New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-25
DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT
MrNprps RESENT THE GOVERNORS ACTIVITY
IN TTg REHAIP.

IN ITS BEaALP.
Albany. Feb A-At 1915 o'clock to-day MT
Nixon the Republican leader OF the AssemoF'
moved call OF the House FOR the purpose or 'ah-
ing I'D the Biennial Sessions amendment A'er
several members had been gathered in. the Speaker
enno,nced that Mr.. Litchard had called up his
,esolut,on pursuant to notice given yesterday Mr.
Donnelly made tho point Of order that the rules
would have to be suspended 10 DO this. and mat nc
,vouId demand a rolIcaIl II a majority OF the
members desired such action taken Inc result OF
shs rolcall was 70 ayes 70 6s for the suspen-
won OF the rules in order 10 take up the amendment
resolution Assemblymsn Seligsberg voted with the
Republicans
The resolution then taken up and motion
was made by Mr.. Litchard to advance II TO third
,.ad,ng Mr. Green made the point that Il was not
n proper typographical form the files The
Chair ruled against the point and. the decision
teinE appealed from. the Chair was sustained.
Mr. Dillon offered amendment providing that
Ssnators should receive $500 year and Assem-
hlymen 800. Tho amendment was lost by vote
81 80 10 g.
Mr.. Palmer offered two amendments Tho hrst
provided that the Legislature should not adjourn
OF hold open for a longer period than thirty days.
except Il may adjourn sine die The other amend
rnent provided that the term OF Governor and
Lieutenant Governor shall be four years and
the salary OF the Governor 5000 a year Both
amendments we're lost-the first by vote OF es TO
~ and the last sS TO 7b
whenever special session Of the Legislature is
called for q special purpose other questions may
be discussed than the for which the session is
! summoned. Speaker OGrsdy ruled the amendment
not in order. Nj Green appealed from the de-
cision of the Chair. and tho latter again
tanned.
When the amendments were disposed Of Mr.. Don
nelly the Democratic leader moved 10 strik. ont the
enacting clause OF the resolution. and proceeded
debate the question. He declared that according
- lor4- 81
ernor for biennial sessions, It would seem II
Hhere POI members OF the Legislature. instead
OF 200 the Executive being the additional one He
dwelt On the that had been taken by the Con-
sututona Convention Of 1894 10 discuss the question
81 legislative sessions and said It clearly their
opinion shat annual sessions were best
The danger OF overlegislatlon. Mr.. Donney
serted. did not through yearly sessions, but
from whipping through in hurry bad legislation az
any session. BAD laws had never been enacted
when deliberately considered es laws should be- II
the Legislature met IN two years the
avalanche of bad bills could be showed through
Concluding. Mr. Donnelly said Il desire 10 advert
20 the fac, which brought out with much
force the other side OF the hall (the Senate,
rame,y. the increased power which this biennial
session scheme would give the Executive His
right 10 call extra sessions. his right 10 designate
the subjects Of legisa ton during extra session.
his power 10 make appointments during recess
the eouil,STinm %hics row exists between The Leg
lelature and the Executive. and might tend 10 work
great harm 10 the Interests and rights OF the peO
pie / believe there IS no legitimate demand for
biennial sessions. and do believe that the scheme
proposed by the last Constitutional Convention Is
eoout right 1t is possible to devise. and
think We should adhere 70 II until we hear OF
better one"
Mr. Collins followed Mr.. Donnelly. He asserted
IN opening that the sovereign rights Of the people
and the Legislatures powers seriously threat
ened when The Executive Of the State took II
himself to suggest repeatedly what he would Ike
done In the matter OF laws and changes OF the
Constitution The history OF the legislative sessions
OF the State gone over by Mr.. Collins, TO show
the necessity for annual sessions list OF the
eti;uttonsl Convention read, and Mr. Collins
declared u clearly showed that their condemnation
o. bienp.ai SESSIONS, which question had been be-
fore them. was the sentiment OF every OF IN
etate. II would ny in the face OF such man as
E.ihu Root and many prominent Republicans to go
hack on the work Of the convention. Mr. Collins
closed by sluding 10 q statement in a Republican
the measure 10 20 through. as he would not ike
the Governor 10 think lie had not done all ne could
u forward H.
M; Kelly followed He went into the history Of
publican friend had told him that Governor Blsck
had had TOO little public experience TO warrant
him IN recommending repeatedly 10 the Legislature
amendments OF such magnitude THE
Mr. Nixon closed the debate He maintained tha.
there was over-!egslation. Very few laws would
% enacted this year that could not be left over
until next: The precedent established by other
States had clearly shown the benefit Of Biennial
sessions. The question VAS not being rashy passed
upon. IL would have 10 60 before the next legts-
lature. and then before the people. who wthou,
doubt would record an overwhelming vote Mt the
call Of the House then made and tho reso.
tuition advanced by a vote OF rs to 60 I, viii
rot be placed on hnal passage until nert week