New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-07
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.

|
amendment to the Constitution providing for
biennial instead Of annual sessions Of the Legis
lature is likely to provoke discussion, though
we apprehend there is little probability Of the
present Legislature taking any decisive step In
that direction. The present Constitution is only
| two years old More than usual care was exer-
| cised in the choice Of delegates to the conven-
| ton which framed II. and that body as a whole
| is generally conceded to have represented the
| highest intelligence. the best thought and the
| sOundest judgment Of the people of the State.
| Every defect in the old organic act was made
| the subject of careful deliberation and earnest
discussion. and every proposed remedy thought
fully weighed and considered. The advantages
and disadvantages of the present system Of
annual legislative sessions did not escape at
tentOn, but were more or less thoroughly dis
cussed. with the result that no change was
deemed advisable. That was little more than
two years ago Nothing has since occurred to
alter the conditions under which that concu-
sion was reached, and in the absence of any
agitation Of the subject in the press or else
where it is a reasonable assumption that the
people are satisfied with things as they are. II
is at least safe to say that in the two legislative
sessions since then the party which controlled
both and is still in control has not so used It's
lawmakng functions as to make manifest to its
own members the need Of limiting those func-
tons restricting its beneficcnt opportunities
The Governor Is no doubt correct in saying
that in the States where the Legislature con-
venes bur once in two years the people are per-
fectly satisfied with their system and not dis
to cot, IN nj
sions. This we believe. is especially true Of
our neighboring State of Connecticut, where the
plan Of biennial elections ard legislative SEES
Sions has been in operation only few years. but
long enough TO afford n fair test Of its popular
y. 1t Is also to be said that the theory Of limit
ing the lawmaking function was submitted TO
a most trying and unusual test during the IA
nous deadlock in that State a few years ago,
when there practically no legislation for a
period Of four years. There was never any COM
plaint far as we have heard. that the ma
terial interests Of the State suffered from the
deprivation, nor has there been any desire mani
tested to return TO the old practice. TO this it
may he quite properly answered that Connecticut
is a comparatively small State, with no such ex-
tensive and diverse interests, whose frequently
changing conditions demand legislative watch
fulness and constant care. as have in this
State. Institutions that sufficiently serve a
population of seven or eight hundred thousand
might be found inadequate for our population Of
six millions.
OF the evils which spring naturally ont Of
annual sessions, and especially Of the abuses Of
overlegislaton which they promote. there can
unfortunately, be but one opinion. In what
Governor Black says on that head all thought
full observers must concur That these evils are
on the increase year by year Is painfully evil
dent. IT, as was long ago suggested, the func-
tons Of each legislative session could be spe
officially defined, so that the session devoted to
making laws should be succeeded the following
year by one empowered only to repeal existing
statutes. 1t might afford some relief. But that
is hardly practicable. We are too impatient Of
whatever goes wrong, seems to go wrong, in
the working Of our political machinery to wait
long before striking at II with a statute law.
That is human foible, and we have to reckon
with It. The Governor Is quite right In his view
that "the legitimate needs Of this State can be
provided for in a shorter time than Is gen.
"erally consumed" and there will be universal
agreement with the sentiment he expresses In
his closing sentence: Il should be glad If no
"act should be passed not of pronounced utility
.or TO meet some urgent public need For such
consummation we need not wait to try the ex-
pertinent of biennial sessions. That can be ac-
present session