Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-07-02

been reading law but single week
"Well, dad, it amt what it's cracked
up to be, and I'm sorry learnt it..
The ordinary legislator has about as
much knowledge Of law as Toby ac-
quired in that week of study.
Another preventive Of bad legislation
is to keep those rare and red beaked
birds of prey, the politicians. out of the
Legislature. A man whose business is
politics is generally incapable of doing
any other kind of business we'll, and
wholesome legislation requires the high
est skill and the most thorough knowl-
edge of history and of political economy
of which man is capable. We have ex-
pended hundreds of millions of dollars
in establishing and carrying on military
schools and naval schools in this coun-
try, and yet are men thoroughly versed
i'll military science or naval science
more necessary to the welfare of the
people than men well versed in the sci.
ence of legislation? We intrust to poll
ticians, to paid attorneys of corpora
tions and to gushing enthusiasts the
making of our laws, and yet no clear
headed business man would intrust
politician to run sawmill, or a factory,
or bank, or any of his private bust
ness. Men, as u rule, will not intrust
their private business to lawyers who
are not skilled i'll their profession. Nor
will they intrust their bodies to physi-
clans who are ignorant of their profess
sion. But they will vote for a candi-
date to the assembly who has not the
slightest qualification, who knows noth-
ing of legislation, or OF history, or of
political economy, or of any other sub
ject that fits him to bring about good
legislation. 1t has been said that "the
worst curse that can fall upon a com
munity is priest without charity,
physician without knowledge and q
lawyer without a sense Of justice" " But
the stupidity, the Indifference to the
public welfare, the lack of patriotism
which has been displayed by the United
States senate during the last few months
and by the Legislature Of the state of
New York during the last session leads
us to believe that the worst curse of a
community is an ignorant and partisan
legislator.
A committee appointed by the govern
or of this state to devise checks upon
hasty and i'll advised legislation has
recently made Il report to the legislature
embodying many suggestions, and our
Legislature will be asked to act on them.
The remedy for these evils is found
not i'll checks and restraints upon legis-
lation so much as in n conviction among
the people that legislation i'll great part
is procured for the benefit of special in
terests and corporations and not for
their benefit.
The hope of the country is in deep
and powerful current of public opinion
against overlegislation and hatred of
all special legislation. The mass of the
people, however effectively they may
combine together, will be unable to pro-
cure to themselves any offset or equiva-
lent to the special legislation which pri-
vate interests will be able to obtain
The watchword of the people should be:
'Down with all special legislation. We
ask no favors We are after no privi-
leges, and we insist that special privi-
legcs and favors shall be granted to no
body. We only want to remain in the
unmolested enjoyment Of what belongs
to us of right, and we will have that or
we will vote the men who refuse to give
it to MS out Of power. "
When the people are awake to the
danger of sumptuary legislation and
special legislation and really appreciate
the fact that honest government can
never exist when private interests can
obtain benefits through the Legislature,
then, and not until then, will our legis-
lative bodies be truly democratic and
representative assemblies.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
New York, June, 1896.