The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-17
MIR. BROOKS'S REPORT
Dissents from the Report of the Com mittee on Legislative De-
 nartmeQt.

partment.
 The following is the minority report of the Committee on the DeglslatlVe Department:
 The undersigned disscnts from the adverse action of the Commlttee on Legislative Department on O:dlance No. 429, introduced by MT. Lomax.
 Because the section which said ordi- nance seeks to repeal and which pro- vides for quadrennial sessions of the Legislature disregards the fundamenta and cherished Ango-Saxon policy Of having frequent meetings of the people through their representatives to con- slider the public welfare.
 Because the long intervals between legisla tive sessions resulting from this change of policy will. it is believed. tend to. exert an insidious influence upon the people by lulling them to a condition of apathy. which may in time dwarf their patriotic instincts, If not prove fatal to their liberties.
 Because such long intervals, while depriving the people of a ready means heretofore enjoyed by them, of revising modifying. repeating or enacting laws which have an important and practical bearing on their daily affairs. will af- ford opportunity for the full play of sinister influences that may undermine the safeguards of popular rights.
 Because the proposed change from biennial to quadrennial sessions is a sudden, uncalled-for and radical de- parture from a policy that has been an integral element of our civil polity. State and national. since the inaugu- ration of our federative system.
 Because it will place Alabama out of harmony with the long established practice of frequent legislative sessions common to all the States of the Union
 Because every one of the forty-five States of the Union now have biennial sessions with the exception of Rhode Island and South Carolina and the great States of New York, New Jersey Massachusetts and Georgia, which have annual sessions.
 Because if biennial and annual ses- sions were expedient when the country was sparsely settled and the stage coach provided the principal means of transportation and mail communica- tion, how much more so are they Tn this day of rapid progress and won- derful achievement. when new ques- tions and new interests. springing out of our complex civilization, are con | SIdnIlY dr1SlHS anu hfuidHdlllS ltS lative attent 'on--es specially in Alabama whose multiform resurces are rapidly developing and in which the triumphs of mining and manufacturing indus tries and of commercial activity may bring our farming interests under con- ditions necessitating prompt and >effec- tive legislative supervision.
 Because the arrogance of capital basking in the sunshine of unrestrainet power, will not he mitigated by the knowledge that 1t will have a free | hand for four years in which to rive its dominance in all that pertains tC the public interests.
 Because the alert self-s seeking of cor porate influence will not be slow tC broaden the foundations of its powe while the legislative authority is in 2 state of suspended animation.
 Because the commercial classe! | which are today the thralls of trustl and combinations instigated by thu modern doctrine of community of In. | terests,' will be too busy making { | living under the scant margin of prof vouchsafed to them to prevent thei absorption under the process of bene volent assimilation while our legisla | tive functions are held in abeyance One of the reasons assigned for com uniting us to the policy of having { | legislative session only once in fou years Is that the business and farming | interests and managers of great cor | porations do favor 1t. Possible the, would be willing to have the State gov erned without legislature for at leas twelve years as Charles 1st once dit to "the deep damnation of his takini off" but the assertion that the peopl of Alabama favor this sudden an radical change of policy that was no an issue or even discussed in the cam paign which resulted in the holding o | this Convention Is not borne out b, 1 the utterances of the press, whicl usually reflects public sentiment. ant 1t is likely that the alleged ponular de sire for the proposed change is assum | ed by those with whom the wish l. | father to the thought, and that tn | special interests that are behind ant around and about "the one wh manages the great corporations in tn
 State of Alabama" have not been back ward in encourag ging such view O the popular desire.
 Another reason assignGl is that tn | Constitution now making will. # rati lied leave the LegiSla ture So little to d.
 In respect to local affairs that ther will be no necessity for a lcgislatur session oftener than once in four wears In reply to this 1t may be urged tha similar restrictions upon local !egisla tion exists In the Constitutions of Cali
 fornia, Colorado, Florida. Idaho. Hi nois, Indiana Iowa Kentucky. Louis fanas Marylapd. Minnesota. Mississip pi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska. Nc
 vada, New York. Now Jersey, NortI Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania. Soutl