The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-03

Tne Impotence sometimes express
ed with frequent sessions of the legd
islature. even biennial sessions, indi-
Gates a trend Of mind in those who
utter it which carried out logically
would leave US without laws. There
are a few who think this consum-
nation deveutly to be wished. but for
iunately they do not have the ear OF
the public. The public mind is un-
stable. What Is a sin to-day may to-
morrow be pardonable The law must
be elastic enough to at the growing
body corporate or the latter viii out
grow the law scanoalously.
The legislature can but make ex-
periments. Each session it leaves
something to be repealed at the next
session. Each legislature. in fact.
creates a reason for being" TO justi-
fy the existence of its successor. A
series of experiments in legislation
may finally result in a statute which
passes the review of the courts. and
is not repeated even for a decade af.
1 terward
And then think of the sins of omis-
sion of each legislature. Sixty days
/ - 40 lung d 1CAAl as liz OldlC C<1AA
/ stand, ordinarily. but 1t is not time
enough In which to kill of the fool
| legislation and at the same time thor.
oughly digest the good. To be sure,
IL 1t were extended thirty or sixty
days the close would find the public
business in no better condition. So
the best the legislature can do is 10
try the ideas of the majority on the
people If there is disgust expressed
1 at swallowing the dose, the next leg
islature can change the treatment. On
L can repeal the obnoxious law. Al
all events, it is "up to- their success
sors to remedy the errors or blunders
J of each legislature.
: 1t may be objected that this reduces
the legislature to the position of {
body continually revising the work o.
: its predecessors. Not altogether. YET
there are few legislatures which pas!
more than one good law at each ses
: don-some are not so efficient as
that. One good law, which the courtl
and the people will approve of ant
which will stand the test Of practica
application for a series OF years, i
D quite an achievement. The legisls
a tors have paid for their hire If the.
produce such a comnendabie addition
to the statutes.
Do not look between these lines, no
within them, for q criticism OF tn
present legislature 1t isn't there
{ This Legislature is yet too new 10
criticism. 1t is made of excellen
material, ana we believe is going Z
make a record by which TO measur
n succeeding bodies. But unavoidabl
Ell some of the work will be merely e.
y detrimental. Some viii be hasty. Som
Twill make work for it's successors.
A slightly different argument. ay
lof the same general trend. may
1 found in the following extract fro'
4 the Tayares Herald:
ell We often hear adverse criticism {
Jour legislative body, that there is n
use of its meeting, that there are NOR
al laws now than is. necessary, etc. Thos
making such assertions are not we
e posted and are ignorant of the intric'
g cies and demands of government
Every city of any size has Mayo
and Board of Aldermen who met
s usually once a week and discuss way
and means of governing the city, an
enact ordinances to meet the demand
Of progress. Surely, if 1t is meet an
: proper for a city of few thousand 1
s habitants to have legislative bod
Z continually in session, it is more tina
& proper for the legislative body OF u
8 great and progressive State Of Florid
with its 100000 souls. to meet ar
enact laws for the good Of the Peep
for fifty days every two years.