The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1902-06-07
RELIEF NEEDED.
st. Bernard Voice.

turned themselves loose ana are
grinding out measures on the
Wholesale plan, with precious few
of them of any value or raison
detre. 1t is the same old story of
natural tendency on the part of
majority of our state lawmakers
to enact all manner of laws-good
bad or indifferent-instead of try
ing to restrain their ambition to
make i,ame and win fame in
brief space of time. In a former
article we expressed the belief
that legislator could more quick
Iy earn credit and the lasting gra-
titude of his constituents for faith
full services rendered by preven-
ting legislation of the penny-wise
and pound-foolish variety, and we
right here desire to reiterate that
statement. The inclination of
great many of our state solons to
display their wisdom only serves
to accentuate their fainful lack of
sound judgment, prudence and
modesty consequent upon an i'm
poverished or immatured state of
the mind. The threatened on
slaught on the new constitution,
as evidenced by amendments in
Vulnerable which are proposed, is
| in itself an eloquent commentary
on the shallow brain pans of legis-
latle wise-acres. The new con-
stitution was framed only four
years ago and barely enough time
has elapsed to pass judgment on
its provisions. But all of them do
not suit the fancy of a number of
our Legislators, who see an oppor-
tunity to have their names embla-
zoned in the pages of history and
unless they are deferred by less
ambitious colleagues, will pune
ture the organic law to such an
extent that its trainers will not be
able To recognize it.
The irrepressible desire of the
members of the Legislature to un-
load a lot of fool measures on the
people of this commonwealth is
fast becoming a menace to good
and progressive government and
unless they desist in this practice
they will turn themselves and
their state into ridicule. The
country press is sounding q note
of warming, which they should
heed. For instance, the Donald
sonvile Chief editorially remarks:
The legislative volcano at the state
capital is not yet in condition OF ac-
tuai eruption, but the evidences of seis-
mic disturbances are hourly growing
more visible and audible, and subterra-
nean rumblings, mutterings and grow
lings portend possible explosion aud
consequent shower of big and little bills.
constitutional amendments, repeating
and amendatory acts, concurrent, non
current. joint and unjOinting or joint
less resolutions that will almost asphy-
kate the people with hot air and half
bury them in the dust and debris of
more or less ill digested legislation.
By far the most important work that
can engage the attention of the general
assembly is the improvement Of the sys-
tenn of public education, and the great
est essential to this end is to be found
in more liberal provision of lnnds for
the support of the common SCHOOLS. the
frightening of their terms. the payment
of adequate salaries to teachers and the
building of more and better scho0lhou-
SEES. If the senators and representatives
at Baton Rouge will do all they can to
promote these objects. their sins Of COM
mission and omission in other directions
may be in great measures condoned by
public opinion"