The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-28
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL.
1EGIsLATTHE REFORM.

. LEGISLATTTE REFORM.
 The Journal and Courier prints this morning the first installment of a se- ries of interesting and instructive let ters from members of the General Assembly relating to a possible reme- dy for such protracted and unsatis- factory sessions as characterized that which was brought to a close on the first of the month. The three questions asked refer to annual sessions, to the prohibition of special legislation and a time limit upon the session arranged for. We print nine replies from as many State senators who are to be commended for the frank manner in which they treat the queries, their idea and the idea of the Journal and Courier being to find a method of leg islative performance which shall best contribute to the welfare of the State of Connecticut.
 Senator Luther of the First District acknowledges the probable value of a time limit for a legislative session and then advances the human view that since the members are paid for the job rather than by the piece their convenience should be consulted He opposes annual sessions and would create special commissions to look out for special legislation, though we are not sure in that contention he appreci- ates the significance of our question Senator Brady of the Sixth District favors annual sessions with a time limit set and we infer favors in ad- dition the prohibition of special legis- lation. It will be seen that he briefly argues the general question in the active spirit of man engaged in seri- ous outside business work. Senator Butterworth of the Eighth District es- inmates accurately the need of doing the peoples business with system. If annual sessions of the legislature mean the introduction of better busi- ness methods he approves of them though at no moment is he blind to the need of public utilities commits sion, which of itself would largely cure the special legislative evil.
 Senator Homan of the Tenth Dls- trict favors annual sessions and the return to the halls of legislation of men who are either gaining by orig inal service the experience they must have to be useful or who have by pre- vious service come into possession of 1t. His analyzation of the evils which biennial sessions breed is exceedingly interesting and to many will be con- vincing. The views of Senator At water of the Thirteenth District. while they oppose annual sessions, do so in
 
 8 manner to recall his frequent critic ism of the New Haven Railroad com pany. With the lobby out of the way he is certain that the question of the frequency of legislative sessions would lose It's force and pertinency. The at titude taken by Senator Farrel of the Seventeenth District is an interest ing one. Before considering a change in legislative sessions he would have introduced modern methods of doing the business of the State and would have eliminated prevailing practices which are without defense. Senator McNeil of the Twenty-f1rst District gives views which are the more inter- esting because he is likely to be the next Democratic nominee for gov ernoE He favors annual sessions, representative reform, the elimination of boss rule and the overthrow of the lobby. Senator Hoffman of the Twen- ty-fourth District favors annual ses- sions, as does Senator Barnum of the Thirty-ffth district. Senator Mayro Keeney of the Thirty-fifth District favors annual sessions with a time limit set
 These letters open discussion which is sure to be enlightening be- fore it is closed Obviously not a partisan question, its continued con- sideration cannot help ultimately lead ing to reforms in the legislative prac- tices of Connecticut. Tomorrow we shall continue the publication of these highly instructive contributions to symposium extraordinary.