The intelligencer., 1889-04-27
THE REVISION OF THE LAWS.

civil and criminal, shall be revised, di-
gested and promulgated in such manner
as the general assembly shall direct;
and like revision, digest and promul-
CATION, shall be made at the expiration
ofevery subsequent period of ten years"
That is a direct, mandatory require
ment OF the constitution. We suppose
no one will deny this proposition.
Every senator and representative in
the present general assembly, also by
the requirement of the constitution,
took and subscribed to the following
oath of office: :-"I, A. B., do solemnly
swear Tor affirm), that will support
the constitution of the United States,
and OF the state of Missouri, and faith
fully perform the duties OF my office,'
etc.
The constitution In article 4, section
16, provides that "the members of the
general assembly shall severally re-
ceive from the public treasury such
compensation for their services as may,
from time to time, be provided by law,
not to exceed five dollars per day for
the first seventy days of each session,
and after that not to exceed one dollar
per day for the remainder of the
session, except the first session held
under this constitution, and during the
revising sessions. when they may re-
ceive five dollars per day for one hum
dred and twenty days. and one dollar
per day for the remainder of such ses-
sions.'
Ten years ago, at the session of 1879,
the thirtieth general assembly, in obe-
dience to the mandate of the constitu-
ton, revised the statutes of the state.
1t became incumbent, therefore, upon
this Legislature to again revise them.
Not only is this commanded by the
constitution, but every man who made
an intelligent canvass for election as a
legislator did 30 promising to carry out
the requirements OF the constitution
and laws. Through these promises he
secured election, and subsequently, he
added to their solemnity by his oath of
Office above recited.
Under these circumstances every
man. whether republican or democrat,
took upon himself serious and solemn
obligation.
Now what do we find2 Why, we are
told that many republicans and not a
few democrats, propose to adjourn
May 5, with the view of having the
governor call an extra session for re-
vision purposes, in order that the mem-
bers may draw five dollars per day m
til they choose to get through, alleging
as reason that they cannot afford to
work at dollar day.
In this article we do not care to dis
cuss the "obslructiveness' of the mi
nority, or the "indecision" of the ma
iority. The duty herein pointed out is
the duty of all. What is the complaint2 2
That a dollar day is not enough com.
pensation for a legislator. Granted.
We sAyit is not adequate pay. But
the legislator must consider whether
or not the body of which he has been a
member has made the best use of it's
opportunities. If that were true there
would be valid reason for asking for an
extra session. But is it true2 We
hardly think any gentleman will claim
that it is, when in l10 of the 1870 days
allotted by law to the work of revising
the statutes only three revised bills had
been signed by the governor. Seventy
days is enough for original legislation
aud seventy days more is sufficient for
revision if the time is all we'll put in
If the time has not been we'll employ
ed that Is neither the fault of the con-
stitution nor of the people, but of the
legislator, and. he has no right to ex-
pect the state to suffer for his laches.
Ten years ago the very same COM
plant was made, though there was
somewhat better reason then as more
work had been done. Members freely
said they would not work for one dol
lar per day, that they would adjourn
and 60 home first, etc. Gov. Phelps
was confronted with the alternative of
an extra session or no revision. The
gallant, clear headed old man was
equal to the emergency. He said, in
effect, "Gentlemen, the responsibility is
with you. You have been given ample
time by the constitution to do the " ork
required of you. If from a waste OF
your opportunities you have failed to
meet your obligations it is no fault OF
mine. and 1 tell You now, plainly, that
if you adjourn at the end of the one
hundred and twenty days 1 will not
call you together again." This ended
the controversy. A few recalcitrants
went home, and the body felt very
much as one can imagine a good
courser would feel who had shaken
from his shoulders wild cat or cougar
which was burying its fangs in his
flesh. The work proceeded smoothly
along, and nineteen days after the one
hundred and twenty. the Legislature
adjourned, having done a good work
for the state, for which, under all the
circumstances, for there were him
drances then as there are now, the peo-
pie thanked it.
No republican in this legislature can
afford to play the part of an obstruc.
ZIONIST, to neglect the matter of revis-
ion, or 10 go to his constituents with it
nnaccomplished. He is as much a
sworn oficer as his democratic COL
league. In nine cases out of ten he
was elected because he represented
that he would do his duty better than
his democratic opponent. His first
duty is to the state, as when once elect
ed he became the servant OF the whole
people, not of party. A philosopher
has written:-"Every mission consti-
tutes q pledge of duty. Every man
Is bound to consecrate every faculty to
its fulfillment, He will derive his
rule of action from the profound con.
u;ctinn of that duty ~ Thia 10 trua opA