Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-03-14
The Legislative Assembly.

ton Of the constitution of the T.egislativeA ssemby.
lie alludes 10 one feet, which we hope will relieve
the fears and the surprise IF few who have been
taken abaek by The broaching Of +his question,-the
fact that Vermont, from the adoption of her Consi-
tuition, in 1893, up this moment, ms we believe.
has had but one legislative House proper, and that
House of Representatives. similar own. except
that every may elect and send representatives,
they may feel disposed or think cxpcdient. So
well has this system worked in Vrrmnnt, that at a
State Convention, prupositinn to change the
State Representation. was defeated by yeas 0. nays
2lS! pretty conclusive vote. truly, aud pretty
good evidence that a single Legislative body is not
very dangerous very new as may be thought
BY those who are not familiar with facts of this kind
Our correspondent 'H" spoke of the failure of the
experiment Of single body in Pennsyvani aud
Georgia. and in ancient governments. The
latter became iyrannies inevitably because their
lowers were not limited or restrained by Consfilu-
tions This is the chief necessity why we should
have constitution all. The old constitutions,
charters OF Pa, und Ca, undoubtedly imper-
feet, being the commencement Of new experiments in
government Experience had not then taught them
the comparative ineffciency of the British model.
der new code. They had their philosophers, and
wise men they too, among them BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN. vino believed in the sufhcicncy of one
House. Their experiment was unsuccessful, moi be-
cause House is incapable of successful and pru-
dent legislation, but because the Constitution under
which it originated. defective in necessary
requirements and stpulations. The Constitution Of
Vermont possessing these. the single House has
worked very successfully, and without difficulty for
more than half century.
Our correspondent Reviewer" argues in favor of
a double organization, The ground Of economy in
time and safer and better legislation,-two houses
being able to mature different measures the
time. and each being check upon the other There
is truth in this but sill the constant complaint
has been of excessive improvident and bad legisla
tion writer at Lafayette affrms that "Reviewer's"
argument would justify than two bodies, well
tico. Practically, our legislature is divided into
about forty bodies, twenty in EACH called ''Stundng
Committees" to whom various matters of similar
character referred. and by them investigated and
corresponding laws prepared for the action of the
principal body. More legislation is thus prepared
than in either House proper. Two Houses may
casionally be useful, in checking the "olly or sex
element of one another and the "bills" of either
m0y be made to undergo the ordeal of the others
greater care, and the additional investigation Of its
standing committees. These the two great ad-
yanages of double organization but they lose half
their merit, because the Governors veto answers to
check the one, while the other may, and generally
dispensed with by the two Houses. An arrangement,
like that Of Vermont, would be quite as well as our
present one, if not better. II would be more demo-
cratic certainly. than bcnnial sessions, and four
years executive terms
But, have said before it is not in the organ
isation of the Legislature that find the
medy which all DESIRE nor is it in the frequency or
infrequency of the sessions. The remedy can be
cured only by stipulations made imperative in the
Constitution operate directly and without fail upon
the Legislature. For instance we should adopt the
rule of New York, requiring majority of all the
members, by vote of ayes and noes, upon the pas
sage of every bill. This is the only way by which
TO hold every member responsible for his acts his
delinquency. This would be very great improve
ment. We should require the ayes and noes Also on
the suspension Of the constitutional rule requiring
every bill to be read three different days in each
House, rule which is violated hundreds of
times every session, by consent" Perhaps we
ought require four fjths of the whole number, in
stead of two-thirds sanction disuse of the rule.
Perhaps printing every BILL (as they do in Ohio and
some other Siates,) and requiring only read
ing with three days for deliberations would be BETTER
the cost Of printing being greater than the cost
Of time in the other Every bill before passing,
should be subjected to the ordeal of Standing Com
mittee and this rule should be rigidy enforced, and
only be suspended by large vote, in ayes and
These, and perhaps few more provisions Of similar
character, would do great deal to check has.
ty, foolish dishonest legislation, than biennial
sons would effectuate; and they would go a great
way towards making one House safe as two.
The quantity of Legislation is be regulated by
other We should like to remodel the county
governments, give them extended local legis-
lature, to make them correspond with the de-
mocratic town governments of New England. Keep
ing them under proper restraint by general laws
passed by the General Assembly. to apply all alike
and under which the county boards should have the
right to legsate suit the local interests Of thei
own people. Not permitting the county legislatures
to raise expend money for extraordinary purposes
but this function to be regulated by the Genera
Laws controlled by direct vote of the people o.
each county for themselves. BY wise reform
Of this kind, if il be effected, we should do away
with the necessity which otherwise will con
tinue to exist in greater or less degree for loca
legislation. Add to this, general laws for business
and municipal corporations, and the work is NOR,
than half done, so far legislative reform is con
ccrned
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