New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-16
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.


port among members Of the Legislature the
movement for biennial sessions now has or
may command this year. but 1t Is certainly at
tracing good deal OF interest, as the lively
debate in he Senate yesterday shows. When
the question vas introduced 4 month ago the
general impression seemed 10 be that 1t would
not become conspicuous this winter. but the
effect Of Governor Blacks open advocacy was
underCstimatcd The Governor is an exceed
ingly earnest and notably successful pro-
motcr Of the policies which take strong hold
of him. In his first message he signifed his
view Of the Importance of this question. and in
his recent message he required 10 it with added
emphasis putting his side of the case very well
as follows: II refer to K again. adhering TO
my original belief that a session every two
years could pass all the laws required by the
state, greatly reduce expenses remove the
danger which Increases every year from over
Legislation, give the laws n chance TO be I'm
"derstood. protect those interests subject to
measures known as strikes, and relieve the
people from the complications and uncertain
tiles into which excessive legislation IS sure to
plunge them" The prospect now Is that these
arguments will be seriously urged and combat
ed At Albany and elsewhere during the next
few weeks. and we are glad that it Is so. Such
n discussion will be interesting and useful. The
question ia one upon which the people would
probably be pleased to express an opinion, and
which Is pretty sure to be submitted to them
in the not distant future. AS we have already
pointed out, this IS favorable time to bring
the matter up at Albany, for II the resolution
should be passed this year It could be acted
on for the second time by the next Legislature,
which will have a new Senate, and put TO pop
uar vote in the fall Of 1899.
The chief argument against biennial sessions
in New-York has been that the vast and diverse
interests Of the Empire State might and prob
ably would suffer II the Legislature met regu-
larry only every other year. or else that In order
10 prevent such mischief extra sessions would
be called so often as to make the new depart
ure valueless for any purpose and essentially
ridiculous Some early experiences IN other
States, notably In Ohio may have tended TO
confirm that expectation, but Il must be ac-
knowledged that the argument has lost instead
Of gaining force In later years OF the forty
five States Of the Union twenty originally
had annual sessions, but only six are now in
that llst-New-iork New-Jersey, Massachu-
sets, Georgia Rhode Island and South Caro-
lina-and certainly the last five are not Of such
a rank as strongly TO sustain our practice. Be-
sides Ohio, the great States Of Pennsylvania
and Illinois get along comfortably with a regu-
lar session every other year. AS FOR extra ses-
sons, Senator Stranahan. who presumably had
looked up his facts with care, said yesterday
that Illinois, which never had annual sessions
has had only two extra sessions in her history
that Pennsylvania has had only one extra SEES
sion since she adopted the rule OF biennial
sessions IN 1870. and that in all the bennial ses-
sion States only fourteen extra sessions have
been held.
Nobody pretends to disagree with Governor
Blacks assertion that New-York suffers serious
ly from overeglsation The annual volume Of
new statutes is enormous. There We're 797 OF
them last year. II Is, however, contended that
The output would not he greatly reduced II the
Legislature met every other year. but that mem
bers would insist on doing In one year AT least
ms much business as they now do in two years
with the result OF long sessions and dire con-
gestlon. This IS mere prophecy. II might be
verified, but we do not believe that 1t would be-
In this, rs in other cases, an easy opportunity
counts for great deal. Moreover, II there were
good reason TO anticipate such a result II might
be averted by limiting the biennial session. We
are not anxious to have the advantage OF the |
proposed change conceded by n SNAP Judgment |
On the contrary, # Is question either side Of |
which can be sincerely and strongly supported |
and which ought to be fully and fairly discussed |
The indications that such discussion has be- |
gun are welcome.