The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-20
MR.. COLBY'S PLAN.


effective address at the Goddard ratification meet
ing last October. is pleasantly remembered by the
citizens OF Providence, is neither discouraged nor
dismayed because the reform movement in New
Jersey, OF which he is conspicuous leader, failed
OF success in November last.
He is still battling hopefully and valorously
in behalf OF the people, and of achieving
ultimate success he has prepared legislative pro-
gram that is of decided interest not alone to the
people of New Jersey, but to those of every state
IN which the law-makng bodies have shown sub
servience TO corporate influence and dictation.
Mr. Colby's plan is somewhat similar to the
system established in Wisconsin on the initiative of
La Toilette, and it provides for the creation of
legislative reference department to be supported
by the state.
The functions of this department will be to
collect from other states, laws, statistics and all
miscellaneous information which its chief believes
will have any bearing upon legislation that may be
required by his state. Under this system
legislator desiring to introduce bill lay before
the chief of the reference department the ideas he
wishes embodied in the measure, and the chief will
then examine the laws of other states and the in
formation on file in his office relating to the par
ticular subject and will return to the legislator a
draft OF bill expressing his conception of what is
needed in way TO harmonize with the statutes of
other commonweaths
1t is Mr.. Colby's belief that this system will
operate to check the introduction of measures de-
signed to promote the interests of corporations and
also prevent the encumbering OF the statutes with
mass OF crude and ill-digested legislation.
There is no doubt that Mr. Colbys plan would
under certain conditions, be of distinct benefit, but
is seriously to be doubted that it would prove an
effective remedy against questionable legislation in
the interests of corporations.
Public service companies are little concerned
as to whether their bills for the grabbing of public
franchises other valuable privileges harmonic
with the legislation of other states. Their sole pur
pose is TO get what they want and they pretty
certain to succeed when the law-rnaking body is
either complacent servile, spite of the exist
ence OF a reference department.
1t is only when the legislation it desires is
likely to encounter unpopular opposition that cor
poration pays any heed to form and its then is
exercised to conceal its real purpose by giving a
superficial appearance of comforting public
benefit.
Here in Rhode Island there have been many
instances of this sort of deceit and false pretence
For example, it is under the provisions of law
cunningy and mendaciously entitled "An Act Pro-
viding for Tax on Street Railways, that the local
traction corporation claims perpetual franchise in
the public thoroughfares
Mr.. Colby's plan would unquestonably prove
of nestimable value if the bill carrying it into effect
explicitly provided that every measure before
presentation in the legislature should be to the
reference department to be put into the form that
will make it most useful to the state.
Unfortunately the machine is still dominant at
Trenton and Mr.. Colbys hope of securing the adop-
tion of his plan in any really adequate and efec-
tive form is regrettably dim.