New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-07
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.

A subscriber Of The Tribune asks why the he-
publican Convention did not adopt resolution
in favor of biennial sessions of the Legislature
and expresses the opinion that this OMISSION
followed bv the insertion Of such plank IN the
democratic platform. will cost the Republican
ticket q good many votes. In reply 10 the ques
ton we would say that we suppose the Saratoga
Convention as a whole 10 have been compare
tively Indifferent to the matter. and that TINS
fact gave the few who for one reason or another
were strongly opposed 10 biennial sessions
sufficient advantage. As for the Democratic
Convention. it presumably demanded biennaf
sessions for the reason that the Republican plat
form made 10 alluson TO the subject. The
amendment which the Republicans have al
ready put through one Legislature, and which,
# passed by another, will be submitted to the
,eople. was strenuousy opposed by the Demo
cratic members of both branches as a scheme or
corporations and trusts and a gross assault on
r,opular rights Then suddenly, after the Dill
had been passed by the Senate in the face or
savage Democratic denunciations, Richard Gro
ker said that he favored it and at the last mo-
ment the Democrats in the Assembly made
themselves ridiculous by complete flop. we
do not agree with our subscriber. partly for the
reasons thus suggested. that the silence OF the
Republican Convention on this question VIII
cost the party many votes.
AS for the original proposition. as 1t applied
to the State of New-York, intelligent and re-
spectacle citizens may and do take opposite
sides. 1t is true that only six States in the
J'nion-Georgia, Massachusetts, New-Jersey,
New-York Rhode Island and South Carolina
now have annual legislative sessions, and that
the others appear 10 be pretty well cOntented
with a session only every second year But the
argument is made that NETWORKS public bust
ness is of such enormous extent and variety
that II might be found impractlcable TO attend
to II all without an annual session. and that one
result of adopting the biennial sessions amend
ment would be great increase in the frequency
OF extra sessions. Precisely this the for
mer experience Of Ohio where there used TO be
an extra session almost every alternate year. Ii
is also urged that the proposed change in this
State would not If carried out greatly diminish
The amount of legislation-a thing much 10 be
desred-but would make the quality still worse,
which would be truly deplorable fate.
Our own attitude with respect TO this ques-
ron has been consistent and we think sensible.
We have regarded it a question which. espe.
cially in view of the generally satisfactory en-
Terrence Of other States, the people of New York
ought 10 consider fully and lnparnally. For
this reason we were glad that a Republican
Legislature following the lead of a Republican
Governor. passed the bill. and we have always
been inclined 10 believe that the people would
approve the proposition at the earliest opportu-
nifty Perhaps however, good many delegates
10 the recent Republican Convention who are en-
tjrely sincere In the matter, and do not want 10
have Il mixed up with politics. thought that
there had not been sufficient attention paid TO 1t
or strong enough indication OF public sentl-
ment given to warrant them In committing the
uarty 10 so important change In the Constit,i'
lion. 1t is virtually certain TO come up again
next winter at Albany and our expectation ID
that the amendment Will be passed second
zine and go the people for their final decision
II n their fault, and not entirely 10 their credit
xhot tbev have not exhibited keen interest In