Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-10
For the Eastern Times.
Legislative Sessions

MR. EDITOR That a revision Of the Con-
stftution Of this State is much wanted, and
willsoon be demanded by the people, is 50 ap-
parent that it il not probable the call for O
Convention will be much longer delayed. One
OF the principal objects of Convention should
be to so fix our representative system as to
give to our Legislature more permanent
character. and thereby enable them to adopt
and carry out any system of policy that it may
be thought expedient to adopt. would sug-
gest the following mode, having fixed upon
the number of Senators and Represent atives,
the former of which should rot exceed ffty.
and the latter be two hundred; the Senators to
be apportioned upon the Counties in propor-
ton to their population and wealth the Rep
resentatives to be divided amongst the Coun-
ties in proportion to population, keeping as
near city and town lines as possible, and when
1t shall be necessary to class towns, contiguity
should In all cases be preserved, and all sepa-
rate representation of the class be prohibited.
The Senators should be elected for three years,
one-third of which shall go out of Office annu-
ally. The Representatives to be elected for
two years, one-half to go out annually. The
time of expiration for the first elections to be
determined BY lot, in their respective chambers.
The travel Of all the members to be paid from
the Treasury. Their per diem allowance to be
paid from the Treasury, and the amount
charged to the respective cities and towns and
assessed to them in the next years taxes
This, in my opinion, would be very effective
measure to insure short and business sessions
The people would be made aware fully that
they paid the representative, and the represen-
tive would be little upon his guard, that the
bill should not be too large. In no case should
they be paid for attendance upon the Legsla-
ture, when they are at home, in the woods, or
upon electionecrng travels-as is now the
practice. In the early periods of the Govern
ment, it was not SO, and the Committees upon
the pay roll, and upon leave Of absence, had
some duties to perform.
A Governor Of course must be had, and I
would add, d Lieut.. Governor, who should ex-
officio be President of the Senate. They should
be elected for three years. The Governor
should have a salary that would enable him
to live, if he pleases, at the Capital, respecta-
bly,, and not from the want of means, hide
himself in obscure lodgings AS for the Coun-
Gil, that receptacle for abraded politicians, it
should be abolished as altogether unnecessary,
and all accounts and claims not provided for
by law be submitted to a Committee of the
Legislature; all other payments, salaries &c., be
paid by the Governors warrant upon the
Treasury-as provided by law-making the
Treasurer responsible for all payments not
made in conformity herewith. The Attorney
Generalship should also be abolished, and the
duties transferred to the District Attorneys
1t is as every one knows, mere sinecure, the
County Attorneys being obliged by law to do
his duties, and are not paid for it. The Adiu-
tant Generalship might as we'll 60 too 1t is Of
no more use, than what might be done by a
Clerk in the Secretary's Office for 500, unless
it is by having a good place from which TO adj
dress the people upon the beauties of a militia
system, for show. Washington was great
friend TO the militia, and they were of great
use to him. They then had good material,
and he always converted them into regular
soldiers as fast as they could be enlisted. He
always impressed upon the States the necessi-
~ of enlistments for long terms being fully
aware of the fact, that before you can make a
good soldier, you must break down man, and
make him machine. OBSERVER.
March LIST, 1853.