The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-14
BILLS SLAUGHTERED
BY DILATORY TACTICS
Many Important Measures Are
snfothcred or Strangled--Race
Against Time, Giving Pro
fessional Obstructionists
Fine Opportunity to
Get in Their Work.
ny LEWIS H. MACHEN.
~ THAT the Legislature did not

- ~ vHAT the LeSlSialure dld not
NV do would also HI a volume.
NV Not only were several
wv really important and neces-
sary reforms not even pro-
posed. but many that were incorporated
into bills were not voted upon. or even
discussed in the bodies in which they
were introduced. A Eoodly number OF
the bills presented were not reported
from the committees to which they
wore first referred. This was espe-
cially true in the House OF Delegates.
where bills. as rule, are not printed
until reported, and where, by the sim
pie device of leaving them In the COM
fnittees. they ara made to vanish ut
terly. Numerous other measures were
considered carefully in comnittee3.
some for hours and some for days. and
yet were not submitted to vote OF
either house. lesser number were
passed by one house and not voted
upon in the other. In the aggregate
the amount OF time expended in the
consideration OF measures which were
not finally passed upon was immense.
In the main. 1t was time wasted. which
might have been bestowed upon mat
ters which were actually voted upon by
both houses.
Warte of Time md Money.
Session by session there is the same
waste of time and OF the States good
money. To Introduce thousand bills
each session. which. in the allotted
time, have no opportunity to be sub
mlitted to the test of n final vote, would
seem to be a fcarfully useless expendi-
ture OF thought and time. which should
in some way be avoided. Either the
sessions should be heightened. the in
troductioa of bills limited. or both de-
vices should be employed.
More Ellis could be introduced In
thirty days than could be fully consid
cred in committees, fairly discussed
upon the floors of the two houses. and
finally passed upon IN ninety days.
Provision might easily be made for
the introduction OF important emer-
gency matters after the expiration OF
the time limit
The present system makes for con-
gestion and confusion. 1t also affords
an ideal opportunity for the obstruc-
ZIONIST. The delay OF day here and
a day there will sometimes work the
death of the most meritorious measure.
The great interests which enjoy spe-
cial privileges ask only to be let alone.
therefore the average lobbyist finds
his greatest profit and delight in kill
ing bills. This he can do most effec-
lively in short session, especially in
the latter part OF II, when, In order TO
accomplish anything. legislation must
be done practically by unanimous con-
sent. Bes.des in the closing days OF a
crowded session. when the great bulk
of the bills come finally to be consid-
ered Misunderstanding is easy and
explanation difficult At such times a
cry OF .'job" or loaded bill" is fatal.
while at the same time, a dangerous
measure may go through without en-
animation or discussion upon an as
surance. perhaps honestly given, that
the measure is a worthy one.
Smothered or Strangled.
Speaking generally, the crimes of
most Legislatures are inadvertences.
In the rush and hurry a large proper
tion Of the members do not know what
they are voting upon, and even the
best informed are only partially ac-
Guainted with many matters to which
they are obliged to give or refuse their
cedure on the part of the stockholders
and directors OF corporation would
be likely to put 1t into the hands of q
receiver. A better system would ap-
pear to be for limited number OF
bills-say. 500 or S00--to be carefully
drawn in advance of the meeting OF
the. Legislature. fully considered in
committees. fairly and freely discussed
in the two houses. and finally passed
upon by recorded vote.
Now measures are smothered in com.
mittees or strangled by dilatory tao
tics, when they should be Brought for.
$1,000 -, -