The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-26
WOULD AMEND
CONSTITUTION
Senator Machen Thinks Legisla-
ture Should Have Ninety Days
to Make Laws.
AS A MATTER OF PROTECTION
Member Convinced That More
Time is Needed to Guard
Against Defective Laws.

Constitutional amendments, increasing
the length of the session of tho General
Assembly to ninety days. restricting tho
introduction OF bills, and radically chang
Ing the modus operandl of the lesisla-
mill itself, all designed to facilitate
work and to lessen the likelihood OF
the enactment OF half-digested laws, too
often defective and ill-considered, are
proposed in two joint resolutions offered
In the Senate yesterday by Mr.. Machen,
of Alexandria. and referred to committee.
In lieu OF section 46 OF article 4, OF the
Constitution, providing that the General
Assembly shall meet once U awo years.
the session to continue no longer than
60 days, unless three-ffths OF the meni-
bers OF each House agree to. an exten-
sion, without pay, not in any Instance
to exceed 30 days. the Alexandria sena-
tor proposes a section permitting tne
regular session to last ninety days and
daysrf uarflr dtl dthodl uthodl utrodtl
retaining the extension feature for thirty
days beyond that. IL it may be desired
by the required three-ffths of the total
membership Of the Legislature. The
present constitutional provision touching
the methods governing the enactment OF
laws, require that each bill he read at
length on three different calendar days
IN each House. The Machen enactment
proposes one reading and eliminates much
OF the calling OF the rolls which take
III so much time. Finally, Mr.. Machen
proposes that in the ninety day session,
no bills or joint resolutions shall be- In
troduced into either House OF the General
Assembly at any session thereof. after
sixty days from the beginning of the
session. except such emergency bills as
may be specially recommended after
that period by the Governor.
A Present Condition.
The Machen amendments refer imme-
diately to condition now confronting
the General Assembly. floating about in
an ocean of bills, good bad and indif-
ferent and with but weeks left In
which to do two months work. Menu
hers are unwilling to stay without pay.
AS 1t Is, the salary is almost, II not
Insufficient to maintain them in the Capt.
toll To remain without pay of any
sort, would be. an expensive luxury. a
bill is now on the calehdar, doubling the
pay, which might make extensions pos
pible, when the public business demands
1t. Mr.. Machen approaches the matter
in different way. and though at this
stage of the overcrowded session. his
amendments have the odds against them,
they have attracted much favorable COM
ment.
$50 far as the State is concerned said
!! Mr.. Machen, in a recent article In the
Virginia Law Register. very ably and
clearly setting forth his views upon the
subject of Detects in Legislation,
! 1T Is reasonably clear that the prime
causes of defective legislation are: First,
! the large number of bills introduced, and,
second the small opportunity there is
for these bills to be thoroughly examined
and discussed
After this summing of the situation in
q nutshell, Mr.. Machen proceeds to dis
cuss plans for remedying conditions. and
outlines the scheme that he has en-
bodied in the constitutional amendments
he proposes. He refers to the fact that
the constitutional Convention apparently
seeking to prevent hasty and injudicious
legislation by lengthening the session and
providing for the various readings of bills
and numerous roll calls.
Would Have Been Better.
with all difference to the wisdom of the
gentlemen who framed the Constitution
says Mr.. Machen, .'it is submitted that
1.-THE result aimed at would have been moro
| nearly attained by allowing the Leglsla-
ture to sit ninety days with pay and pro-
| hibiting the introduction of bills after
the first sixty days. This Ia the only way
! to prevent measures from being rushed
through under high pressure at the elev-
enth hour. All, or nearly all, defects
in laws are due to a lack of consideration
and discussion OF them. Whatever faclli-
| tates this consideration and discussion is
a benefit. and whatever h.nders 1t Is a
hindrance to legislation itself. 1t can
| not be denied that the tremendous conges-
| ton of work toward the latter part OF
the session of a legislative body Is In
large measure responsible for the I'M
projections in our laws.
"As long the present system Is In
vogue. this congestion will occur as regu-
larly as the Legislature conVenes. It Is
inevitable, and the evil consequences
which follow from 1t will be inevitable
! also.
Would 1t not, then, be wise to alter
the Constitution In this respect? The
present method has been given thor
ough trial, and has been found wanting.
Some change should take place. and that
without delay.
1T is, not to be expected that any body
of men, however able and efficient could
be as we'll prepared to draf, legislative
regulation as the Legislature itself In
dividually, the Legislators can have no
desire to either create or maintain sys-
tenn which cr!nples their influence and
| subjects them TO undeserved criticism.
|