St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-02-14
Biennial Sessions.
HOW VARIOUS STATES LIKE THE
CHANGE.


Secretary of state of Delaware The
biennial system was established in
1888. The amount of legislation is
very much less, and as a matter of
economy the change has been success
full. In short, we are altogether salts
fed with the system, and would not
return to the annual.
Gov. st. John of Kansas: The bien-
NAL system took effect here in 1877. 1t
has had the practical effect of reducing
the amount of legislation. No more
bills are introduced now, in proportion
to our population, than were intro
duced under the old system of annual
sessions. 1t has reduced the expenses
of legislation at least One-half.
Governor of Illinois The system of
biennial sessions has prevailed in this
state from the beginning, and gives
entire satisfaction, and there is no
Il GOV: Jaaff ehaof North Carolina: We
have always had the biennial system
except from 1868 to 1874, during which
time we were under the Candy consti-
tuition. No man in this state is foolish
enough to advocate annual sessions.
Gov. Pitkin of Colorado: Thus far
the system has seemed to work well
and to meet with universal approval.
Governor of Oregon: This state
adopted the system when it became a
state, as provided in the constitution.
The result has been to confine legisla-
ton to those matters in which the
whole state is interested, to the ex-
clusiOn of special legislation.
Gov. Gear of Iowa: Iowa has always
had the biennial system. The expense
saved is 100000 per year. In other
words, annual elections cost twice as
much as biennial.
Governor Drew of Florida: Since
its adoption in 1875 the amount of
legislation has been reduced fully
sixty per cent. The legislative ex-
penses have also been reduced more
than One-half. And, in fact, its work
ing has been perfectly satisfactory.
Gov. Roberts of Texas: The great
advantage of the system, apart from
the saving of the expense, is, that it
gives time for laws to be tried before
they are repealed, and also tends to
prevent excessive legislation. In fact,
when we get to be twenty five years
older, my opinion is that session
once i'll four years would be even
better, as it would increase the care
with which changes would be made in
a system of state laws, when once well
established, and prevent hasty and
incOnsiderate legislation.
Gov. Cobb of Alabama: The reduc-
ton of legislation is about one-half,
each biennial session doing as much
as had been done at each annual ses-
sion, and it has proved a measure of
economy in about the same proportion
The last change was made without
and l can conceive no good
reason for more frequent meetings.
Governor of Nevada: The biennial
system was adopted at the organiza-
ton of the state government. The re-
suits are a saving of at least one-half
in the volume of legislation and in re-
ducing expenses One-half. There is no
desire here to adopt the annual system,
as the governor has power
to convene the legislature in cases of
Gov. Pillsbury of Minnesota AS
measure of economy, the saving the
first year will reach SI50,O0O. | do not
know of a single objection to the
system, but on the contrary, believe
the system is wise and good one, and
that the people of this state will never
return to annual elections.