Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1882-04-01
RE.D1srR1oT1ae TIE STATE. n
IFrem the sedAlia Democrat. I

ocratic State Committee in recon-
mending called session 10 re-district
tho state, that devoted aud Influential
champion of republicanism, the Kan
sas City Journal. expresses ''deep re-
gret" that the Recommendation 10
likely to be successful. yet says: ."We
sincerely believe the republican party
will profit by the proposed special
session" The Journal doubtless ex-
poets to be believed! Like all Its re.
publi' an contemporaries it fights call
ing special session, and yet prOfes-
ses to think it will benefit the repub.
lican party! It appeals, to Governor
Crittenden not to call the legislature,
because it will injure the democratic
party! .-..- --.st t..
Our worthy and unselfish contem.
porary generally 'goes in" for every.
thing, no matter how outrageous,
which will deprive the democratic
party of power, which is likely to
overwhelm II with defeat, or which
may possibly bring it into disrepute
with the people. 1t enthusiastically
endorsed the great presidential swim
die; warmly advocated the sale OF
the republican party i'll Virginia to
the Mahane repudiationists; ably
argued in favor Of the trade aud
dicker by which in three congression-
al districts of Missouri at the last
election the democracy were virtually
| cheated out of three members; aud
all for the benefit Of the republican
party. Aud now the Journal swears
that it is opposed TO q called session
while yet arguing that the result OF
such session will be permanently
injurious to the ascendeucy Of the
democratic party! Ri ar r.-a
The chief ground on which the
Journal fights calling = special ses.
sion, is it's expense. 1t says on this
head: .- ab
"Tlme will demonstrate that the
expense which the special session will
involve might better have been avoid.
ed, but the demonstration will be toe
late to benefit the people. The money
will have been squandered. The
treasury will be depleted to the ex.
tent OF $50. 200 to 800. .OOO."
Whatever the expense-and il 10 9
point about which the Journal is Of
course speaking iu the dark-it is moi
at all certain that 1T could be "avoid
} ed" except As the expense of regular
session or the expense of performing
} any other duty, may be avoided-bj
meeting to adjourn or by not per
forming the duty. .-.a -...
But the question of expense 10 no
rightly considered. 1t should b,
weighed in connection with tho grea,
saving effected by our present demo
cratic constitution III substantially
limiting regular SESSIONS to seventy
days during each two years, aud thu
rendering the small expense of calleC
sessions necessary for the accomplish
! ment of Legislation out Of the regu
lar course. The saving thus effected
as coLlpared with the old Drake Cou
stitution, which the Journal cOnsid
cred al almost perfect instrument
is from S20O, 600 to half . million o
dollars, every two years; or betwee
81, 200, 900 aud $4,000, 900 during th,
ak years the present constitution ha
been in operation. But this savins
! w lid not have been a PRACTICABLE,
: Il iirement, unless called session
E hau been provided for-calied ses
sions for legislation out of the reGu
lar ,vurse. Tightly uuderstoo cd there
fare, the present constitution pro
..;e. only for regular sessions o
seventy days during every two year
for regular business, and for busines
: occurring in any interim, special ses
sons to be called by the governor.
This is the proper view to take o
, the matter. The regular session whicl
meets next winter, will have plent.
of work without undertaking re-dis
: tricting. All regular sessions. dc
: without attempting important or un
expected business brought up by un
expected events. or only once in te
q years. And we doubt il the peopl
would be satisfied were this duty o
re.dislrictink to be imposed on tn
regular session, causing neglect o
- regular business, for NO better reaso
4 than the saving of q comparativel
y small expense.
Certainly it was the understanding
e generally at the last session, that th
state would be re-districted if ou
e delegation in congress were increai
il ell. 1t can only be avoided forlthe Ell
Il suing election by taking advantage c
It a coustitutionally questionable pro
e vision for the election of q congress-
man-at-lsrge. What right has col
. gress to prescribe two different syt
+ TENS for the election of represent,
tives?-two systems for states
which there is an increase. aud onl
9 one system IN states where there
y none9 The worst principle involve
!. is that the .inmiuaut party may r,
:. quire states its party rules, to elet
u all ut large; and on the other han,
states III which its party is in mino
= ity. under the district system. VII.
q more corrupt practice for the perpe
:. uation of ths power Of the dom
nant party III congress could be d
y vised2
1t The republican states, where thel
l. has been an increase, to their cred
:. be it SAID, are virtually repudiatil
- this provision Of the act of congres
., But the republican organs of Aisso
If ri, like the Journal, are insisting tn
ID the democratic party shall endor
= the principle by electing u congress
man -at-lsrge; and they impotent
J. threaten the democracy with gener
g. overthrow unless they do!
~, When Snifklns first met her she had
- wild. SC ,red 10 pk. Now that thew q
~ married It 10 Snifkins who has the viii
DO scared look,