The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-26
BIENNIAL Sessions.
Governor Griggs in Favor Of the
Idea on Economical
Grounds.
Special to the Jerseu CITY Ne,us.

fIE ~ ~ ~ SSfcSH w 4vcWcs
TRENTON, JAN. &c, 1ss7.-Governor
Griggs yesterday defined his position in
relation to the proposed constitutional
amencment providing for biennial ses-
sions Of the Legislature. He said he was
earnestly in favor of its adoption.
Il have said the Governor, mot only
thought carefully and deliberately about
biennial sessions for our State. but have
endeavored to obtain outside competent
opinions upon the subject. With this OBJ
ject In view. / have talked with Cover
nor Hastings of Pennsylvania and with
Governor Lowndes of Maryland. found
that the ideas of these State officials,
who had had the advantage of experience
in a practical way to guide them, agreed
with my conclusions.
Examining the matter from an eco
nomical standpoint in other States, as
well as from the political view point,
! find that the reduction of public ex-
pense is a material matter, and of con-
sequcnt weight to the taxpayers, whose
burdens under any circumstances and es-
pecially under the prevailing business
and commercial conditions, are quite all
they can with c~omplacency bear. 1 do
not see why-in fact, the logical con-
clusion is-that If biennial sessions are
advantageous to the States of Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland, as well as to some
thirty-five other States in the Union, they
would also be of like advantage to New
Jersey.
In fact" continued the Governor, obi
ennial sessions are right in line with the
almost universal demand for the ~restric-
ton of the legislation. The growth n
complication of law making, as I recent
ly pointed out in my message, are re-
markable, and necessarily expensive,
without affording adequate compensation
in any way to the people who, while will
ing to be well governed, nave a sub
stantial and, IN this case, pre-eminently
applicable objection to being governed too
much. as they believe. with good reason,
they are now.
You vii have noticed" the Governor
added, that the expenses Of the legisla-
tive session of last year amounted TO
$4,000 in round numbers. IA little re-
H neerlo VERY wl4 tb sh swa5 That t the e1 SIss last nst
tie more reflection will also show that
approximately the expenses per annum,
w so even careful economy are likely to
100000. 1t is a matter Of Simple arith-
metic that emma sessions Would en-
ldii tHiS expense Upon the public only
every other year, or about $50, 600 per an
num-, II you care to put it that way"
Asked for his views upon the cry tina
biennial sessions were In line with the
desires OF the greater corporations, n
that they were more Interested in the
adoption of the proposed amendment than
the people as a mass, the Governor sem
tentiously replied
We'll, If that contention Is true-which
! rather doubt than. believe-it would
seem to me to be an excellent Idea to
adopt the proposed amendment, mas
much as for years we have heard almost
constantly the cry that the corporations
We're the source of great expense to the
legislative sessions. But, as it seems to
me. this cry is more or less sentimental.
not to say sensational, from an economi-
cal standpoint. AS some of the genial
newspaper men a dwelt upon it, 1t
takes almost an emotional turn. Now,
let me ask you, have the corporations
been the power. or have the people been
the force, which in the 81 or 38 States
have adopted biennial sessions, and are
satisfied with the result?"
1t is generally thought tina with this
strong endorsement of Governor Griggs
n the favorable position of Senator
Sewell, the amendments will go through
this winter. AS to the judiciary amend
ments, the lawyers of the State seem to
be as much at sea as ever as to Just
what should be done, and it is Thought
that nothing more satisfactory can be
done than to adopt the amendment pre-
sented by Senator Voorhees, last year.