The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-15
MEN WHO MAKE STATUTES
THEIR WORK DESCRIBED BY LIEU
TENANT GOVERNOR GILBERT.
Dishonest Legislators an Infrequent
xception-DincuIties In the
Why of the Best Laws.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.
FORT WAYNE. Ind. March 14.-Lieuten-
ant Governor Gilbert was the guest OF
honor last night at the regular monthly
meeting of the Commercial Club. He was
down for an address on Legislation of
Indiana" and the announcement attracted
the largest attendance the club has had
for a year
After setting forth that the Constitution
requires only an age and a residence limit
qualifications for the Legislature. the
speaker dwelt on the deduction that legis-
latures cannot be expected to be const-
tuted, as a rule, of men much above the
average Of the people. The founders of our
State did not intend to make the salary
an object with men ambitious to obtain
office. but rather seemed TO believe that
men would serve the State in the Legisla-
ture from motives of patriotic devotion TO
public duty. and from a high sense of
exalted honor vested in the place of law
maker. In speaking of the character of
members OF the Legislature, he said they
are as honest as the average of citizens,
and while one often hears that legislatures
not only IN Indiana, but in all others States.
are corrupt. the fact Is, as he believes,
that the dishonest member is the infrequent
exception and not the rule. He said a dis
honest member will not have served a
month before every other member of the
Senate House knows who are corrupt
and who are not IL IS impossible 10 WELD
&c the temptations of money without il
becoming generally known among the men,
bers.
Abiding TO the men who make the best
members of the Legislature, he said that
it is not necessarily the lawyer While
knowledge of the law IS of value TO any
man serving as a lawmaker, there are also
many matters of technical or Law knowl-
edge that are essential He said he thought
he MAJ hest pUuinnPd in al nd
way for service in the Legislature is a
conscientious. conservative and yet pro-
gressive business man accustomed TO view
ing practical propositions in a practical
way. IL is necessary. he said for some
members TO be thorough lawyers able to
shape bills To meet the demands of the
Constitution. but there is no reason why
lawyers are necessarily the best legisla-
tors
FAR TOO MANY BILLS
Pointing out that the constitutional limit
of the Indiana Legislature is sixty-one
DAYS and that there is no limit TO the num-
Der of bills that any member may intro
duce at any stage of the session. Governor
Gilbert said that in each session far too
many bills are offered to receive careful
consideration. He said that from the rec
ords OF the last session. 1901, he had found
that lilo bills, in both houses, were intro
duced. One member in the Senate pre-
scented twenty-six bills and one senator
presented only one. Four members of the
House presented no bills and the number
of bills 10 the credit of the high man"
was twenty-three. The speaker said, how
ever. that the members usefulness was not
TO he measured by the number of bills in
PRODUCED or not introduced. Ii might prove
the usefulness of some members To engage
I'm killing off bills rather than in pushing
new legislation.
Besides these bills he said there are
hundreds OF resolutions, messages from one
house 20 the other and messages from the
Governor 10 take up the time of members
The calling of the roll takes up great
amount OF time there having been over 900
roll calls IN the Senate and over 600 I'm the
House during the session. When IL is re-
membered that the last session sat only
forty-six days out Of its sixty-one il Is self
evident that no member. be he ever so con-
ecientfOus. could give adequate considera-
ton 20 such a mass OF proposed legislation
No man could even read all the bills pre-
scented during the siXty-one days OF the ses-
sion And yet 213 bills were passed and
signed by the Governor. making a book
that takes up 624 pages. IL is no wonder
the speaker said. that much OF the legisla-
ton Is ill-prepared. even 10 right the cOndi-
lions IL IL designed 70 correct. or that IL is
imperfect in terms. or that IL proves 10 be
invalid after the courts are called upon to
construe IL. "a Is not surprising. therefore
continued the speaker, that much OF the
ebor OF one session Is devoted 10 undoing
or further amending the legislation OF the
preceding session.
While II is true that all measures first
receive the attention OF the numerous COM