The Detroit times., 1913-07-29

than the number drafted by outsiders
They ave drawn up. most OF them, in
lawyers offices here there and every
where for the purpose or accomplish
ing every sort OF object by lndlVld-
uals or by groups OF individuals or by
organized business interests OF one
kind or another Such bills are IN
PRODUCED by the members OF the houses
by REQUEST or else are taken by them
as their own and introduced without
any indication that they come from
outside quarters
wv hen they come 20 be considered
II is only bill! here and there mat -
debated IN public upon the floor or
either house. our legislation Is, as
matter Of fact. chiefly done IN commit
tee room. Sessions OF legislative com
mittees. except when they consent TO
hold public hearings and occasionally
arrange 10 hear argument by outsiders,
are private and for the most part con-
fdential IL IS considered a breach or
legislative etiquette 10 reveal what
took place in committee. Bills are
smothered by the dozen after getting
into committee II the members OF the
committee self do not wish them re-
ported out for action by the houses.
Those which are reported out are gem
orally accepted By the houses on the
authority OF the committees which re-
port them, and are passed for the most
part almost without comment. or else
rejected equally without debate
1t Is easy 10 see that the charac-
teristic feature OF all this method OF
Legislation Is privacy ] do not mean
that the privacy Ia in all cases DELHI
crate II springs out OF the system
itself out Of the multitude OF bills 10
be handled and the inevitable haste in
handling them. But often this privacy
is made use Of In the most sinister
fashion for private ends and undoubt-
ely constitutes the main opportunity
for those who wish 10 work schemes
OF their own and get legal regulations
IA Lob h.Nf
The political machine. when IL controls
leg islation can operate successfully
only In private. The minute what Is
going on is made public Il becomes i'm
possible 10 carry IL out. similarly
when great commercial-or financial IN
terests have schemes OF their own 70
work through legislation privacy rs N
dispensable What they wish 70 90
could not be done I'm the open without
such exposure and criticism "a would
inevitably defeat IT"
"'These circumstances are not often
consciously and distinctly analyzed by
the mass OF voters. but undoubtedly
the great body OF our citizens ~
vaguely conscious Of them. and they
lie at the basis Of great deal or INC
distrust and uneasiness which Is telt
when our legislatures are In session.
The great thing 10 be desired In TINS.
as in all other matters OF government.
is publicity There ia no more reason
why committee meetings. where I'M
should be private than that legislative
sessions themselves should be private.
II legislation is In fact Accomplished
in committees committees should ne
public and not private INSTRUMENTAL
ties
Gives Further "Light."
He then discusses at length the
seeming necessity for the chief eNecu-
tive 10 urge by every means WITHIN MS
power the measures Whlch NJ believes
Iav hal ha Ia N IA
have their cause properly presented
but this whole method ne admits Is
defective. Listen further 10 what ne
says
that IL does not lead 10 Sufficiently
thorough debate There Is no one or
equal authority and influence with the
executive 10 debate public matters ofh-
cially with him. no single legislator
occupies his place Of advantage. In get
ting at public opinion. There is no one
in a situation OF authority Which en-
ables him 10 answer the governor or
The president as effectively as the gov
rho prrS Ident can himself
speak by reason OF his larger author
rms ~ not "A desire Ole state OF
affairs The great thing To be desired
IL debate, debate among authoritative
persons as well as debate upon the
stump aud the more thoroughgoing.
the more fearless this debate II. the
better
thing 20 our legislators that the dis
cLssions led by our executives should
be held outside OF the legislative cham
bers To do this is TO make the little
debate that occurs In the Legislature
thing OF little or no significance, and
II is clearly desirable. indeed impera
tive. that In order that the authority
u our legislative bodies should De re-
yived the most effective ard thorough
going debate should take place within
their chambers Undoubtedly the hope
81 the immediate future Is that bv
slowly getting lid Of machine control
and the control OF secret interests Of
other kinds inside our legislative
cham bcrs. they may thoroughly regain
their self possession ana thrr selt-re-
spect. ana in rryainlng these may re-
turn to their pne-tlme practice ~ de-
bate and put everything that they do
To the public ordeal That way lies
the recovery Nf their prcsl igc. ana l
think there an be no DOUBT mat the
present processes Of reform VIII pres
emily bring about that much-to- be-de-
sired result when the people viii again
depend and depend with confidence.
upou their Legislators and not lean as
II Tor rescue upon their executives
Every thorehtful man VIII agree
Win the words OF GOV Wilson that
legislation should be In the ortn ana
free from dt,t1tt0n 10y special Interests
either from Without or IRON within the
goVerrmput- 10y organization or capt
tai of labor or 10y political machines,
or by individuals. and everything
which Is conducive OF legislative free
dom - TO be commended
Has this administration discouraged
secret legl slative methods OF has ~ en-
cCuraged them and participated IN
them To an extent never known be.
force Every time this matter ~ called
to public attention Democrats arise
and make answer by Calline attention
10 similar orenses by Republicans In
"r~~'""s r"nSress~s Ia such answer