The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-04
THE CALL FOR THE EXTRA SESSION

Day before yesterday came the anticipa-
ted call from the governor for an extra SEES
sion of our state Legislature, fixing the day
for convention on the 9th of April. We
had not thought, in common with the ma
iority of our citizens, perhaps, that the
subjects presented for consideration in the
call would be many, and only those indeed
of the most patent and positive import
ancc. We are, therefore, somewhat aston
ishcd at the startling and lengthy array OF
questions which the governor has seen ut
to turn the legislature of the state loose
upon this spring and summer. When 1t IS
remembered that an extra session is
not limited in time as the regular session,
and that the members receive the same per
diem, ii is rather difficult to calculate the
| length or cost Of an extra session, such as
! the one GOVERNOR ROBERTS has called to-
gether thi, year. when all the principal
matters for legislation in the state are re-
i,rred for its settlement. The constitution
| provides for one session every two years,
| dccmng this sufficient Tor all practical pur-
poses, and its spirit evidently is that the
additional expense of any more sessions
than this shall only be incurred in press
ingly important cases, in eases indeed of
neccssity-suCh AS a new apportlonment
where the state would otherwise lose its
rightiul representation in congress for one
or more terms, or invasion or public calam-
| ity, or the like, or where something had to
be Immediately done to run the state gov
eminent. 1t never contemplated that such
matters should Justify or cause an extra
session, as could, without detriment to the
state, lay over till regular session. Even
so eminent a constitutional lawyer as Gov
ERNoR ROBERTS cannot controvert or deny
these plain propositions and yet in this call
he has suggested everything, not of neccs.
sity, but of consequence simply, that the
regular sessions ordinarily handle. Among
these may be mentioned Supplying de
partment officers with the facilities that
may be necessary for the erection of the
new capital water supply for the lunatic
asylum and improvements of the same and
other public buildings necessary action in
regard TO the university and its branches,
the increase and disposition of their funds
and such further action as may be neces-
sary for the support of the Prairie View
normal school further provisions for the
disposition by SAFE, lease or otherwise of
the free school, university, asylum and pub
lie dobt lands, and provision for The invest
ment of the proceeds so that the permanent
funds may not be diminished at every in
vestment; laws requiring the railroads in
the state to be kept in good condition, to rem
der travel and transportation safe and expe-
ditious, and to prevent abuses and unjust
discrimination to regulate frcights and
passenger traffic, and to provide practicable
remedies for the enforcement of such laws
on the companies and officers who manage
and co ntrol the roads TO reduce the taxes
both ad valorem and occupation SO far as it
might be found consistent with the support
of an efficient state government" and
closes this long list of subjects which are
| likely, when time for per diem is not flying
rapidly by law, to excite great differences
OF opinion and consume weeks or even
months with this sweeping iniinity "and
to consider such subjects as may be pre-
scented during the session by the governor"
All of these things were subjects of
consideration and controversy last
year, and we have not cspe-
cially suffered from the failure ut
that timc to bcstow upon them further
marks of legislative handling, nor would
be liable to for the ten months next to
to come. We think the governor cntailed
upon the state by his call an unnecessarily
long aud expensive extra session, and for
the variety of subjects for though. has
possibly deprived the all important one,
state apportionmont, of that extended and
careful investigation which it, of all 9TH
ers, demands. But so 1t is now and the re-
sponSibility for which, u grave one, rests
upon GOVERNOR RoBERrS, aud he alone
this time must answer for mistakes and UNI
necessary delays. There is q certain num-
Der of people who will, indeed be benefited
thereby, but the great body of the people
will be apt to think over the matter sutll-
cicutly hereafter. We trust, indeed, in the
states interest, that there will be wise,
calm, and speedy dispatch of the business
in hand, but the history of legislative nc.
ton makes our hope rather faint. In one
respect the governor can act very wisely
and that is by presenting additional sub
jects of only.thc first magnitude and inn
pcratiyc necessity.
|