The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-07-10

government may grow and change rifh
the wants and necessities OF the aeople
and rccofniss the fact that Il win not
be necessary to tle the hands Of the
government II Che eovenment is so ore
ganizrd tmt Il must Of necessity. nc-
cord with the enllghtened Judgment and
wish Of q majority Of the electors.
ann convinced that the one consplc-
uousiy weak and defective department
Of governmental power IN our sister
states. Is the legislative; and the con-
sttutionai convention should give spec
sal attention to strengthening ana per-
foctins this department
Hannis Taylor. one Of the greatest
living thinkers and writer's ON such SUBJ
iects very truly says In amy scheme
of liberty under law in which the ulti-
mate defining pow is vested IN the
Judiciary. that department OF govern
ment necessarily becomes the supreme
power.' and Il should De one OF the
special aims Of the constitutional con-
vention 10 checkmate this power by
raising the standard Of legislative work
SO as to obviate the necessity for judge
made law and so as to compel judicial
respect for legislative enactments.
We can afford. in the main. TO follow
beaten paths in giving power TO the ex-
ecutive aud judicial departments Of the
state government. and IN prescribing the
means and manner Of the exercise OF
such power. but. u we do our duty in
the formation OF our constitution. we
will make some radical departures in
ar l.
OF legislative power. II not In the char
acter and extent Of the power itself.
The conditions under which legislative
work has heretofore been done. have
been unfavorable to high standard Of
results attained: and the average Of
competency of legislators has been too
low, while men thoroughly equipped FOR
such work are rarely found In such as
sembies-as no man from any line Of
private business and not specially pre-
pared for legislative work by extensive
knowledge OF the wants ard necessities
Of the people in every part Of the state.
OF the statutes Of the other states. in
cluding their operation and effect. and
the decisions OF the courts on pertinent
questions Il proprrly equipped for leg
Islstive work
The assembly Is too much like a nom
mating convention Of o. political party,
lack Of knowledge Of persons and con-
ditions to be affected. ignorance Of ex-
listing laws, ignorance OF the science
and systems OF government ignorance
Of the operatio nand effect Of proposed
laws IN those states IN which the same
exist, general unpreparedness to meet
the rapid fire Of questions aud meas
ures 20 be voted on, general hurry and
confusion and legislative trades and
log rolling" result / nmuch in-consid-
cred and uninteligent voting and very
unsatisfactory legislative work
Then too. as in an other assemblies
of the same number OF men. there may
be some WHO are so corrupt as to be pur-
ehasable. others who are so environed
ms to be subservient to special interest.
and others who are so engrossed by 9TH
er matters as TO be Indifferent to the
legislative work being done.
II may be safely assumed. think
that majority Of the members OF each
assembly viii be fairly competent and
honest, tested by thestandard of the av-
erage man. but the state is entitled TO
ana al members
Honest and intelligent men will differ
at times. so that dishonest or incom-
petent men viii hold the balance OF
power on some questions or measures;
md Il is for the constitutional conven-
tion 10 emploY every sensible means
within its reach to insure as far as pos--
sble, honest and intelligent service
from each member Of the coming assem-
blies and no argument should be nee
essary TO show that dishonest men may
be so environed as to insure honest ac-
tion and that the light Of Intelligence
may be thrown upon some very dun
ntelects.
Any scheme that viii secure the result
desired in this regard Will meet my ap-
proval; but the following plan commends
itself TO my mind as well calculated to
insure honest, disinterested. patriotic
and Intelligent legislative service. with
results satisfactory TO the people.
Here is an outline OF my plan; mem-
bers OF assembly should have usual quail
lhcations and numbers but IN addition
70 such ordinary membership there
should be three extraordinary members,
one for upper and other two for lower
house. from the state at large; and, be-
sides being members Of assembly these
should constitute a permanent and ex-
traordinary legislative committee dur
ing their term Of office, with offices at
capital; ana each should have stem
ographer as clerk and so far as nee
essary the public printing establishment
should be at their eeryfoa
These three men should be learned In
the law, possessed OF all the qualifca-
tions required OF members Of the high
est judiciary court OF the state. and
during his term OF service each should
not be engaged in on Interested IN any