Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-27
PoPULIsTIo LEGISLATION.

lnenl tne NolCt OF lHc ptVpie VilNH GUNS
for extreme measures that wisdom
shows TO be injurious. Particularly Is
this the case when they are aimed at
wealth, or power, or corporate interests
which the common mind regards as
inlmical to the tolllng masses. The
spirit OF "Populism" and OF number
OF forms Of Socialism" is active and
prevalent. and often pervades the halls
of Congress and Of State legislatures.
This Is something for Utah lawmak-
ers to guard against While they are
elected by popular vote TO serve the
public. they must not forget that they
are TO legislate for the whole State, not
merely for any special portion, or fac
ton OF II, and that they are limited In
their powers by the State Constitution.
There are also general principles OF
right, OF equity and Of justice which
should be kept in view. and which must
regard vested rights as sacred, and
protected by law and custom from the
ruin which would oyertake them II
some of the Wild notions Of agitators
were embodied In statutes.
The conservative and cautious legls-
lator will live and grow in public esti-
nation as his prudence and fairness be-
come perceptible, while the rash bidder
for popular favor who plunges into
radical measures clamored for by
would-be reformers and trainers OF leg
islative novelties or uniting limitations,
flashes for the moment Into public
view and passes into deserved oblivion.
We offer word OF caution to the
new members OF our Legislature, par
ticularly az 10 adopting. wholesale, en-
actments made in other States OF the
Union, which are not suited to Utah
conditions and which, on close COM
parison. are seen TO be out OF harmony
with the Utah Constitution. Introduce
ing bill on request OF some constitu-
ents Is one thing. passing II and maxi
ing Il tit to our home situation is am
other and different thing. We hope
there Will be a sufficient number OF
steady. thoughtful minds In both the
House and the Senate to weigh well
every measure introduced, and prevent
legislation that would be inimlcal to
the State and It's principal interests.
There Is a tendency In many parts
OF the country TO pass laws for the
purpose Of crippling or hamperlng rail-
roads. the companies controlling which
seem to be regarded as common enc
mics az well as common carriers.
Whatever real cause there may be for
this feeling elsewhere, we do not be-
iieve there Is occasion for II In Utah.
Yet bill has been introduced, volum-
incus in extent and aiming at the
regulation Of their business, FIX
ing rates, etc. This Ia framed
on the basis OF Iowa and
Michigan statutes. There is no
fair comparison between the situation
IN those States and the situation In
Utah. Our population the sparsely set
fled regions through which our roads
syn. the difference in freight traffic as
well as other transportation, the cost
OF construction and repairs, the wages
paid to employees, and hundred and
che considerations peculiar to the To-
cality, render Utah rairoading alto
gether different to that business IN
Iowa or Michigan.
Great care should be exercised not to
NEEDLE with traffic business so as to
discourage new railway enterprises IN
progress in this State. II would be the
hight OF folly to manacle them by re-
strictiye legislation. All sound projects
to facilitate our means OF inter-moun-
tain and continental communication
should be encouraged. This has been
the policy of the past; 1t should be
The policy Of the present. What the
future may develop may prove another
story. We have invited capital 10 come
and develop our resources. We must
not regard Il as a foe, but friend un-
less time shall prove It otherwise. The
popuiisilc rotion against 1t should find
10 abiding place in the brains OF Utah
Legislators.
The proposition to put railroad az
fairs In the control of an appointed
commissioner, endowed with extraordn-
airy powers 10 make changes. in
crease or lower rates. condemn bridges
or other railroad property. and do other
remarkable things with the consent OF
the Governor and the Attorney general
IL, We think, too extreme to gain the
support OF conservative men. and we
regard II as a step in the direction Of
the concentration Of power In the hands
Of single individuals that ought no, to
be countenanced IN this republic.
We see no occasion at present TO In
terfere In the business Of the railroads
in Utah by legislation. There are local
means OF settling disputes with them
that are ample for the purpose. Lave
fixing wages, the prices Of commodities.
the profits OF commerce and kindred
fads are not In the public interest, but
are hindrances TO private business.
They should all be avoided. The InItla-
tive and Referendum proposition, too,
s. unedepted 10 our conditions here.
would prove cunbsous ana obstructive,
and y entirely unnecessary under ex-