The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-29
TELEPHONES:
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL.
FAULTY 1EGrs1Ar1TE METHODS.


 The Journal and Courier prints its second installment of letters it has re- ceived from members of the present General Assembly dealing with the faulty legislative methods in force in the State of Connecticut. The sym posium grows in interest as the letters multiply, not only on account of the personality of the men participating in it but from the unconscious admission involved in them that the legislative methods of the State are anticipated and need correction. That is after all the point to be driven home and later made the subject of the most careful inquiry by the legislature itself, acting either upon it's own initiative or upon the recommendations of competent commission composed of men who have seen service in the halls of legis- lation
 It is noticeable fact that the will ingness to consider a revival of annual sessions, which is thus far represent ed by the majority of our correspond ents in both the house and senate springs not so much from a funda- mental faith in them as a cure for the ills from which the State is suffering as from a growing lack of faith in prevailing methods. It is a perfectly natural thing for men who are dis contented with things as they are to turn retrospectively to things which they have discarded The world has been doing this ever since 1t was first organized and 1t probably did it when the laws of the tribes were those con- ceived in the safety of the crude com L{onwealth. In this interesting and in- structive symposium which we are conducting will be found all of the seeds of the discomfort which when ClAtly QloLlibulUAL ltdQ u Hu uIt- derstanding of the needs of organized society and to their qualification. We by no manner of means find all in agreement as to the improved meth ods to be adopted but we do find, as our readers must, all agreed that pre- vailing practices and enforced habits are encouraging doubt as to the ef- ficacy of our legislative government. In the days when the early patriots and founders met in secret at night to dis cuss the ways and means to achieve their independence a doubt of that character was one more stone added to the foundation of the structure soon to be reared with such consummate skill For the legislators of Connecti- cut to question the integrity of their legislative structure is to cover half of the work necessary to the building of a new structure.
 As we have said, there is discontent in the Connecticut halls of legislation and it's expression through these let ters which The Journal and Courier is printing in it's columns follows a simi- lar outbreak through those sources of publicity upon which popular opinion depends to reach it's market. It is sig nificant that the denial of the justice of special legislation is becoming a common philosophy At last after years of suffering from a policy that has given to individuals rights and privileges which belong in good mor- als to all, and that too without com pensation, the realization of the mis- chievous practice has come home to roost At last after years of crowding and pushing on the part of the lobby fin the corridors of the State capitol and even in the halls of legislation themselves we find men engaged in the science of legislation pointing di- rectly at the practice of giving special legislation to promoters that they may enrich themselves at the expense of the people as a cause of evil results. It is not new menace nor are we hearing of it for the first time. For years clear-headed men have been pointing out the consequences and warning their fellows that indifference to it would in time bring under dis favor the legislative arm of govern ment. There is very little encourage ment to be found in these letters for habits and concessions which have brought about such candid avowals of dissatisfaction. Among them all not one letter will be found upholding the special legislative practice. Many will be found which declare that in the Judgment of the writer the prohibit ton of special legislation and the ere ton of a public utilities commission with definite powers of regulation over the public service corporations VIII of itself remove from considera-