The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-09
THE LEGISLATURE.

The legislature viii convene today,
and it has a number of important mat
tiers to consider besides the election Of
a United States senator. There is some
danger of everything else being over
looked at first, in the excitement of the
contest, but there will be some mem
bers who will remain cool-headed from
the start. ready to cast their daily bal
lots and go ahead with their legislative
labors as if nothing unusual had hap
pened.
There will be a week of preparation
for the fray, and something in the way
OF presenting measures for the consid-
Grafton of committees may be started
before the senatorial election comes off.
Today VIII be occupied in the organiza-
ton of the two houses, the selection
Of employees and the customary pre-
Hminaries of a session. 1t will require
another day to arrange the different
committees, no easy task, by any
means. Then there ought to be a little
work done on the third day.
In the third state legislature are men
who have served in similar assemblies.
and new members, who may learn from
the experience of others and from the
examples set by former legislatures,
some valuable lessons.
One Of the most difficult to impress
upon legislators, new or old, is the
prime importance Of none but neces-
sary bills.
Men have so many plans outlined and
so many pledges to fulfill that they
are apt to burden the statute books.
delay the session, complicate existing
laws and involve the state in many
ways unless they are very careful.
To frame a bin covering an appar-
ent necessity, to introduce and urge
its passage, constitute only portion
of the obligation resting upon a mem
Der in carrying out some idea of his
Own. or promise 10 a constituent. The
matter should be carefully considered,
not only in its relation to present laws,
but as to the absolute need Of such a,
measure. There are not many reforms
the need of which is so press.nE that
legislatures should devote great
amount of time to their discussion.
And needed changes are entitled to all
the time that members desire IL de-
lberating upon them.
A few first-cIass laws and several
slight changes in the code, are far
more desirable than a multiplicity of
unsatisfactory laws.
Bills have been introduced heretofore
as if members We're trying to comply
with every request made upon them,
and to please every lobbyist who took
I'D their time These have consumed
q, vast amount of precious time, and
smothered many good measures.
1t is, therefore, important that legis-
lators should resolve to introduce no
bill for any purpose whatever unless
he is in full sympathy with its pro-
visions, or feels the urgent need Of its
adoption.
Whatever of prosperity the people of
Utah now enjoy is due largely to their
industry and economy. They have
learned from experience to use care
and practice frugality in their private
affairs The business of the state
should be conducted along the same
lines.
There are a number of propositions
to look out for, and there viii be the
usual claims to inspect. But every
thing essential to the welfare Of the
state ought to be done long before the
expiration Of the sixty days, no matter
how long drawn out the senatorial
fight becomes.
The minority is comparatively small
in this leglslature-no so small as it
was last session, but too small to be
held responsible for any of the results
accomplished. There is, therefore, no
occasion for partisanship, and every
reason why the minority members
should be treated with the utmost con-
sideration and respect.
The sooner the members of the legis-
lature can dispose of the senatorship,
enact its laws, make its appropriations,
and adjourn, the better the people Of
lhe state viii be pleased, and the clean |
sr VIII be the record they will leave.
ANDREW JACKSON.