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

husiness iu any manne -epsndent upeg
OF cnioyine special ieelt pfieileses. non
IN amy business concRtins on incon-
sistent vito nnscinsh ana disiuteresteo
legislative service. and this inhibition
should include the practice Of law in an
ifs brinches
These men should be required 70 give
an their time 20 legislative work. as
members during It's sessions and ns such
committee at an other times. and amonr
their COMMITTEES diuss. th9 following
shoud DC included; O) they should COLI
ieci. verify and classify an obtainable in
formation bearing on an questions on
whica the assembly may act or which
IL may consider including legislative
wants and necessities OF the people.
practical operation Of our own and oth-
or state statutes. defects OF every char
acter in our own statutes and wavs ia
cure same. decisions of our own ana
other courts upon statutory construc-
tion and validity, CD they should pre-
pare such bias as either or an OF them
think should or likely will be considered
by the assembly: and each such bill
8 ould by copy be filed at earliest prae-
AiNtANFh IAfAAtfttf AA'A A'-a WAN tiillAN
doys IN advance Of the assembly. for
public examination and criticism. as fol-
lows. In once Of each member OF COM
mittce and county clerk OF each county
and committee should Introduce same
in assembly within five days after it is
organized and prepared to receive same
provided however. county clerks should
not be required 60 keep same on file
more than sixty days after adjournment
Of assembly. and go they should give
the assembly such Information and ad-
vice as thNy can as to legislative mat
ters IN general; and upon special re-
quest should give the assembly such IN
formation as TO any particular matter
In writing II required, and should keep
the records and files Of the office open
to examination Of members OF the as
sembly.
besides these duties az committee
men, each should have all the duties and
privileges Of other members Of the as
sembly during sessions OF the same: pro-
vided however, the committee and each
member thereof should not be permitted
go Introduce, cause to be introduced
suggest, nor instigate to be introduced
in assembly any bill not prepared and
filed IN advance as above required.
In this way we should have laws in ac-
cord with the best judgment and wishes
Of the enlightened people the state. so
written as to clearly express neither
more nor less than is intended. so writ
ten as TO accomplish their purpose, so
written as to subserve the best inter-
ests OF the masses OF the people and so
written as to be valid.
In this way the conditions should be
almost as favorable to the enactment Of
intelligent laws IN the interest Of the
people sa the conditions under which
our judges will labor will be favorable
to Just and favorable decisions
The judgehears from opposing lawyers
the best that can be thought and said
for and against each side OF each ques-
tin before there is any occasion for
him to decide IT. and then, II not fully
satisfied, he can take the matter under
advisement and, in the uuietude OF his
private office. think IL over work it out.
and prepare his opinion without being
disturbed by any other question or
thing.
The permanent committee proposed
would work under conditions very fav-
orable to good results: and the assembly
would have on each bill all the light
that this committee and the collective
intelligence OF the people OF the state
could shed; and | may also add that the
assembly would also have upon its.....
..... the eye Of the people
In this way the public would be kept
I'm close touch with the assembly work
ard everybody with knowledge of the
sabject knows It is easy for the people
to secure desirable and prevent undesir-
able laws when they have their eyes
open in time TO the thing proposed, its
significance, and the ottitude Of the as
sembly members toward it.
Instances Of the effectiveness of this
sort Of influence upon legislation are
too frequent to require citation, but they
are far less frequent than they should
be, and Jess frequent than they would be
under the proposed plan.
Under the customary procedure. even
those who are supposed to keep well
Informed as TO legislative doings seldom
know the exact wording OF any bill until
after the assembly has adjourned: and
previous definite knowledge is essential
to intelligent and effective criticism.
BY the plan proposed the merits and
dement's OF almost al legislation would
be first carefully studied BY capable
elected men possessed Of extensive
knowledge OF everything that may prop
erly be considered in that connection. 1t
would t5en be considered By the popls
at large and finally the legislative as
sembly would consider and act upon It
under the public eye.
In this WAY we should be able TO get
laws that are sane and wholesome and
that cover almost lyery subject upon
N-nlnh lhn nnnnla 49, L.nLala tlnn. IN