The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-26
STATE
LEGISLATIVE
TOPICS.

A bill now before the house of repre-
sentatives, and which Is attracting
great deal of attention from members of
the bar of this and other cities, Is en-
titled, "An act providing for the appoints
ment and payment of legislative commits
sioners," etc. If the bill becomes law
the governor is to appoint three persons
possessing all the qualifications OF judges
of the Supreme court, to serve from the
lst of December prior to the assembling
of the legislature until after the session,
to redraft and report upon proposed bills
upon the request of senators or repre-
sentatives, or when such DIS are re-
ferred to the commission for report as
provided in the act. This report is to con-
tain: First, a concise statement OF the
existing law, If any, and the change pro-
posed second, a reference to similar legis-
lation, If any, pending before the legis-
lature; third, suggested amendments OF
substance and the reasons therefor;
fourth, suggested amendments OF Ian
guage and the reasons therefor; hfth,
whether constitutional and statutory re-
| quirements, if any, have been complied
with.
A Philadelphia Ledger reporter recently
had a talk with Representative John F.
| Keator, who introduced the bill (Which
| was drawn by a committee of the Bar
| Association of Pennsylvania, about the
scope and purpose of the measure. 1t was
l
| bers regard the proposed law as one that
| would interfere with their rights and
| dutiess "On the contrary" was the re-
ply, cit will be a great aid to the legisla-
| tor. 1t Is ministerial and directory. In
| preventing mistakes and ill-advised legls-
| lation the law would be extremely valua-
! ble." He explained this point more fully
! by saying:
| 1T is we'll known that there are often
| several bills pending in the house or SEN
| ate upon the same subject with different
| phraseology, and perhaps differing in
| many other respects. Now this commit
tee would suggest amendments of sub
| stance and give reasons therefor, and also
amendments of language and reasons
| therefor, and also whether constitutions
| and statutory requirements had beef
compiled with. This brief report is to bs
printed and to be given with the bill tc
| each member of each house during 1t:
passage through either house. There are
bills that often pass through the house
| which cover many pages of print ant
the only way one has, without devoting I
| great deal of time to it, is to get his IN
| formation upon the spur of the momen
on the floor from the person presenting
the bill. As matter of practice this i:
hastily done at times, and the large mum
Der of the body are voting upon some
thing that they are not entirely familiar
| with. and, perhaps, do not learn the ful
effect o. the proposed act until. it is too
late The result is, there has been i,
this state and other states a great ded
of hasty, improvdent, haphazard anc
worse legislation"
Where did the idea of this bill origl
nate?" Mr. Keator was asked.
"A law similar to this is in effect II
parliament. England" he replied, IAN
has worked admirably, and the Bar Asso
citation of this state favored it last sum
mer. when it was freely discussed at Bed
ford Springs. 1t would prevent hasty leg
islation. Most of all, it would be an effec
tual quietus upon all improper or crooke
legislation. The report would be given t
the newspapers, and the light of da
would be shed upon the proposed acts o
assembly before they were passed, an
while 1t is not too late. 1t would certain
ly prevent many mistakes. There Is a
instance, l believe, where two contra
dctory bills We're unwittingly passed h
the same legislature. There is another in
stance of where an act, covering nearl
2GO pages in the Pamphlet Laws, was dc
clared unconstitutional when it reache
the Supreme court; and still another &C
was passed, drawn by an attorney, an
when 1t reached the Supreme court wa
rendered unconstitutional, and report ha
il that it was drawn with the object G
making it unconstitutional. 1t passed tn
, legislature all the same. and accomplishe
the purpose desired by the astute lawyer
who was working in the interests of hi
client who did not wish to be affected b
that law