The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-14

Island and South Carolina and the great States of New York. New Jer- sey, 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 in this day of rapid progress and wonder full achievement when new questions and new interests spring out of our complex civilization. are constantly arising and demanding legislative at- tention-especialy in Alabama whose multiform resources arc rapidly devel- oping and in which the triuInpns of mining and manufacturing industries and of commercial activity may bring our farming interests under conditions neceSsitating prompt aad effective leg- islative supervision.
 Because the arrogance of capital baskins in the sunshine of unrestrained bower wilf not be mitigated' by the knowledge that 1t will have free hand for four years in which to rivee its dominance in all that pertains 10 the public interests
 Because the alert self-seeking of cor porate influence will not be slow to broaden the foundations of its power while the legislative authority is Tn state of suspended animation.
 Because the commercial classes which are today the thralls uf trusts and com- bina tions inst gated by the modern doc Urine of community of interests" will be too busy making a living under the scant margin of profit vouchsafed to them to prevent their absorption un- der the process of benevolent assimi- lation while our legislative functions are held in abeyance.
 One of the reasons assigned for com hitting us to the policy of having legislative session only once In four years Is that the business and farming interests and managers of great oorpo- rations favor 1t. 1t Is not improbable that the managers of great corpora tions do favor 1t. Possibly they would be willing to have the State governed without a Legislature for at least twelve years as Charles I once did to "the deep damnation of his taking off," but the assertion that the people of Alabama favor this sudden and rad ical change of policy that was not an issue or even discussed in the cam paign which resulted in the holding of this Convention is not borne out by the utterances of the press which usu- ally reflects public sentiment. and it is likely that the alleged popular desire for the proposed change is assumed by those to whom the wish Is father to the thought, and that the special inter- ests that are behind and around and about "the one who manages the great corporations in the State of Alabama" have not been backward in en- couraging such a view of the popular desire.
 Another reason assigned is that the Constitution now making will, If rati- fled. leave the Legislature so little to do in respect to local affairs that there will be no necessity for legislative session oftener than once in four years. In reply to this, 1t may be urged that similar restrictions upon local legisla- ton exists in the Constitutions of Call fornia, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, fllt- nois, indiana, Iowa. Kentucky, Lou lsiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mfssis- sippi. Missouri, Montana. Nebraska, Nevada, New York. New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania South Dakota. Texas, West Virginia, Wyo- ming and Utah--twenty-six States, in all of which Is retained the system of bic nnial or of annual sessions. If these States. situated in every part of the Union, existing under such diverse con- ditions and representing every variety of interests, have found no reason for embarking upon an untried and doubt ful policy, why should Alabama rather not wait and profit by the experience of other States that may inaugurate change, instead of assuming 8 risk of a nature so serious.
 Still another reason assigned for the
 k..I give tdO early an opportunity for re- pealing laws that have not been in op- eration long enough to commend them to popular approval. But that would be a curious statute that would require more than two years to disclose its ef- feet on the body polite, whilei on the other hand, a four years interval would allow a vicious statute full opportun- ity to do its harmful work. and the people during that time would be help less unless the Governor should, as an act of grace, through an extraordinary session, give them an opportunity which ought of right to be theirs through the recurrence of the time honored biennial session. What if a Republican administration should come into power and indulge in reactionary legislation of a disturbing and destruc- tive nature-would the Republican Gov ernor be apt to ignore his party rela- tions and vouchsafe relief through proclamation for an extraordinary ses- sion?
 The undersigned, therefore, recom- mends the adoption of said ordinance, No. 429. providing for the repeal of Section 5, all "the ordinance reported by the Committee on Legislative De- partment fixing the sessions of the Leg islature quadrennially."
 If said Section shall be repealed, he recommends the adoption of the fol- lowing ordnance:
 The Legislature shall meet biennially, at the Capitol, in the Senate Chamber and in the Hall of the House of Repre- sentatives (except in cases of the de- struction of the Capitol, or epidemics, when the Governor may convene them In such place in the State as he may deem besD on the day specified in this Constitution, or on such other day as may be prescribed by law; and shall not remain in session longer than sixty days at the first session held under this Constitution. nor longer than fifty days at any subsequent session.
 Leslie E. Brooks.
 During the reading of the minority report:
 Mir. Pillaus-I rise to move that the reading of this long -winded document cease and this house go on with It's business.
 The President-The gentleman is not in order at this time.
 MT. Brooks-I desire to say, notwith- standing the remarks of my worthy colleague from Mobile, that this long