RECENT STATE CONSTITUTION-MAKING 



what constitutes a legal fence is different for many of the counties of 

 Virginia. 



Perhaps the greatest evil in this matter of special legislation is in the 

 chartering of cities and villages. In many States it is necessary for a city 

 or village wanting a new charter to apply to the legislature for it. The 

 effect is an opening for all sorts of corruption. This method of char- 

 tering cities is condemned by all municipal reformers. The best method 

 is one similar to that in force in Illinois. There all cities and villages 

 are incorporated under one law, and it is not necessary for them to apply 

 to the legislature for charters. A similar law is in force in England, 

 where all cities are organized under it. The success of British munici- 

 pal government is without a parallel in the world. A system of this 

 kind will tend to prevent the passage of ripper bills for the purpose of 

 legislating the city officers out of office in case they have not obeyed the 

 dictates of the State boss or for other purely political reasons, as was 

 done in Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in the sessions of 1902. 



The result of this power to pass special laws is that the time of the 

 legislature is in great measure given to this kind of work. Laws of gen- 

 eral interest to the whole State are not given the consideration that is 

 due them, because so many local and special interests are clamoring for 

 the attention of the law-making body. The spirit of localism in the 

 American States is so strong that by log-rolling with each other the 

 members representing the various local and special interests have little 

 difficulty in securing the enactment of their pet measures. That the 

 work of the legislature is very largely that of special and local law- 

 making is apparent from the following table of acts passed in 1901 in the 

 States where this evil is greatest. In this table general laws are those 

 that apply to the whole state. 



