New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-17
FOR LEGISLATIVE REFORM.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN IN
PORrANT COMMISSION.
PLANS FOR REDUCING THE VOLUME OF PROPOSED
LEGISLATION FOR RENDERING IT MORE IN
TELLIGIBLE AND FOR GETTING THE
OPINIONS OF THOSE WHOM
1T WOULD AFFECT.

OPINIONS OF THOSE WHOM
TT WOULD AFFECT.
Albany Dec is-The commission appointed b
Governor Morton TO recommend changes IN u
methods Of legislation to-day filed its report Win
the Governor. The Commission consists OF Lieu
tenant-Goyernor Saxton, Danforth Z. Ainswortn'
ex-senator John j. Linson, John 5. Kenyon, clerk
Of the State Senate. and Simon Sterne. Of NewYork
1t is acting under law passed by the Legislature
last spring, having for its object a reduction OF
the number OF measures which come before the
Legislature annually. and to subject those which
do make their appearance to proper scrutiny and
consideration. The Commission makes recommends
tons follows:
That all private and local bills. including bills
which relate to municipalities, shall be filed either
within thirty days before their presentation TO the
Legislature. unless the Governor takes upon him
sell the responsibility of making a special recon-
mendation OF urgency. and that each Dill snail De
accompanied with proof that notice was duly
published or personally served. or both, the
circumstances Of the case may require. on every
interest which may be affected by such legislation.
That the petition for such legislation shall set
forth its general scope object and utility This
petition may be answered IN writing by any sd-
That committees Of revision. both Senate and
Assembly, should have their powers enlarged
for the consideration Of all measures. and that
each of such committees shall be assisted in it's la
bors by lawyer OF at least ten years standing.
with an adequate salary 10 insure proper talent,
who shall have such assistance as may be neces-
sary. These committees TO advisory
mttees for redrafling bills and for recommended
operation upon the general boay OF the law, and
to Dotnr our constitutional or other defects. Such
tenant-Governor and Speaker OF the House for q
fixed term.
That a day calendar shall be printed one day
IN advance and distributed among the members
That general public measures should be referred
before passage TO the commissioners to revise the
statutes 70 report upon the effect OF such meas
uis and their place IN the body of the statute law
That committee OF the Legislature should be en-
ployed to take testimony
port private and public bills which have been sub
mitted 10 H. with the reasons for its action within
certain number OF days after the bill has been
committed TnI to is care
larged, particularly such committees as have i'm
posed upon them the most onerous duties OF the leg
isatve session; such as the Committees on Cities.
That proportionate share Of the printing sx-
amounted during the last session to the sum OF
$4,000" should be borne by the parties interested
In the bills. and in whose interest and at whose
request egisiat ton Is considered particularly mon
eyed corporations. stock corporations or private
That the general laws should be competed as rap
ncorpordted INTO them or into one Of the codes "
That with reference TO every bill affecting any
administration of the law subject supervision Of
sbeh az M noce mercer sha De gyen 70
ton OF such subject under his supervision, and an
opportunity afforded him TO be heard before the
bill is reported or passed.
Most of these propositions have been considered
in other States Of the Union, and the i'm
rortant Of them have been adopted in some OF the
states, Wnere they WOFk Well Attention Is par
tioularly called 10 the provisions reatng TO the
giving OF notice OF intention to apply for the pas
sage OF special and local bills, and also to the ~
qu:rements that applicants for bills shall pay the
expense of printing the same and that committees
shall report within certain time upon bills. Ac-
companyng the report additions TO the sec
tons of the legislative law embodying the recon-
menda lions Of the Commission.
The Commission is OF the opinion that the rules OF
the Senate and Assembly should provide that al
bills OF private or local nature should be or
j calendar known as the private and local calendar
and that al bills relating 70 cities should be or
a calendar known the cities calendar, and tina
ali other bills should be placed calendar known
the general calendar that all calendars OF bills
should be printed and the desks OF the members
certain days should be set apart for the cor
sideraton Of the various calendars as above sub
divided.