San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-07
GOOD WORK IN THE SENATE

Someone, discussing the legislative
situation existing at Austin, said that it
Couldn't be worse" Yes, it could. Sup
pose wild-eyed schemes were being
Matched in the Senate at the same rate
at which they are being produced in the
House? Then, indeed, would the future
seem hopeless Even If the Senate
should originate no measures, but should
agree to all the proposals which are
making the House notorious, the situa
ton would be considerably worse than
it actually is.
While inveighing against various radi-
cal and vicious bills introduced in the
House, The LIGHT has not undertaken to
criticise the present Legislature as a
whole; it has specifically invited atten-
ton to evidences Of the Senates con-
servatism.
From such remarks, however, one
might possibly gain the impression that
the character OF the Senate is merely
negative-that it presents itself as bar
rier to undesirable legislation originating
in the lower chamber. and then does
nothing OF its own volition. That such
an impression would be erroneous is
shown by the news reports, if one will
only read them carefully and not de-
Yote his attention exclusively to accounts
Of spectacular doings. The conservative
Is never spectacular, and for that reason
it may be that many people have over
looked a news item concerning Senate
Bhl No. 20.
That measure represents a desire of
the best element of the legal profession,
and OF conscientious jurists as well. 1t is
blow at shysters, and at cheap-john
Lawmakers who serve the interests OF
attorneys who make their living by pro-
tecting criminals from society," instead of
by protecting society from criminals.
The vital provision of the bill is aimed
point-blank at those legal technicalities
which save from conviction and punish
ment defendants in criminal cases who
are evidently guilty of the offenses Of
which they are charged. "On the hearing
of any appeal BY the Court of Criminal
Appeals of this state" the provision
reads, "the court shall give judgment
after an examination of the entire record
before the court, without regard to
technical errors, defects or exceptions
! which do not affect the substantial rights
of the defendant"
Would an innocent person ask for any
thing more favorable? Originally the
: criminal laws were designed to protect
the innocent against persecution and OPP
preston, bat the extreme means Of pro-
lection for the innocent have been taken
advantage of by the guilty. The result
is manifest-everybody knows how hard
it is to convict even a person who has
committed murder in cold blood. Scores
of witnesses might swear that they saw
the crime committed, and yet the defend,
ant might go scot free as result OF
some technical error committed by court
or counsel.
If Senate Bill No. 70 should become
a law such a condition would cease &c
exist Not only would society be afforded
a far greater measure Of protection thar
it is now given, but the statc-the tax
pay ers-would profit greatly by the say
ing OF time, and consequently Of money
in the prosecution of criminal cases.
This is but ono of the constructive
bills thus far introduced in the Texas
Senate What will the House do with it