The Cairo bulletin., 1907-03-18
LEGISLATIVE WORKERS LEAGUE
ATTACKS SECRET COMMIT
TEE MEETINGS.
SOUND WARNING NOTE
Reminding Lawmakers Of Fate Of 80
Members Defeated at Last Elec-
tion--Publcity Bureau Is
sues Bulletin.


the present session of the legislature
by the publicity bureau of the Legis
latiye Workers league and they are
presented to the people OF the state
in bulletin issued by Secretary
William O Wilson for such acticn as
tn people may care to take.
or these evils the woFs Is the
habit of secret sessions, into which
the house committees are falling,
Two years ago the secret session was
seldom thought Of, and. according 70
the leagues bulletin, but orce adopt
cd as method Of procedure, Now q
committee no sooner ges into dis
cussion Of an important bill than
the suggestion Is made for secret
consideration Of 1t.
Occasionally majority of the
members of the committee refuse 70
tolerate the practice and the sugges.
tion falls Nat. just as ofen, how
ever, it meets with general approval,
the committee room is cleared, and
what the committee does with the
bin ii does in secret.
Text of the "lndictment.'
The use of subcommittee without
sufficient excuse, and the fact com
m.ttee work Is done only en- two days
are the other indictments voted
against The legislature in the bulletin,
which says:
"We desire to call the attention or
The people of the state to certain
evils existing in the general assem-
bly, Three evils are especially glar-
Ing at he present time. First, the
punching OF the committee meetings
1un Tuesdays and Wednesdays Of each
week; secoad, too frequent using
of sHbcommittees: and third. the
holding Of executive secret sessions
by certain important committees.
Legislation is carried on principally
III committees. Hence, the import
ance Of emphasizing everything rela-
tive to meetings of committees.
"The first evil arises because q
the old practice OF members OF the
legislature. SO far as COMMITTEES
are concerned, Of trying To-
do work on two days of the week and
of spending the balance Of the week
At home. Some committees are at
10 meet on Thursday, but
with partial success.
"rhe immediate effect of this Is
that members who belong to commit.
tees which are meeting frequently
are unable to attend all such meet
lngs. Bills are reported back to the
house poorly and improperly coasi1-
cred, or not considered at all In
many instances not even a majority
Bt the committee is present One
committee reported one bill Of six
teen and another of twelve pages
without any consideration whatever.
rhe remedy lies in devoting more
Jays duriag the week to committee
work and in requiring larger at
endance and more thorough consid- |
ration OF measures.
Subcommittee Attacked.
The second evil lies in the prac-
zee of leferring to a subcommittee
matters which In all reason, shculi
,e heard and finally disposed of by
be committee itself without the in
ervention of any subcommittee.
There are cases in which such sub
have a proper fuiction.
s. for instance. In preparing amend
nents or in redrafting bills after a
.earing before a committee Many
however. are being
ppointed to take tip subjects which
right to be disposed of by rhe com
nittees themselves. During this
reek. in one house committee. there
ras discussed principally by the rep
of labor and by the s ate
actcry inspector a bin requiring the
stalling Of safety devices to pro.
rcf woIkmen from Injury by danger
us machinery.
"A motion was then made - ap
oint subcommittee for the purpose
f. the motion ated. u meet the
Aifi rlHt tatVtiNt q Ahtaf'hi - f'tN
protested against such
rocedu-e and suggested that the
emmiftee itself would like to beart
he other side
censures the Star Chamber.
The third evil Is cOnsp cu0us
NJ this session. Two and four years
g few secret meetings were held.
lone was held during the last regu-
y session from which members Of
he press we're barred. except in ore
1stance. Absolutely no reason ex.
is for such executive sessions as are
ow being held Secret meetings Of
sgisIstive bodies constitute a prac-
&c condemned by the experience Of
u countries No man should stand
y election g. the legislature who Is
'raid to have the people Of the stale