New-York tribune., 1906-08-31
PARKER SLAPS S0L0NS.
LAWS TOO MANY, HE SAYS.
LEGISLATORS a Lot of MediocritSes,
SAYS Er-Judge.

that exist He said that little could be expected
t.1 present, however, OF the Legislators of to-day
tvhorr he characterized "a lot OF mediocrities
i57e made caustiO reference TO hysteFicsl prom
sses of denasosuos who sought popular favor by
pledges of eure-sll legislation.
The rest OF the session was devoted reports Of
oorraiftees on jurisprudence and law reform judi
+eIsl administration and remedial procedure legal
iedueafion snd admission 20 the bar. commercial
lzw. International law, grievances. obituaries law
1epor1ing an6 digesting, patent trademark ailo
copyright law. insurance law and uniform state
laws Thomas j. Herman, OF Baton Rouge La
ax2oko on The Unwritten Law; or Lawiess Rights
hend Esewful Wrongs"
III 3 afternoon the association was entertained at
luncheon by the Town and Country Club.
Mr. PARKER's SPEECH.
Er-yuase Farz.- said. in part
sw sasscs been more discussed I, dgTing agiss
tstiVe bodies 90 propose and g. enact new s. Avs
o y a9 s6 q S PDdiS does Of not GS PPoduee IN
ssty n5 e. 5se rsoSesenf sate i ali ifs varied and
sS.fr,ne 5.s,sss l. mas become far moro common
-Ses 2.1s 70: e. p sor aning anew the relations Of
.dvlsuals sach other than 1T is 70 invoke those
Z hiIe law has been gradually taking hxed form
or oTNs 10 seen setIs sOs tseip P own dereaces
lrd ys. every man who has had occasion 20
IS Sssa forced to conclude shet but small per,
rev principle even new policy II rarely
Happens that an offence is committed for which no
n tine since any real c3esttitGSn has aTgea Pie
,7Sser ,~ser eRiftipg eIfn 10 IsgVa''u law.
This congestion of legislation has long since be:
rome chronic in our modern democratic society ana
the malady stil remains. Some small part OF iI is
fhe result OF aoJustlEs our NE 70 a Toe
Soliticsi 1" theories the e which sTe gTduay become
iSevolution OF 1855 were intensified by the doctrines
The AseSn s 3 soonn o6 mt for the % s9pPoa
Snscessity for many new laws in spite of the fact
sas iniroduced aex or untried theories. Coming
Sed 'g leF3ssi5 lisa bodV has felt Itself called upon
enact series f Laws .a1e6 f1r desng %ja It's 'O'
CORPORATIONS HAVE HARD ROW.
Especially in the relations of corporations 70 So
xiety and business. many states distant from the
scene OF origin and deyel22 Of these organic
eriae with them almost before their people had
fhe result mas been great mass Of legislation that
was crude much hat defeated its own ends and
still more that was hurtfu TO the communities most
al to the state over-legisation is its outward sign
sof progress. because only thus can the dominance
&c enforced because ahhoTTent to human natures
God. State dominance IS, however, no new phase
sn the history Of man, and the attempt 10 satisfy
does not really dirTerD Seriously from the previous
Sspoleonic or Russian imperial orders TINS ten
s1ency must, however account for much Of the ten,
legislation enacted year after year Even the
veog eaa spg1 II Il H posble 10 restrct a the b
ty of contract or action OF classes Il is certainly
shod When % dealing With isolated inGividgal oo
qS OF bef those Sr er lights rey pubc af
public or wholly private. Y lost the circle raploy
ssiaon non oe 0f ,sa sS nct sen2 sgeSeiss Is poDu
lar clamor This may be produced by the deIna-
gogne whose Interest it is to make the part ap-
4o5berT ~ of 5s savings bank or by adaiteration on
the part Of some manufacturer or dishonesty by
Of hundred different ways.
Another fruitful source Of legislation is the
neglect or failure 10 enforce existing laws
Aaz public sentiment, plus an Incompetent exec,
she breaches of it become so numerous and often
snent demands relief.
HYsTERIA ANOTHER CAUSE.
IN many cases the misdirected or ignorant zeal Of
an executive officer is responsible for many rev
the elements in him Of the agitator' and often OF
an hysterical canvass. under the promise prose
cute certain kinds Of accused persons once elect
had Characterized his eiectora % campagnp lie In n
or individuals. only to find that juries do
ylei: or that, If they 90. courts will not sustain
iustify or supplement the zeal Of men who may he
8oE IN astion baI eis9r Is ~ 1 otbor
class Of olcial. ana no form Of action. which NOR"
&c than those inherent in spur:s among prose-
another favorite form OF legislation is that fos
.ao benefit or At the behoof of party. The con
tions: the creation Of useless ofices political or
,loicial, cTuSades against faVOTs conferred
Corporations interests; The reorganization Of city
EOveTTants the legislation of one class Of officials
lon Of state stabulary for the purpose of con-
froliuG tie police of great cities for party or per
process common manE legislative podies-sll
..ag harm tc emphasize tho doctrine that par
tisan legislation, either proposed before the bodies
themselves pushed in their committees, or en-
acted into law. be fair. just or enduring:
The continual resort-nearly always for spite. and
lass never pTopery killed or well illustrates the
upon the statute books.
LEGISLATORS MEDIOCRITIEs.
when we shall learn that legislative bodies must
MADE up 81 % meoiocFtGs SO Ions as 2uany ana
requisite when some Of ihe temptation to IegisIate
Shall be removed by less frequent meetings of such
xmp.oyed 10 give the necessary laws legal ana
fsther than encouraged by public sentiment to in
feTfere with the orderly of law making
1nissible to look forward with hope to the times
when hysteria blackmail. partisanship. personal
new laws 10 the statute books when only one is
Il the III effects of idle and mischievous over
tsegislation manifested themselves only in the be-
Tssult would sui be depiora6ie But they are most
apparent IN the attitude OF people which starting
more upon the so-called strong man; in that dis
soTaTiy popular legislation either unconstutionai
or unavoidable along the lines desired; in the
opportunities aficrded 10 the shallow agitator the
dangerous revolutionist or the opulent demagogue;
with decision IN matters Of grave importance hav-
tng 10 do with the maintenance Of popular In
During the years between fsos ana 1908 Eng.
bands Parliament. legislating for the needs OF
ts2oOo0o0 OF q home population and millions of
ersi nd aes specal isvgsfhe i n1nber 116 ~ tbs
latter heing sWeIled by The necessity for granting
t.archires for railways ana charter amendments
While our complicated system OF local govern
snent viii account for a considerable part OF our
vast volume OF legislation, the greater part Of
st Is due 20 causes such as I nave suggested.