New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-01

COvcFPNTNG PRIVATE AND LOCAL BILLS.
1t has been announced that there VIII ne n
hearing at Albany to-day Oh the bill introduced
by Senator Elsberg which IS designed TO carry
out the chief recommendations Of the Commls-
sion appointed by Governor Morton IN 1870 10
consider the methods of legislation mat Com-
missions report contained an intelligent discus
sion Of the evils arising from the excessive
MULTIPLICATION of laws, with special reference
TO the annual food Of private and local DIS
which members Of the Legislature have 10
time to consider deliberately and Of which they
are often unable to ascertain the purport ana
purpose With the report was submitted n
measure prescribing rules for the Introduction
of private and local bills, which, in somewhat
changed form, Is now in the hands of the Sen
are judiciary Committee, and is 70 he the sub
iect Of to-day's hearing.
II nrovides that a private or local bill must
I've filed with the Secretary Of State thirty days
before It's Introduction. together with n petit
ton signed by its promoters briefly setting
forth its nature and purpose and the interests
which II affects. The bill and petition are then
10 he printed at the cost of the promoters, who
are also required - publish n prescribed notice
thereof. and also in certain described cases 10
serve direct personal notice on every person or
corporation engaged in the business affected
within the territory to which the bill apples.
ANY person may also file with the Secretary
Of state an answer to the petition, which shall
be printed at his cost, unless he makes ALL
davit that he is unable to bear the expense;
and bill. petition and answer are to he bound
together for the Use Of the Legislature 10
cover emergencies It Is provided that on the
Governors certificate Of urgency these condi-
tons shall he waived; otherwise no private or
local bill can be considered by either branch
Of the Legislature until they have been com
Piled with The bill contains likewise n pro
vision relating 10 committee hearings and re-
ports. and various requirements designed to
make II complete and synmetrical but the
/ foregoing are ITS chief fe lures, and they fairly
/ indicate the object aimed at
It Is indiSputlbly an important object, and
without committing ourselves to approval OF
details we are Inclined 10 think we'll Of the
means by which Z Is proposed TO attain that
object A member of the Legislature having
before him the text of 2 private or local bill, a
SYNOPSIS Of the arguments held by the pro
moter 10 Justify It's passage, and statement
Of such objections rs an interested opponent
would he likely 10 raise might still he de-
ceivcd and 20 wrong: but he would have \
much better chance to SEQ what he was doing
than he now has. and a thoroughly bad bin
could not easily sneak into the statute-book
The evil thus attacked has reached great pro
portiOns. and shows 10 signs Of diminishing &c
long as the present methods Of legislative pro
codure remain unchanged. 4 system which
would compel q largo measure Of publicity and
reo1lire individuals and localities which de
mand special attention 10 share the Legitimate
cost of obtaining it deserves careful and re-
snpctful consideration.