Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-02-14
Economy in Legislat ion-Biennial
Sessions.

Sessions.
Mr.. Maxon Of Washington county
has introduced several resolutions in
abe Assembly to change the Consti-
tuition so as to provide that the State
shall be divided into not more than
thirty-three Assembly districts-each
to be entitled to elect three Assem-
blymen-and eleven Senat orial dis
tricts with three Senators each and
provides for biennial sessions of the
legislature instead of annual sessions
as the Constitution now requires.
The first provision is a step in the
direction ofminority representation,
1t is the least important, we think, to
act upon at present, until the ex-
pertinent is proven in other states
where the system is now under trial.
But the latter proposition is one that
has occupied the attention Of the
legislature before. We think the
same originated and passed in the
Assembly last Winter, but was de-
featcd in the Senate by a small vote.
For a number of years there has
been u growing desire among the
people for q more economical system
Of legislation, and in no way can the
reform be more effectively begun
than by lessening the number of leg
islative sessions. 1t is thought the
timo has passed when frequent SEES
sions are necessary to provide for the
changes and developments Of new
ly settled country. Our population
has increased TO a number that ranks
Wisconsin with the older and settled
western states, and the interests of
the people are fixed and, general im-
provements marked out for future
growth. Neighboring states of Iowa,
Illinois, Michigan, and likewise Indi-
ana, Ohio, Missouri and Oregon have
biennial sessions of the Legislature,
and there il no desire to return to
the more expensive annual sessions.
The COST of Legislation to this State
has been for number of years over
O hundred thousand dollars annually,
including the publication Of the laws
which is about Sl2 900. Consider
ing that great part OF the time &C.
cupied in legislation, as reference to
70 the doings Of the legislature for
several years past will show, is con-
sumed upon special or local acts, and
repeating and amending laws not old
enough TO be understood or become
operative, the proposed change, it
would seem, might well be adopted
to secure better economy in this
branch Of the State government
These are other reasons that present
themselves for the change. Our
State institutions are mostly compile
ted and in running order aud should
not require the yearly guardian care
of the legislature. There are too
many laws made-too much patch
work and special enactments for the
best interests of the people.
Most Of the class of special legisla-
ton could be done as we'll and prob
ably with more justice in the county
where the benefits are asked and it
is true that many measures that are
passed by our state legislature in the
interest of individuals would find no
support if urged at home. Thus
much evil legislation would DO avoi-
ded. Let the Legislature confer upon
the County Boards legislative powers
in certain cases, so that most Of the
special and local measures, which
consume the greater part of the time
Legislators, may be acted upon by
them.
We are confident that this propos-
ed amendment 10 the constitution for
biennial sessions of Legislature, if put
to the vote, would find favor among
the people The change would be a
saving to the tax payers of not less
than hundred thousand dollars an.
nually, and would give us fewer and
more carefully constructed general
laws and less evil and special enact
ments.