The Advocate and news., 1899-04-05
THE INSUFFICIENCY OF LEdISLA-
TIVE BODIES.


tune of the republic, as viewed by one on
the stage, is that phase of our present sys-
TEN outlined in the title of this article So
many, indeed, are the defects, and so utterly
insufficient to keep step with modern de-
mands for progress are legislative bodies,
that the writer is scarcely-with justice to
its demerits-able to satisfy himself, much
less a thoughtful public, as to the best
points of attack. He will endeavor to
classify some of his reasons, which are
based on facts and experience.
First: The system contracts large vOla-
tile bodies, into small, unnatural and dan
gerOus ones.
Second: The incompetence and inconsis-
tency of voters and the perfdy of machine
politicians.
Third Short terms and low salaries in
yite mostly incompetents or spectators.
Fourth: The complexity of system de-
stroys it's efficiency.
-
First. 1t contracts large volatile bodies
into small, unnatural, dangerous ones.
What would we assume of the fitness of an
engineer who told his fireman that he must
force the fire and load down the safety
valve, that their chance of promotion lay IN
breaking the record for speed with large
train over heavy grade? If, as passen-
gers, we knew of the plot to endanger our
lives, simply to crafty personal ambition,
we would undoubtedly revolt. If we were
on a Mississippi River steamboat, intoxi-
Gated with the excitement of a race with o
rival boat to the next landing we would
likely shout ourselves hoarse at the fireman
to "throw in the pork" So far does excite
ment quiet all feelings for consequences,
that we follow the bands and flambeaux of
this party or that, hat and voice striving in
competition for noise and notice.
Next morning when our eyes are swollen,
our head throbbing, and voice gone, we are
reminded of what an irresponsible creature
man is when emotion engendered by crowds
an noise, outweighs reason.
In January when Congress votes on the
tariff or revenues and the legislatures on
the railroad question, the member for whom
we sacrifice so much to help elect, forgets
his pledges and platforms and votes "aye"
when he promised decided "no;" you ex-
claim: "He does not represent his con-
stituency."
But he does; you have delegated all to
him, and he knows, before he takes this
step, whether you can sustain impeachment
charges, and what influence it will cost in
the next nominating convention. He hears
you fomenting and roaring under unexpect-
ed pressure, but if the steel in the boiler does
not crystalline under the constant thrObbing
the organization will remain intact Two
years will quiet the disturbances and he will
have absorbed your attention and claimed
your endorsement by an appropriation for
new public building, or to improve the navi-
cation of the upper Yukon, or appointed
yourself or friend to such a place as your
merits or grievance demands. Should crys-
tallization cause an explosion, some one
would be killed and Resentment demand
new delegate engineer. Real
izing the infrmities of humanity, compe-
tent railroad managers provide their loco
motives with safety plugs, that fuse or burn
out under certain pressure and heat I'm
der our form of government, no matter how
much track is torn up, how many sacrifices
are made, we seem to have learned no new
practice, no new device, no proper appliance
for the commonwealth safety.
=: :: =
Second. The incompetence and inconsist-
ency of voters, and the perfdy of machine
politicians.
"Gus, I want you to come to the polls
tomorrow and vote for Burns"
"Who vas Burns?" replied the German,
stopping his plow.
why" answered the township guardian
OF democratic principles, che is our candi-
date for the legislature and good, honest
fellow who will vote for resubmissiOn of the
liquor question; he is the lawyer that got
Mapes off for shooting his brother and is
going to be elected"
"Vell, all right, Frank, I always votes for
the party that's ahead"
Mike, you will be all right for Crosby,
| suPposeH You did good work for him |
last election, and he feels very grateful
for it"