The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-03
\ DEFECTIVE \ VICIOUS SYSTEM.

1T will be prudent for the next Legisla-
ture at the outset to make changes in the
methods. or lack of methods. for engrossing
bills which both branches may pass. For
years the engrossing of bills has been an
unsatisfactory feature. Much Of the PEN
manship is very inferior and the general
execution OF the work not creditable 10 a
State which has so good a school system.
II any one doubts this statement he vii!
change his view after consulting the en-
crossed acts of the Legislature for any
legislative year. The laws should be en-
crossed by those who are good penmen and
have written sufficiently TO remove from
their work the suggestion of school copy
books. The engrossing of Congress and
in most of the States is done under the
direction Of the secretary Of state, which
is better in that it secures a responsible
head for the work.
The foregoing observation is made be-
cause It appears that another important
bill was bungled in engrossment. The
Wood medical bill was amended in the
Senate by adopting a clause giving the
osteopaths recognition. Thus amended the
bill was passed in the Senate and sent TO
the House. In the House two or three
amendments were made, and as amended
the bill was passed and sent to the SEN
ate AS the bill was reported to the House
as passed and sent TO the Governor the
only assumption that can be made is that
the Senate adopted the House amendments.
Otherwise the two branches did not pass
the same bill and that in the printed laws
was not enacted as required by the Con-
stitution. AS printed the law does not con-
tain the amendments adopted by the House.
Such is the status of the amended Wood
medical act. Did the Senate concur in the
House amendments before finally passing
the bill? If it did, whose neglect, willful
or otherwise, was it that those amendments
were not Incorporated in the bill? If the
Senate did not concur in the House amend
ments how did that body pass its original
bill without the House amendments? These
are important matters. The fair assump-
ton is that the Senate concurred in the
House amendments and then passed the
bill, and that the clerks engrossing the bill
Oliiltcu tie dulcIulutIllS. Lie bll DIS Gil
crossed. however. is the law, whether the
Legislature enacted it or some outsider
inserted one in lieu thereof and had it en-
crossed.
All these errors and evils are the result
of a vicious system of selecting clerks. In
the first place, qualification has nothing
10 do with the selection. Then, when the
session is half over the most Of the en-
crossing and other clerks who may have
learned something OF their duties are re-
moved in order that another lot of men
may have a months salary. Fitness, the
Importance of having the DEGREES of the
Legislature properly written out count for
nothing in comparison with the giving of
twenty men the chance to draw a months
salary. That is the case now, and ii has
been the case for years. Both parties are
alike responsible i'm putting the personal
claims of twenty men for places, utterly
regardless of fitness, above the interests
of all the rest of the people of the State.
What is the remedy? Simply that the en-
crossing be put in charge of the secretary
of state. as 1t is I'm the general govern
ment and many of the States. This can
be done by an act Of the Legislature.