New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-02
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT REGARDING
THEM ORDERED TO A THIRD READING-THE APP
PoRTIoNMBNT BILLS.
IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY, April 1.-The Assembly was busy
for two hours today debating Mr.. SINNERS amend
ment to the Constitution providing for biennial
sessions OF the LEGISLATURE. The author OF the
amendment delivered a long and carefully
prepared argument I'm its favor. He explained
that under It's provisions Senators would be
elected for four years Assembymen for years
the compensation to be 81 800 session. at present
He asked that 1t be adopted for the following
reasons: % Because OF the great saving Of
money both direct and indirect, which would
result to the State; C2l because it would I'M
prove the quality OF the laws; 81 because experience
proved that the State had more legislation than was
necessary; a. because the pracncabilty Of biennial
sessions had been demonstrated by actual trial and long
experience in than twotbrds OF the states Of the
Union session OF the Legislature, he said cost the
State nearly 100000 With session Of the Legislature
once in two years, the members would come 10 Albany
with bills carefully prepared. and thus much OF the
litigation caused by carelessly drawn bills would be
avoided. The session Of the Legislature also always
caused uneasnoss in business circles Among the 40
laws passed IN 1877. or the dis laws
passed in 1873, there were not twoscore which
OF vital essential interest to the
welfare of the entire State. The present Legislature
had passed eghty-four bills which had met with the
Governors approval. There scarcely half
dozen OF the bills which Of general interest TO the
State Annual sessions OF the Legislature were held in
only ter OF the hrty-eight states Of the Union fol-
lows: Louisiana. Maine Connecticut, Massachu-
setts, Mississippi, New-Jerscy, New-YOrk Rhode
Island South Carolina and Wisconsin. In three OF these
States, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, the
initial steps have been taken by the Legislatures OF
these for biennial sessions He read also extracts
from editorial articles in THE TRIBUNE and other
Journals. fayoring biennial sessions or the AeW-fork
Legislature.
Several speeches in opposition TO the proposed amend
rnen were made. Mr. Bradley, of Westehester County,
said that the argument regarding the uselessness or the
LEGISLATURE II carried sufficiently far would remit the
State the position Of Tunis and Trpols lie believed
State at Albany every year very beneficial to the
State There many subjects which the Legislature
ght deal with before entering upon biennial SEES
sions system.
DR. l. Hayes said that the utterances OF the press
on the subject were indication or revolution III
to personal government of return to the tyranny 0t
Great Britain. The whole secret OF the agitation IN
favor OF biennial sessions wish for the abrogaton
OF legislation Men wanted 70 keep things as they are
II the speaker had his way that would
be permanent Legislature, and the present executive
an executive completely under the control OF the Legs
lature its representative IN fact.
Mr. Terry said he was heartily In favor or the amend
men II ought TO be passed by the present legislature
for laid over I'LL the next Legislature two years
would be lost.
Mr. Brooks said he believed that il the Legislature
only In two years more care would be taken III
The amendment was ordered to q third reading by
large vote