Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-09-25

Probably some suspicious people will
promptly think and say that Rich
mond newspapers have selfish motive
fer opposing the change OF sessions o
the State Legis ature fro once in two
years to once in four years. There
an idea that the CITY OF Richmond &C
q iires enormous profits and advant'
ages from each session Of the Legs
lature. The truth is the saving t.
this city OF her proportion of the cos'
of the session would nearly balance
any money spent here in consequence
of the presence Of the body. From d
purely self h POM of view the peopl,
of Richmond have no special interest
in frequent sessions.
AS citizens of Virginia they will o..
pose the sugges ed amendment to the
Constitution. We think vast ma
i,iity of all other citizens will take the
same view when tue subject has heen
conside1e1.
N thing is more expensive than un-
wis economy. 1t is easy to imagine
nditi ms in which failure OF Legls-
latnre to meet within a reasonable
me mi hit cost the Safe enormously
many times more than the expenses
of many sessions. The convention
bould Keen IN mind tina its business
is to prov de, as far a. is possible, for
aryine condiIions and emergenc es
T. is n likely tnat We shall ALWAYS be
bless-., with good and honest officials
all lie a tments. A judge, for in
lance, mi hit be notorioasly opp essiSe
OF corrupt and he counteuanced by a
Governor who woull refuse to act or
10 call an extra session and such EVIL
mi hit contln 10 unchecked four years,
/ suIting in hsrm beyond calculation.
t is easy to lmagiug many conditions
.mosg the probabilities in the history
of any community in VIII CHI the absence
of legislative session may cause
d saster
The Legislature is the grand inquest
for the State. It's work is to receive
and consider reports, 10 hear petitlops
again-t old laws and for new ones, to
provide for the necessary expenses OF
the State. 1T is supposed to be he
people, through CHOSEN representatives,
assembled to attend to routine bust
ness, to make and unmake statutes, to
enquire into evils, if any exist, and to
devise remedies. In time of peace and
ease when the business OF tue State
runs. smoothly the Legislature has
little to do and usually gives its tim
to matters comparatively trivial and
sometimes becomes an unobserved aud
unconsldered and somewhat absurd
body of citizens. When the affairs OF
Il private corporation are running
smooth y the meetings of stockholders
and directors are Ierfunctory, formal
and uninteresting, but business men
know that it is dangerous to neglect or
omit such meetings.
There is no need for session OF the
Legislature every year. One in two
years is exactly right. An interval be-
tween sessions longer thaa two years
is dangerous and IN a great measure
destructive OF the purposes and func-
tons of State Legislature.
The proposition for wider intervals
is curlously in harmony with the tend
eacy of the convention to limit and re-
strain the powea and rights of the PEG.
pie, OF which we have spoken several
times, That tendency has been mani
tested in suSge' ton to proclaim the
whole Constitution, to ENABLE verdict
to be rendered by a majority OF a jury,
to extend the intervals between SEES
sions of the Legislature. Richmond
News.