Year: 1871

The Republican Assembly has inaugurated
legislation by introducing some much needed
reforms in the rules for the government of that
body. One rule requires that every bill intro
duced and referred to committee, shall be re-
ported back for the action of the House within


fifteen days after it has been handed to the chair
man of the committee to which it had been re-
ferred, unless further time be granted. A glance
at the statutes of this State at any session will
show the wisdom of this rule, which should be
made joint rule, governing the Senate as well
as the Lower House. Fully two-thirds of the
laws of this State passed and transmitted to
the Governor for his signature, within few days
of the close of the session, at which time the
bills remaining in the hands of the various COM
mittees, some of which may have been intro
nuced early in the session, are passed in by the
charmen of the respective committees, often
without any recommendation whatever. Many
Of these which become laws passed by both
houses without having been read, the members
frequently being entirely unacquainted with their
provisions and objects except what may be in
ferred from the title of each bill. In this man
ner, the Legislature shrkS its duty of examin-
ing each bill carefully and removing all object
ionable provisions, while the whole response
biity of defeating bad legislation is thus thrown
upon the Executive who, can certainly not be
expected to give due time to the consideration OIL
the measures presented for his approval, when
they come pouring into his hands at the rate
of fifty, sixty, or hundred per day. The only
wonder is that considering how legislation has
in this respect been managed, we are not cursed
with more bad laws than we are. Many of the
important measures of the session, and nearly all
of those which are classed within the category
of " thieving bills, are delayed in this man
ner.


If the new rule is made applicable to both
Houses and rigidly enforced, we may reasonably
look for better legislation. In all measures of
an Objectionable character it stands to reason
that their supporters desire them to be passed
with as little discussion as possible 1t is just to
their hands then, to have them delayed until al
most the last moment, and then rushed through
in the hurry and confusion consequent upon
the press Of business which accummulates upon
the Legislative files. In this way also, many
measures of local character fail to become
laws-the Executive has not time to examine all
properly, and those which are not of general in
terest, he does not act upon at all but keep;
them until the Legislature has adjourned, or, a;
the common phrase goes, "puts them in his
pocket"


The Uuion, commenting upon this rule, thinks
hat lie off will ha al, IN ;rt
of view Measures which are fraught with pub
lie interest can not, under its workings, be
strangled in committee, but will have to be re-
turned to the House within reasonable time
for its action. We are glad that this rule has
been adopted and have further cause for con-
graduation that il originated with the Republi-
can branch Of the Legislature. 1t promises a
ful6lment of the peoples wishes in the making
of their laws.