Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-01-22
Publish the Laws.

From time to time an effort on the
part Of many people of the State has
been made to secure the passage of an
act of Assembly requiring the publica-
ton of the laws passed at each session
Of the Legislature in the newspapers OF
the State The matter is again receiv-
ing considerable discussion and there
, seems to be no rational reason why this
benefit cannot be conferred upon the
people. The chief argument against
such law is the matter of the expense
which if would infict upon the State.
This is used only by those who are least
familiar with what that cost ought TO
be. Compared with the benefit which
such an Act would confer, to say moth
ing of the Justice of the matter, the ex-
perse would be small indeed.
Discussing the question the Connells-
vile Courier says: The wisdom and
the justice of the proposition do not ad-
NIT of argument. The Legislature will
enact a bookful of laws by the time
summer comes again. The people will
be required to obey these laws under
penalties more or less severe, and as
matter of common fairness the people
should be made acquainted with them
in the most public manner, that Is 10
say through the columns of the news
paper.
1T is true that the State Printer Is
sues a volume Of Acts OF Assembly
some months after the session is ended,
but even these books are not for general
circulation. The courts and the lawyers,
who are charged with the duty of pun
ishing people who offend against the
law, are about the only people who get
copies.
IAN offense against the law is not al
ways an offense against good morals,
and a mans conscience cannot be de-
pended upon to keep him out OF the
courts The latter take cognizance OF
and punish offenses against the Divine
law unless they are covered by the stat
ne. The courts go by the books, the
books are denied to the people, and it is
held that ignorance is not innocence.
1T is hardly necessary to argue the
question further. 1t is too preposterous.
The laws ought to be advertised in the
public press as they are passed, and
they ought not to be effective until they
are 80 published
''The Legislature is extremely incon-
sistent in this matter. 1t has made laws
providing that legislation by city and
borough councils shall not be Of any
force and effect until published and the
public thus notified.
"At the session Of 1900, Governor
Stone admitted to the editor Of The
Courier the justice of a proposed bill re-
quiring such publication, but he refused
to approve it because OF the desperate
condition of the States finances at that
time, saying that he would sanction no
legislation that carried with it any adj
ditional appropriations
AT the succeeding session, the finan-
ces were in better shape, but the news
paper publishers were 30 occupied in de-
Tending themselves from threatened
libel law that would have put into the
hands Of every good and bad man in the
State a scalping knife especially whet-
ted for bald editorial heads, and those
heads had no time TO think OF anything
but their own safety.
"The Golfers Of the state treasury are
now full to oyerfowing. The compar-
atiyely trifing expenditure required for
the publication Of the session laws viii
not be missed There Is no excuse on
that score.
THE incoming Governor is jurist
Of integrity and ability, and his keenly
developed sense Of justice will, we feel
sure, guarantee on his part the cordial
approval Of such measure as we have
suggested"