New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-14
AGAINST BAD LEGISLATION.

Governor Roosevelt has done Il good thing Id
announcing as a rule for the guidance OF the
Legislature that all special. private ana locai
bills must be introduced within the next elgnt
weeks in order TO escape his Veto Oh course
be reserves the right TO make an exception i'll
onr casa of obvious necessity but the purpose
n, The regulation is readily understood and It's
proprlety IS unQuestiOnable. The Governor mas
not only adopted wise precaution against mis-
chievous and tricky legislation. but has also
,eken care 10 make IL as effective as possible by
taking counsel In advance with prominent mem-
bers and securing their cooperation. Governor
Black sometimes made the mistake of neglect
ing to win the approval OF Senators and Assem-
blymen before developing plans which he CON
sidered beneficial TO the State, and so incurred
unnecessary difficulties or at least aroused an
-agonisms which did not contribute to his own
or the general welfare. We are glad 10 see that
Governor Roosevelt is better advised. lie may
find il impossible TO avoid dlsagreemenis Win
the majority at Albany before the session is
over. but there would be no merit in inviting
trouble
The Governor and leaders OF the Legislature
have also agreed TO enforce the rule requiring
the dear designation by italics OF new matter
in old measures. so that members may be able
4
and know what they are doing. Inadvertence
accounts for some violations Of the rule but ii is
we'll understood that design is more common
than accident in such cases. However 1t origi-
mates. il is serious fault. which ought to he
corrected and the Governor means TO reduce 1t
"a q minimum or az any rate 10 prevent unfort-
unate consequences. by vetong every bill which
does not appear in the proper form. thus penal
izlng carelessDess as well as trickery. 1t is an
excellent plan and no doubt he Will carry 1t out
There is another source Of evil to which Gov
ernor Roosevelt and his advisers might do well
70 give attention. With the purpose Of prevent
inc basty and dishonest legislation the new
Constitution provides that no bill shall be
"nasscd or become a law unless 1t shall have
been printed and upon the desks OF the menl-
..bsrs IN its final form al least three calendar
.legislatiye DAYS prior 10 lis final passage un-
"less the Governor or the Acting Governor shall
.have certified to the necessity OF It's Immediate
massage. under his hand and the seal or the
..Stote" Considerably less has been realized
than WAS anticipated from this provision, for
the reason that not few bills Of doubtful char
acter are quietly introduced early in the session
and then allowed to lie unnoticed week after
week in the expectation that there will be all OPP
portunity to bring them up and rush them
through In the closing hours. There has been
rood deal OF this sort OF work in spite OF the
Constitution and doubtless II Is not easy 10 stop
H. Perhaps the constant vigilance OF honest
members Is the only safeguard against such
practice while the Legislature remains in SEES
sion. After adjournment a careful Governors
scrutiny of the thirty-day bills is the only pro-