The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-09-01
A Remedy for Some
Forms of
Selfish Legislation

uments would afford very
source of raw material. ''e'
Is there remedy for snc,
Of things? The answer ia VOC, 80
moreover, 1t is remedy wbloh ~
gress can itself immediately 49,
There is no complete rem r0
course. No scheme can ba da.
which can prevent such a recue,.
that of the constituent last nss
who wished public documents ~
in his private paper business
quests like this merely mean th,,
every district individuals will alv,
be found who will request imr,os
favors. AS regards these peonls
that can be done is to create a WIN
GUS public opinion-an opinion vs,,
shall not only make 1t upcomfo,,,,
for any man TO demand such tay,.
but which shall cordially support h
congressman in refusing them =,
hold him accountable for grants
them.
Congress has now. and has h,
had. the power to rid Its members
almost all the improper pressH
brought to bear upon the indiyIdn
by special interests-great and am,
local and metropolitan-on such a,
jects as tariff legislation, river 4,
harbor legislation, and pension led
lation. Congress has not exercs
this power: chiefly because Of vh
/ am bound to regard as a very shal
sighted and unwise belief that |.
beneath its dignity to delegate any
its functions. BY passing a rule whl
would forbid the reception or pass;
of any pension bill save the pensI
legislation recommended by the cod
missioner of pensions (this OF cour
to be rejected or amended as conge
saw fit, but not so amended as +
include any special or private led
lation), congress would at once
away with the possibility of Its mel
bers being subject to local pressul
for improper private pension bills, a
at the same time guarantee prop
treatment for the veteran who real
does deserve to have everything dol
for him that the country can afford
In the case of the tariff and
river and harbor Legislation, what
needed in each case is ample pruV
sion for a commission of the highe
possible grade, composed Of men VI
thoroughly know the subject, and v
possess every attribute required \
the performance of the great and d
flcult task of framing in outline
legislation that the country. as
tinguished from special interest,"
really needs. These men, from
very nature of the case, will be whoI
free from the local pressure OF specli
interests so keenly felt by every NJ
who is dependent upon the vote
a particular district every two yea
for his continuance in public h1
Such a river and harbor commiss9
could report, and probably would
port, a great and comprehensive r
tional scheme for river and harbor Y
provements fit to be considered
the people as a whole upon Its mel
and not dependent for enactment ln|
law upon a system OF logToHiI
designed to placate special intere9
which are powerful in each Of ma1
score congressional districts. su]
tariff commission could get al
facts Of labor cost here and aolO]
by expert inquiry, and not by inc
ceptance of interested testimony, su]
a commission could consider dlsp!
sionately the probable effect upon
entire social and economic bou!
all changes in any given branch Oh y
tariff. and ita recommendations ~o1
represent the exercise OF caiel
| Judgment from a disinteresteo s'a1
point. Such a commission coulo wv
in harmony with the commissions,
labor so as to insure that the lau'
ers for whom the tariff Is passeu
the full benefit OF it; for the na,
part of the benefit Of a pro'eOa
tariff should unquestionably go "
wage-workers.
Even under such conditions Oh "a.
making errors might be COMMIT,
but they would be merely those e..I
of DISTINGUISHED Judgment inciuV ~
to every kind of pubic or, for the -
ter of that, private effort, and tne W
would not he hampered from .n'
! ginning by the need of gratifyine
vate selfishness. =.
1t Is oDlJ in this way tna, ~.
legislation, river and harDor "e
ton, and pension Legislation car
treated from the standpoint o' -,
ciple and not from the very low M 4
point of privilege and preferen.I,
obstacle hitherto to the adop''o ~,
such method OF treatment mas ~o
from the queer dislike felt by SO -. .r'
congressional leaders to cou sohl
action which they quite unjusl 'i,atI
feel would in some way be l'h ,'all
Of their powers. think TINS or
Is passing. 1t is simply eno'" Uni
stance Of the kind Of feeiihs .,cla
makes some executives s'op 4
about delegatlng their work " ma
subordinate. and which mahe. |
voters, who have not pondeI0us r,
matter daen,v desire to elect eI'