The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-03-08
An Argument for Biennial Sessions

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EDITORS STATE JOURNAL IL observe that
the Legislature is about taking action upon
the subject Of biennial sessions. of the Legis.
lature, and feeling that it is subject Of nc
small importance in an economical point Of
view at least, | would fain make few sug.
gestions for the consideration of those hav.
ing the matter in hand.
WHAT NEED HAVE WE OF AN ANNUAL SESSION
OF THE LEGISLATURE
In the newness of the State, when new
counties were developing and organizing,
when new projects for roads and rail roads,
and other various and important State en-
terprises were constantly presenting them
selves. perhaps there was some warrant for
annual sessions, perhaps occasionally for
LONG sessions.
Also, during the war, great deal of leg
slation was needed But now. thank proyi-
dedee, peace has again returned The
brave soldiers who survive the struggle
nave returned and all is in its wonted
channels again, except the natural conse.
quences, a heavy public debt, and an enor-
nous incsease of taxes on almost every
thing except the breath we breathe. These
taxes are mainly necessary and must be
borne. But whatever in that line is unnec-
essary and useless. how necessary and how
just that it should be Topped off,
After the flush excitement of the war is
past, and things are down to a sober quiet
standard again, this GREAT LOAD is going to
be more sensbly felt than as vet. Low
prices for farmers products; cattle plaques
and poverty Of one sort or another is BOUND
TO FOLLOW the high and inflated swell of the
last five years, as surely as night follows
day. just when or how it is coming, no
one exactly knows; or that it is coming at
all, no one absolutely knows But if it
does not, it will be the first time that calm
did not succeed storm. 1855
In view of the foregoing reasons, and
many more that will suggest themselves to
thinking minds, ask when was there a
more fitting time to lop off one half or two
thirds of our legislative expenses, to restrict
this most needless waste of money in
comparatively poor State like ours
Our legislative sessions cost us directly
from 500, 900 to $150,000 EACH as will
be seen by examining the reports of the
Secretary OF State, and as much more
indirectly in the way of hindrance and loss
of time Of those who ought TO be otherwise
better employed, and III the needless and
ceaseless tinkering and haggIing and patch
ing and spelling of the laws. Whether
good or bad, if they could be let alone un-
til tue people and courts learn their scope
and bearings, they would be of some practi-
cal account. But thus far the statute laws
of Wisconsin have been more like the Pad
dy's flea than staple laws. The most that
can be said of them is, that they are gener-
ally printed and circulated in season to be
torn in pieces by the next succeeding ses-
sion ofapprentices to the business of legis-
lation. ''--@-' a.t-- 49,
A new set come to the Capital annually,
not ten per cent. Of whom Except the one
half of the Senate that holds over) ever be-
fore were members of such a body; good
men enough in their way, very likely great
men at home, bat raw and green enough
here. But still they are The LEGISLATURES,
and feel that they have great and grave
responsibility resting upon them. They
are all going III for lort session. OF
COURSE THEY ARE; and for economy and re-
trenchment, OF COURSE THEY ARE and the
fair thing all round, OF COURSE THEY ARE
But somehow or another the old crows of
the lobby come also, II birds of evil omen, =
carrying FREE TICKETS and other pleasant
seductions about them they are not green
nor unframed in the ways of the world or Of
legislation. Alas, for poor human nature, our
new and virtuous legislators are soon upon
the old track, and all is running as usual -
Certain committees are constituted aud the
crookedaneck Of tie session is committed to
them, and they manage it, and with it the
Legislature. The FREE TICKETS, put out lit
tie brides, adjourn it regularly on Fridays
over until Tuesdays, and the body instead of
attending to its business, if it has any to
attend to, Is running over the roads about
one-half Of the time How would the gen
tlemen like it if their farm hands at bone
adopted the FREE TICKET system, aud work
ed halt OF the time, and counted in the
whole and voted themselves ten dollars
worth of potatoes weekly out of their en-
ployer's cellar First rate, no doubt.
1t soon becomes apparent that the session
will be as long as usual, i. e., it will hold
until blowing time, although in the outset
there was little or nothing to do but what
could have been done by the counties or
better if not done at all But between the
heavier parts Of the play they anuse them
selves with bills declaring little streamlets
navigable, (for small fish, with firing
away at the statutes, or may be rap at the
DOG LAW, and however much they may dis
agree upon these great questions they can
always harmonic uponithe postage stamp
question, and vote unanimously. Who
biames thetn=itis paying business. -
Yes, gentlemen, such is the----of Wis
consin legislation, not particularly this VIM
ter more than. usaal, but always more or
less SO / speak both from experience and
long observation. Who viii substantially
deny it Who eau -,.-r
Such being the fact, the practical question
now presented is, can we not get aloug just
as well and better witlzone half of 1.-the
amount or even less. The great State Of
Illinois. with its 1900 600 people, is pros
periIg even more than we are, with onIy
biennial sessioussof forty to sixty days and
who viii undertake to show that they are
suffering from too little legislation. Her
| population Increased IN the last five years,
notwithstanding she sent $50 900 lneu to
the.war, nearly as much as the entire pres
eilt population of Wisconsin,
| If they can live without annual s5ssions.
and long and wasteful sessions with their
4 AscOOsSOOs SrtbhoL VIZ QuEsk JUU,OUU
people. Will the Legislature now in ses
sion give us the requisite preliminary steps
to tryit? That is the question, gentlemen.
Just that. Though Madison man / sin
cerely hope it will be DONE sse
| cannot conceive where there WILDE an
deposition raised TO ii except at the Capitol,
for | know of no other parties in the least
benefited by the annual sessions, except a
few boarding house aud hotel Keepers.
Gentlemen, members Of the Legislature d
4 1866, allow me in conclusion To HOPE thai
you will distinguish yourselves and bless
your constituents by inaugurating this re
form and saving of such a large amount o
money to the people. Provide for bienuia
sessions Of sixty days, commencing the. Isl
OF February. Such reform once enacted
and embarked in and we should never o.
back again to the present wasteful and fool
ish system. Gentlemen, give the matter t,