The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-27
WIND-UP OF LEGISLATION.

WlND-OT Of IliGl DiAIlONs
The disadvantage OF having the Leg
islature adjourn before bills are fully
considered by the Governor has been
more evident the present year than
ever before. We do not now refer to
the matter Of the Legislature ending
its session on the siXtieth day. but to
the adjournment Of the Legislature
upon important bills. The experience
of the present time shows that 4 num-
Der of fair measures might have been
saved by some amendment by the Leg
still been in session. In this, Of
course, we do not advocate that the
Legislature remain in session beyond
the sixty days. The idea we have in
mind is that it should finish its leeis-
lation number of days prior to the
slxtleth day limit, reserving the last
few days in sort of waiting attitude
in order TO correct bills that NAV be
found by the gubernatorial inspection
to be detective or to carry obnoxious
provisions. In such case the Legisla.
ture could easily remedy the objection
If ii were still in session. But having
definitely adjourned, there is no wav
TO cure such defects or TO eliminate
such obnoxious provisions, as the
Governor has no power or selections
except as to items IN an appropriation
bill. His power of elimination does
not go to the point of striking ont
evil provisions or to making correc.
tions in an ordinary legislative bill.
Such a bill has either TO be signed
or vetoed, and where il carries OBJ
noSious provisions the good has to fail
with the bad.
The street intersection bill which
was vetoed by the Governor waa in
its main feature a good measure. AS
we have shown, the only wav RIGHTLY
to impose the burden of paving street
intersections is to assess the cost of
1t against the property adjoining. half
way along the block The proposition
to have the city pay from its general
taxation FOR paving a local street in.
terSection is Just as Objectionable as
1t would be to call upon the general
city treasury to pay for the corner
OF a sidewalk, which occupies precise.
ly the same relation to the adjoining
property that the street intersection
docs, To call upon people ail owe,
the city and IN a large degree 10 call
upon those who have no nayipo r,h,t
ever Iu front of their property to nav
Tor street intersection paving in other
parts OF the city is clearly unms.;ta.
Bile. Still, because the bill <arr;od
other provisions having nothing n do
with the main purpose oe .bo
DILL and those provisions being oh.
Jectlonable in themselves. the whole
bill had to 90.
The parking bill was meritoriops
measure in intent, and we believe tha,
if the Legislature had been in session
1t could have been adjusted so as In
receive the approval of the Governor
But this was impossible, and 50 tbo
Objectionable features of the hi11 dc.
feated the good purpose that it car.
ried.
In the matter of the approximation
bill. the cuts made by the Goyerno-
were surprisingly few. There IS an
optimism prevailing as to the problem.
atical revenue that NAV be derived
winch may or may not be justified
even with the increase of a half mill
IN the State levy as proposed. II il
is justified. the State s credit will he
secure II IT is not, the State viii
have TO be carried by the banks for
dehcit- and the interest will have
to be paid. Still. inasmuch as tbe
state ought to receive a considerable
sum IN interest on public funds dc
posted in the banks, there will no
doubt be good credit balance in ia.
vor Of the State on interest account.
We believe that on the whole tbe
Governor has acted judiciouslv and ar.
cording to the Constitution and the
best interests of the public. But we
are clearly Of the opinion that the
Legislature ought to close its main
work a sufficient length of time in
advance Of the Constitutional limit
10 assure the cooperation Of the Leg.
islature with the Governor in round.
ing up and completing the tag.e end of
legislation. The practice Of adjourn
ing with table full Of bills unacted