Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-08
4 PROPER CONSTITUTIONAL 4uEND-
MENT

Inquiry among the members Of the
Senate and House of Representatives
shows the existence of very general
sentiment in favor OF the passage Of the
constitutional amendment proposed by
Hon. J. V. Daniels, of Olmsted county,
in the House on Saturday. The amend
ment, Us stated by the GLOBE yesterday,
contemplates the abrogation of the sixty
DAYS limitation as to the sessions of the
legislature, and fixes the compensation of
members at a specified sum, whether the
sessions be long or short.
It's now very generally admitted that
legislature was ill-advised and premature.
Biennial sessions may be well enough for
old and long-settled States, bat in Min
nesota, where the country is new and
sparsely settled, the necessity for legisla-
ton is constantly existing. New counties
are being organized, new towns and
villages are being established, and all
sections of the State are constantly in
need of authority under which they can
effect needed public improvements AS
a result Of this premature amendment we
find the Legislature at the present session
deluged with bills of every description, a
large majority of which come from the
frontier counties. Though the session is
but little more than half over, the ne
cessity for haste in the disposition of
these bills is beginning to be felt, and
scores of them arc passed every week
after receiving only cursory inspection
from the committees. The effects of
this hasty legislation will soon be felt,
and people from all sections will be cry
ing aloud for redress against the wrongs
inflicted upon them either intentionally
or for want of time in which to properly
frame the needed laws.
1t is hardly possible for the present
legislature to dispose of all the business
before it by the 4th of March, at which
time its legal existence will expire. The
appropriation bills will require
careful consideration and pro-
woke extended debate. The manage
ment of our State institutions should re-
ceive more rigid inspection than they
are likely to receive, and the re-appor-
tionment of the State inio legislative and
Congressional districts will require a
week or ten days of continuous consider
alton. Other matters of importance will
also need consideration, but all of these
will be sighted to greater or less degree.
The amendment referred to will be a
partial remedy for many of the evils of
our present system. 1t will afford the
legislature time to give each measure that
comes before it that consideration which
the people have right to expect it to re-
ceive. There would be less complaint of
imperfections in the laws, less litigation
over obscure and disputed points in the
language Of the acts, and greater salts
faction in every respect.
There need be no fear that the sessions
of the legislature would be needlessly pro-
}onged in case of the adoption of the
amendment. As the members are to be
paid fixed salary there would be no IN
ducement to remain in session longer than
was absolutely necessary. They would
transact their business decently and in
order, and rs seon as the tables were
cleared adjourn. There are many reasons
why the amendment should prevail none
why it should be opposed by those having
the best interests of the whole State at
heart,