The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-10-23
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.

00moor OF 0o0SSot9 ana MemDeIS OF
the House Of Representatives oon.
posing the Legislature Of Minnesota
~ doubled, great aud unealled for
increase M made in the expenses Of
the State government. TIE JOURNAL
protested At tho time against 20 great
IN enlargement OF the representation,
believing il 10 30 both unnecessary and
apuis. The interests of the State did
noa demand It. The different counties
, ven already 10 we'll represented that =
few additional members for the newer
ooss would have been oil suf6oient.-
Il yss remains to DO demonstrated that
the increased usefulness Of the Legis-
lAtuss has been in any degree common.
surate With the increased cost.
In 1871, under the old spPortiou.
mont tho Legislative branch of the
Government cost $36, 43O.28 in 1872,
under the new apportionment, 1854, 1885,
6e-making . difference as against the
latter of s2s, 3o5.36. The increase in
the total ordinary expenses of tho gov.
srnmsnt In 1872 over 1871, exclusive
Of The foregoing item, was 81, 49,
considerable per cent. of which may be
fairly charged to expenses incident to
the increased representation.
A proposition will be submitted to
The people At this election, for their ap.
prevail o. rejection, providiog for bieu.
NAL sessions of the Legislature, through
amendments to the Constitution. On
The score Of economy alone this PROPOSE.
ton u deserving Of tho supper. Of the
voters Of Minnesota. Biennial sessions
would tend to reduce the present ex.
psnsss of tho State Government in
many ways, and very materially in this
single item Of nearly 100000. They
would also largely do away with the
tinkering with the statutos which oc.
eupies 20 much Of the time Of legisl..
tors, 20 that what is law one year would
stand fair chance Of remaining law
for at least two years to come.
Tha main objection urged against bi.
snnial sessions is that the railroad in.
ssrssts Of the State might be such as
10 require session Of the Legislature
sssh year. Suppose they should /; it is
In The power Of tho Governor to con.
vsas the Legislature in extra session
.st any time. If an imperative need
should become manifest, requiring .
session Of the Legislature ia tho year
il which none vas provided for, = proc.
hnatioa BY the Governor weuld soon
call the members together, and 40 they
would meet 70 tate action on . few
specific measures, . session coosidera-
bly, shorter than sixty days might rea.
sonsbly be anticipated. This object.
ion really amounts to nothing. With
biennial sessions, the expense of one
years ssss'ou out of every two may be
saved; while, in case Of necessity, what
i equivalent to auuual sessions may be
held, without any increase over tho pres.
sat expense. The people take no risk in
adopting The proposed amendments, and
il i veil worth their vhile 70 give tho
measure trial. The change may be
p'oduetivs Of good; it certainly cannot
b Of harm.
We give herewith the amendments
providing for biennial sessions, togeth.
Or with another which is to be voted on
at this election
Amendment to Section Ono Of Article
-Four Of tho Constitution, providing for BIZ
ennial Sessions Of tho Legislsture-YES.
Amendment to Section Twenty -four Of
Article Four Of the Constitution, prepare
tory Tor Biennial Sessions Of tho Leglsla-
turs-YR9.
Amendment to Section Two Of Article
Five Of the Constitution preparatory for
Biennial Sessions Of The Legislsture.-
Amendment to Section Twelve Of Arti.
els Nine Of the. Constitution-YES. IRE.
letting to the State Treasury funds.