The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-10-29
THE CONSTHTUr IONAL
AMENDMENTS.
Vote for Biennial Sessions.

Avn RI-N IA I<-N - -
Vote for biennial Sessions.
Orr readers will remember that
we, some weeks ago, published an
article urging> the adoption of the
constitutional amendments. We
had intenAed to refer to the matter
again, but neglected it. These
amendments were submitted by the
last Legislature for the purpose of
securing biennial sessions of the leg
islaiure.
Since the publication of that arti-
Gle general discussion of the prop
ositions has been engaged in by the
papers. The result ia that a good
deal of opposition has been mani
tested, not only to the propositions
to be voted on next Tuesday, but to
biennial sessions of the legislature.
The principal objections are that
these propositions will not bring
about the change sought in our con-
stilulion, and ii adopted by the vote
of the people, will only cause con-
fusion. These have principally
been produced by q hair-splitting
lawyer named Webb, who has pub
lished a series OF long articles in the
Commons ealih. lie has gained
some notoriety as a gentleman who
finds nothing Of this kind right that
he is not the author OF. The latest
discovery he made was that ii the
amendments are carried, they would
go into immediate effect, and he
come a portion Of the constitution
at once, aud that as a consequence
the next session Of the Legislature
would be Illegal. Now it would be
terrific calamity on the State to 60
one winter without the cOnvening
of our annual debating society
That could not not be shought of
But f. p. Baker, Esq, editor of the
Commonw ealth, addressed letters to
leading lawyers all over the State tC
obtain their opinions of this view
of the subject. We have only room
for the reply Of Hon. Thomas Fen.
Ion, of Leavenworth, one of TIE
clearest and soundest lawyers il
Kansas. He says:
LEAYENwoRTH, Oct. 8, 1875.
+. Il. BAKER Your card, dated
September Both, is received. Ny
opinion is if the amendments to The
constitution are adopted, they dc
not take effect till January session
1877, and therefore, q regular ses
sion may be constitutionally held
January, 1876, and ON this ground
the governor need not call an extri
session. The session of January
1876, has full power to provide fOl
the expenses of the State govern
ment till January, 1877, and thel
that legislature may provide for thu
two years next ensuing, provided
the amendments are adopted. Ii
other words, 1 do not agree will
the arguments of w. T.. Webb, Esq
Ii had time / would write you al
argument on the question; as it is
, l simply give nv opinion for wha
ii is worth. Respectfully,
Il. p. FENLoN.
Tom Fenlon's opinion is a valu
able one. The worst difficulty W,
see in the way is the provisions o
the constitution itself. One of thes
is that but three amendments cal
be submitted at once, while it will
take five changes 10 bring about th
so much desired biennial sessions
? How the last legislature got aroun'
this difficulty we are not aware
But as all the expense of the vot
upon this question has been incur
red, we think it best the peopl
should pronounce upon it, and W
again urge them to vote for tn
amendments. The Republican tick
cts for this county will contain tn
forms given in the law. Vote 70
biennial sessions of the Legislature
Let us have a public expression o.
the subject any how, and we have IL
doubt but the will of the people q
. expressed at the ballot-box mex
Tuesday will prevail.