Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-01-25
Bicnni, al Session =.

AUSTIN. MIMI
THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. %, 1872:
Bicnnial Sessions.
Mr.. Brown has given notice oc a
joint resolution for the appointment of
II committee whose duty it shall bc to
report bill provid;n. for biennial scs-
sions ofthe Legislature. This action is
induced, no doubt, by the fact that the
membership is now as much too lar.c
as it was last year too small. One Of
the great plumbers Of the Legislature
Ut 1871, WIS increasing the numbers Of
members from sixty.ninc to one hun
bred and fo:ty-seven.
Had the House membership been
made onc quarter more, and that Of the
Senate onc-third it would have given
on joint ballot eishty-cight yotcs.-
With our present population and Set
Tied area, this nur.bcr could have been
80 distributed as to furnish each scpar-
ate interest with fair representation.
1t is true that a re-app"rtionmcut can
not be had again until 1876, and BY
that time it is expected that Minnesota
will aggregate nearly three-quartcrs d!
million inhabitants. 1t was upon this
<epeetotio" that the last apportionment
scheme was projected. W. have ever
experienced less Inconvenience in meet
Ing difficulties as they come upon us
than by an attempt to provide for such,
before NC know either their character or
sxtent. Had the late session based the
tew distribution upon real, instead Of
hypothetical population, it would have
subseryed the interests Of the Site
and saved its reputation for wisdom and
lair dealing. To remedy the mistake,
nm adoption Of the system Of biennial
sessions will be proposed.
There are some things which t,nd to
induce the belief that the change would
be beneficial. An expense to the
State Of $50, 900 would be avoided bicn-
nially, which would otherwise be incur
rcd annually. The benefit Of this fe:-
turc the people can realize. They eau
also see the propriety Of permitting the
general laws to remain in force and un-
changed for and during two whole years
after their passage. There would be
less special Legislation, and less confa-
sion in matters Of State and National
import. 1t will be claimed on the other
sid, that any proper condition Of gov
eminent always imposes burden upon
III, people in the way Of taxation. That
liz country having great natural re-
sources developing rapidly and occupy
ing position which is central between
the two great American seaboards, al
most constant legislation is required to
properly conserve her great and varied
interests.
To this it may be said that the great
mss Of cur poplu ion belong to the az.
ricultural class. They are but little
affected by the price Of iron, or by the
location of towns and cities. Wha,
concerns them is low taxes, fair prices,
and convenient markets. They don't
care whether raiiroad be built through,
4 city, or whether it leaves it three
miles from the line. 1t is a matter Of
Indifference to them which of two rival
localities, ambitious of building town,
shall be successful. These are things
which concern corporations and specu'
latcrs. The laboring men Of the coun'
try are but little interested in local
schemes. If, then, speedy Legislation
be required, it is not generally in the
interest Of the great mass Of the people
and We submit whether in such cases il
is just that they should be made to Pr,
the expense of annual sessions chicay
for the accommodation Of those VIII
manifest but little if any regard for thu
interest and wcll-bcing Of men who's
labor and whose productions alone
make corporate prosperity possible.
Another class of objectors will say, VI
cannot afford annual sessions Of sixt,
days each, let us sit thirty days annual
ly. This will give US an opportunit
to meet the Legislative wants Of tn
State promptly. To this it is onl
necessary to say that thirty day Lcgis
lation would be too hasty to te valuable
and would at the same time, afford ol
,ortunity for the pcrpctuation Of Cigar
tic frauds. We hope to see Nj
Browns movement successful.