.


Examination of the bills left in his hands by
the Legislature is Il weariSome task Tor Gov
ernor Norton and the knowledge that he is at
1t induces melancholy thoughts His work will
be necessarily finished with the end of the thirty
day period-finished in some fashion, however
unsatisfactory to himself. and he will be en-
titled we trust, to the enjoyment of his ensuing
leisure by the consciousness Of having done his
best with the vast accumulation. But. without
reference to some conspicuous measures. the
character of which Is already we'll understood,
it is probable that more than one bill will get
past him to the statute-book which the people
have no need Of and by which they will be
plagued for years TO come. And even If. not
withstanding every disadvantage incident to
the magnitude of the task laid upon him. he Is
fortunate enough to avoid almost inevitable
errors of Judgment. the fact that so huge mass
Of ill-digested legislation was produced must
make intelligent citizens gloomy and apprehen-
sive. What has the limitless future in store?
And is there any way of checking such per-
| ncious industry?
When the Legislature adjourned the Gov
ernOr had already acted on $50 bills. and IA
more were left for his consideration. This was
a great increase as compared with the previous
ing the record. There is no reason TO suppose
| that native common-sense will operate TO reduce
the grist next year The tendency is always
toward expansion Presumably the enlargement
Of the Legislature this year accounts in part for
the growth Of the evil. Every new member is
always socitous to emerge from obscurty and
| too prone to imagine that his constituents Will
estimate bis efficiency by the number Of his ap-
| q
session is one Of the consequences of the consti-
| tutOnal provision 10 which the convention may
not have given attentive consideration. OBJ
viOusly the Governor can examine only small
percentage Of these IA bills with care. All the
rest must either go into the wastebasket after
| q mere glance at their titles, or else be made
| laws by signature which will have little or
no understanding behind 1t. We sincerely hope
| that Governor Morton will neither wear himself
out by attempting the impossible. nor invite
| mischief by approving measures which he has
no means of estimating at their true value II
| he will give fair consideration to the important
few and leave the rest to perish, he will not do
| less or more than the people have right to
| demand
| AS for the future, Governors OF NewIOrk may
prOfaby follow the example OF Governor
beginning Of his term resolution which pro-
duced excellent results at once. Having drawn
attention in his inaugural address to the evils
| of excessive legislation, he said that bill to
receive his approval must convince him Of its
positive merits from public point of view; that
| Its comparative harmlessneSs not sufii
Gent reason for the existence of q statute that
he should apply different test and sign no
measure which did not seem 10 him likely to
serve generally useful purpose. This an
nOunccment, followed by several vetoes based
on that principle and by communications sent
to individuals concerning measures proposed by
them, had an immediate effect and operated ad-
vantageously throughout the session. There
these only about $50 reached the Executive The
Legislature Of NewJersey made an honorable
record, and not a small part Of the credit there
for Is due to Governor Grggs. After his ex-
perence especially this year, we should expect
! Governor Morton 10 announce similar view
! and purpose If his term not TO end with the
| beginning Of another legislative session. But
| whoever our next Governor may be- he will have
| a Legislature "on his hands so soon as he goes
into Office. and we earnestly advise the Tn
known to initiate his brother Of New-Jersey al
the earliest opportunity The Executive has
| power to limit the volume of legislation by max
ing such a declaration and proving from the
outset that he means to abide by 1t. SO far as
we can see there is other security against
an overwhelming flood, excepting that slow
growth Of intelligence and conscentousness fol
whose fruition the people can Ill afford to wait