Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-24
Dangers o. 4 Special Session.

Without Walting 20 see what Governor
Lea, IN whose hands rests the sole author
ity in the premises, may have TO say about
calling a special session Of the General
Assembly, for the purpose OF attempting
to hll the Senatorial vacancy, the political
harpies who look 20 the Legislature for
their own benefit have been freely talking
about what they viii do in the event that
the special session is ordered
"a Local Option bin for Kent county
will be passed, z is the declaration credited
TO one politician.
eve will get o now city charter" is the
cry echoed by Wilmington politicians Of
all stripes.
And these two schemes are only a
pointer TO others that would spring up,
once the members Of the Delaware Legis-
lature were convened in the State Capitol
with full authority 10 enact laws.
a Local Option bill for Kent county
Why, for the purpose Of enabling the
Union Republicans to cater to the local
option sentiment in that county, which
they traded with during tho campaign
Of 1901 and betrayed at the session Of
1905.
A new charter for Wilmington ? Some
thing under which the politicians Of all
factions might arrange for their mutual
profit, and force through the Legislature
hy their united influence.
And how many other schemes might
be hroached 4 is impossible TO forotoll,
for thore Is no time limit on legislative
sessions, and o special session called at
this time might continue until ended by
the expiration Of the official terms Of the
members 'rho General Assembly shall
meet on the first Tuesday Of January
biennially, and at such other times as tho
governor shall convene the same,n says
the State Constitution. Also the gov
nrnor "may on extraordinary occasions
convene the General Assembly by proola-
nation The only suggestion of a limit
is contained in the provision relating to
compensation, which says; "ln case a
special or extra session of the General
Assembly be called, the members and
presiding officers shall receive like COM
pensation las at regular session. for a
period not exceeding thirty days" That
is, the members could draw pay only for
thirty days, when called in special session
but could remain in session without paw
until the end Of their terms. But great
deal Of mischief might be done in thirty
days, and if it became necessary to pro-
long the session, private interests would
see that the members lost nothing in con-
sequence.
That an extra session would impose a
heavy expense upon the State is not 20 be
denied. A pertinent question, there
fore, is: Docs sufficient Importance at-
tach 70 the election of Senator con-
ceding for the purpose of argument that
the Republican factions could agree upon
a selection-to to warrant the expense that
would thereby be saddled upon tho
people
As to any legislation that may really
be needed, these considerations present
themselves.
The time for tho meeting Of the next
Legislature IN regular session January
l907--is only q little more than seven
months distant. No hardship viii II
imposed by delaying action for thi.
period.
The Legislature which it Is proposed
TO call together in special session is N,
Legislature which failed 10 supply desired
legislation when il had the opportunity
Ct the regular session Of 1905. and alsc
sailed TO elect a United States Senator
and cannot. therefore, be depended upor
TO do any better az special session.
There is no overwhelming desire on tn,
part Of the people for a special session q
the Legislature and when the facts abov,
set forth arc considered Il i probable
that there viii be general protest against
fhs r.rs,l.a.rtff..