The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-02-13
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.

sions Of our Legislature instead of Annual,
as at present. We think many arguments
may be advanced in favor of the proposed
change, and none of any validity against it,
The holding of annual sessions is a consti-
tutional provision, and an amendment would
have TO be made in this particular in the
usual manner, viz: by joint resolution
of the Legislature, and a submission to a
vote of the people at the general election
next November, to be ratified or rejected
by them.
+ Nov as to some Of the advantages Of the
80 r,lace it
proposed change In the ur9.
would save to the State in the pay and mile
age of members and officers about fifteen
thousand dollars secondly, nearly or quite
as much more would be saved in printing.
and thirdly, the outlay for fuel, lights, sta
tionery, and other incidentals, the amount
Of which no mortal man can estimate until
the bills are presented, would be rendered
unnecessary. This is viewing the question
as one of dollars and cents. By the amend
ment, between thirty and forty thousand
dollars would be saved to the State every
other year. And this is no small item,
particularly to Kansas, young and weak,
and just struggling, as it we're, into exist
ence. Besides, our state is hardly far
enough advanced in growth aud prosperity
to show what legislation is needed to foster
her interests, and the less we have of it for
the present the better. For al the prdcti-
cal good accomplished, the last and present
sessions might have been done away with
and no one would have felt the loss. The
vacuum would not have been perceptibIe.
For present purposes our code of laws,
as they now exist, are sufficient, and as ex-
perience shows what more is needed, legis-
latiou can be had, but this can be as well
done-lf not better-by biennial sessions
as annual. Laws should not be passed in
so hasty manner that one Legislature win
be forced to undo what the preceding one
has done. And this is the history of Kan
sa5 legislation. But few laws are needed,
aud they should be carefully prepared, SO
that their meaning may be plain. The
curse of our country, and particularly of
the Western States, is an excess of legisla-
ton. The fewer and simpler the code of
laws, so that they provide for the protection
of life and property, the better for the com
muuity. AS we before said, for all the
good accomplished by the last two legisla-
lures, they might as well have adjourned,
after making the appropriations necessary
for carrying on the State government. If
no other good should result, by biennial
sessions legislatures would have but half
the time they now have in which to do mis-
chief.
If the amendment providing for biennial
sessions should be adopted, it would not be
well, we think, to have it take effect until
after the next session of the legislature, as
a new Governor is to be elected the coming
fall, and he should have a Legislature to
confer with and aid him, Immediately after
his inauguration We would also have the
power reserV ed to the executive, as it is
now, to call special session of the legisla-
ture whenever the exigencies of the occa-
sion demand it. By giving the Governor
this poFlr no inconvenience can result
from doing away with Dnual sessions, and
vast expense will be saved to the State.
Let our legislators, and the people also,
think of this. If is not done at the pres
ent session it will be at some future one.
The people will see the folly and useless
ness of having legislatures meet every
twelve months to waste the time in wrang-
ling among themselves, and giving utter
ance to Senseless, windy harangues. They
will send Representatives instructed to sub
NIT the question of biennial sessions TO a
popular vote. SC We are governed too
much"
DARING MURDER-The White Cloud
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