Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-01-16
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1918.
A WORD TO THE LEGISLATURES

t., say that our General Assemblies do
not make mistakes but it would seem
that the session now open has mag
nificent opportunity to profit by errors
of former sessions. The misunder
Standing responsible for former mis-
takes by our lawmakers can be clear
ed away now, if the committees hand
aIng the new bills will resolutely set
themselves to the task of doing so.
Let it be understood, however, here
and now, that no question of the mo-
: tiYes of former legislators is raised.
Rather, has the fault of these errors
lain in lack of knowledge of condi-
items and the failure to properly in
vestigate the matters brought forward.
Again, it is not meant by this article
TO convey the impression that anything
Ike large per cent of the legislation
has been along wrong lines. Many
good laws have gone on the statute
books, but with them have gone many
laws, correct in principle and intent,
that have failed to accomplish the pur-
pose for which they were intended.
Committees have been prone to accept
the views and representations of par
ties on the ground, and Immediately
back of any given proposition, without
thoroughly investigating the other side
OF the question. 1t frequently happens
chat the parties heard are the ones
with the axe to grind, and the general
public, probably ignorant of the pro-
posed move, get in the neck the axe so
ground Another thing that finds
-1odgment in the minds of the directors
II prospective laws, is the fear OF uu-
setting some principle that has become
fixture in the public mind, and the
dread Of producing comment. This
feeling is sometimes allowed to govern
policy, to the exclusion of a cool con-
sideration Of the merits of the change
suggested.
There are a few matters that we
SAO0Au AAAC " S14I W the dlkoulIOn Oh
the members of the General Assembly
Oh 1913, which we feel are worthy of
consideration, if not of reversal of
present policy. Among these are: The
The multiplicity of needless employees
which is being investigated by the Leg
5slative body itself at this time AS is
known, there are usually probably
twice as many of these as are actually
needed AS an advocate Of economical
government, we feel constrained to go
on record against longer continuation
oE this practice. The question has
been brought up in former legislatures,
but always at such period that action
adverse to the practice would convict
the particular session of the same Of
fcnse, and the members haven't taken
the time, or shown the strength of con-
giction to handle it.
The general principle of insufficient
attention laid down hereinbefore is re-
-sponsible for the inconvenience under
gone by the State officials concerning
adequate space in which to perform
properly and expeditious1y the duties
lid out for them by law. AS was
pointed out by the Secretary of State
IN the prelude to his biennial report.
the new state building, costing $780,
600. would not, by any means relieve
the congestion prevailing. Beautiful
building it is, but absolutely unecon-
-om1cal, so far as use by floor space is
concerned. Built by commission ap-
pointed for the purpose, composed of
Men of integrity and with the highest
Tatriotic motives, but absolutely unac-
@quainted with the actual needs in the
case, it fails completely to accomplish
the end for which it was constructed.
Already had there been provided a
committee On Public Buildings and
Grounds, which we dare say, knowing
the needs of the case, could have pro-
Vided a building much better suited to
the needs. The Agricultural Depart
nlent, doing an especially valuable lot
OF work, is housed in fretrap; the
Insurance Department, one of the
greatest revenue producers of the State
government still unproyided for, after
having been shifted from pillar to post
since its creation; the Board Of Health,
an important but too little appreciated
branch, including the colossal work of
ect the Hookworm Division and the Lab
'oratory OF Hygiene, fs scattered about
~Uer the capital city, much to its In