Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-07
BAD FEATURES.
IN LEGISLATIVE
SYSTEM CITED

~ -
CONTINUED from Page Ffve.)
we have too many laws. We cannot
have too many IL they are good ones,
and new inventions and rapidly chang
ing conditions OF life. at least in our
newer states, require many new laws,
but I do not approve of this rapid fire
gatling gun process of making them
The school code was an excellent
measure, but 1t had been worked out
by competent committee Of educa-
tors and was already in good shape
when presented to us. And many
others, no doubt, had been well studied
out by individual members; while
many more were thrown In without
much thought or preparation.
Considering the way they were en-
acted, a remarkably large percentage
of them have stood the test Of time
without change, but quite a number
have been amended and a few re-
pealcd
However when three men finally de-
eide the fate of so many proposed laws,
why not reduce the whole legislature
to workable size.
TWO SAFEGUARDS.
In my opinion. just two safeguards
stand between our present system and
disaster to the state.
The first is the inherent honesty and
conscientious patriotism of a very
large percentage of the members, which
prevents the introduction of corrupt
or vicious measures.
The second is the veto power Of the
governor.
LOG ROLLING AND PORK BARREL.
l would make distinction in the
use Of these two terms and say that.
Log rolling is where enough mem
bers to pass them agree to support
each others bills OF certain class.
This is a poor system bat Is often
used for the passing of measures that
are entirely legitimate and for the pub
lie good.
I would call the pork barrel log
rolling scheme carried to dishonest and
demoralizing extremes by including. in
order to get enough votes for 1t, ap-
preparations of public money for pur-
poses which are wholly unnecessary,
simply to get the money expended in a
certain locality. There is, of course,
no defense for this, but the fault lies
wholly with the people for asking their
representatives to this squander public
| funds in order as Is sometimes given
as n reason, that they may get their
share. or for boosting purposes.
In the session of 1911. the log rolling
system was invoked for the enact
| ~ hrtI he.
lieve they were all legitimate bills, in
the interests of good roads and prog
ress. but if some had been in the pork
barrel class. they would very likely
have become law anyway. unless the
governor had applied his veto.
MANY APPROPRIATIONS.
BE that MS it may. here is the RECORD
for that session. There were intro.
dueed in the house altogether IS bill.
carrying bond issue appropriations fol
roads and bridges. The largest amount
lin one bill was 100000 and the smalles
amount was $4,000 with total of $377,.
900.
There were seven such bills in tht
senate aggregating $3.50 In severa
instances bills from the same count,
We're started in both houses. in which
case one was later withdrawn or al
lowed to die. This makes the apparen
amount of bills started more than /
really should be.
The total seemed so large, however
that several members who were inter
ested in such bills. made an effort 70
an agreement upon some sort of
budget arrangement. whereby a luml
sum would be appropriated and appor
toned to the several counties unde
certain arrangements requiring them t,
furnish like amount to apply on Gael
road or bridge project. Such bill wa
introduced. BY that time, however
things had gone too far and n ma jort.
could not be secured who would with
draw their individual bills. Conse
Iauently, every member who had such
bill stood firmly and got his bill
through If he could.
The final result was that IS sucl
bills became law, carrying a total BON
. appropriat ton of s1S5.5o0. besides al
appropriation from the general fun
of s26I.16 to purchase a toll bridge.
The 100000 bill passed the hous
but was defeated in the senate.
COUNTIES TO HELP.
A large percentage of these meas
ares required the counties where tn
, improvements were to be made, to fur
nish an equal sum or a part of it a
least. before the state money would be
{ come available. Three bills did nc
have this provision.
The platform upon which we wer
elected from Bonner county, called 70
a state appropriation to build a roa
from Standpoint to the Montana stat
line. We secured $4,000 with the con
dition that the county furnish lilS
amount which was done and the roa
built.
Roads are very necessary improve
L nj II