The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-16
70 THE LEGISLATURE.
Some Plain and Pertinent Suggestions by
Honorable M. S. Brewer.


Honorable M. S. Brewer.
From the Detroit Tribune.
PONTIAC, Mich, Dec. l2.-Editor of
The Tribune: At the republican state
convention held at Saginaw in July last
among other things said in.the platform
adopted, was the following, viz:
Long sessions of the legislature are
an unnecessary expense to the public,
and we condemn the practice, and
pledge the people that if the republican
party has control of the next legisla-
ture, business will be done with fidelity
and promptness.
1--WE declare that the next legislature
should submit to the people constitu-
tional amendment providing that all
compensation to legislators should cease
at the expiration of 100 days from date
such legislature shall convene.
That we condemn the practice of
railroad companies in giving passes,
and the same being accepted by legisla-
tors and other public officials, and we
demand that such laws shall be enacted
as will effectively put stop to this
evil"
No part of the excellent platform
adopted at that convention met with
such hearty approval by the convention
and by the people of the state as the
words quoted. The people believe that
all necessary and requisite legislation
can be enacted in one hundred days
session, and that the doing away with
passes to members will aid materially
in bringing about that result. Republi-
can members-elect of the incoming leg
islature in accepting their nominations
stand committed, with the republican
party, to the promises made in the
platform adopted, and the people have
a right to expect and demand that the
promises thus made shall be fulfilled.
Such members have now plenty of time
before the legislature shall convene to
frame sach bills as they expect to pre-
sent, so that when the legislature shall
meet their bills can be presented and
the committees proceed to work with
out delay. No unnecessary time should
be spent in framing the committees by
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or the speaker
when chosen. The appropriation bills,
bills relating to public institutions, to
taxation and the liquor traffic, as well
as other measures of general import
ance, should be early reported and con-
sidered and not withheld until private
bills and matters of less importance are
disposed of. Congress long since, like
the legislatures of the states generally,
has found it utterly impossible to act
upon all bills presented, and our own
legislature must devise rules which will
provide for all necessary legislation
without being compelled TO waste its
time upon such measures as are imma-
terial and useless. No amendment of
our statutes should be made without a
majority of each house shall be thor
I,oughly convinced that such amendments
are an improvement upon existing law.
Votes for measures should not be given
simply to please colleagues alone, as is
too often the case. No Legislative body
in this state in many years has such an
opportunity to make II proud record as
the one about to convene. The long
! sessions of our former legislatures and
the insinuations of improper influences
used to aid or defeat legislation have
tended to make them unpopular with
the people. The incoming legislature
has it in its power to avoid all such
mistakes, and if it carries out the prom
Use made at Saginaw it will adjourn at
the end of hundred days session. re-
ceiving the commentator of the people
of the whole state. Somewhat extend
eel experience in the legislative bodies
and much mingling with the people has
convinced me beyond doubt that the
legislative body, which does its neces.
sary work with the most expedition and
makes its session the shortest, is always
the most popular with the people. The
men chosen by our party to the incom
ing legislature are men of high character
and they cannot afford to be false to The
people who have entrusted this legisla
tive power to them. The republican
party is a party that always fulfills it:
promises, and herein is where it differs
with all other political organizations
That proud record must be maintained
/ trust the republican press of the state
will see to it that republican members
of the legislature can only retain the
confidence of the people by fulfilling
the promises of the party which made
it possible for them to be honored by
their election.
NJ. S. BREWER.