Morris tribune., 1881-01-13


Among the first duties which should demand vour
prompt performance is new apportionment of
legislative districts upon the basis of the late federal
census of the State. The failure to perfofm this
duty in 1875 withheld from the growing frontier
counties the increased representation to which they
were then justly entitled: and the wrong thus in
nlcted upon them has since become so serious that
N some instances the same population which in the
old counties sends four representatives to the legs
lature In these now counties sends but ones Such
obvious injustice trust will not be allowed to con-
tinue. The census of the State has not been Off
cally reported, but its numerical results are suf-
GGently known for the practical purpose required.
Inc congressional apportionment of the State must
of course await the action of congress- which, If
taken at the present session. may possibly be in
time to enable you to form our congressional dis
tre m before adjournment To this end it might be
wen 10 pass resolution urging an early off,
ington.
BIENNIAL MI LEGISLATION SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
will devolve upon the legislature at this session
70 adjust the laws respecting reports of the several
departments and State institutions to the constitu-
slona requirement Of biennial, in lieu of annual
are required to be made annually. This should be
dispensed with and only biennial reports required
70 correspond with the alternate years when the
session IS held, thereby lessening the expense of
pubhcaton. All question as to the proper mode of
canvassing the votes for district judges, and
also sas. respecting peetn the time for the. can
qured by the constitution should be set at rest, in
order to avoid the possibility of future complica-
Lols resulting from lack OF express provisions uDou
the subject. The adoption of biennial in lieu of an
nual sessions of the legislature promises to be more
saiutary in its results than was expected by those
VINO favored the change. It is not probable that
any public interest has thus far suffered for lack of
Legislation, while 1t Is certain that much less ILL
advised action will now need to be undone. and IL
Is believed that there will be less, rather than more,
Legislation required at this session in consequence
OF the omitted session Of last winter
Laws which would have then been deemed de-
iectve are found upon further trial to need no
amendment, the changing act and its repeal being
thus avoided, while the amendments that are actu-
ally needed are better ascertained and considered
upon two years trial than one. In ali
respects r!s biennial sessions win prove benefi-
cia the saving of expense alone being so consider
able that decrease Of taxation will probably be
acticable, at least In alternate years. The change
: being steadily adopted by the different States
two.thirds Of which now hold biennial sessions
while know OF no instance Of return TO annual
sessions where the biennial plan has been once
adopted. --A' DooA oNo0
!! to the step thus wisely taken in the direction of
reform there could be added this prohibition or
curtailment of the growing evil Of special leeisa-
ton, another fruitful source Of expense and abuse
OF power would be removed II Is we'll known to
all persons familiar with this subject that at least
two-thirds of the time, labor and expense reoured
OF AVERAGE session are consumed in the and
printing Of acts of purely private speeiai or local
nature. which are properly matters to