The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-17
PROPOSE PLAN TO
EXTEND SESSION
Resolution to Be introduced,
But Doubtful if Members
Will Vote for 1t.
FALLACY OF SHORT
TERM NOW EVIDENT
Assembly, ovcrcrowded With
Work, Cannot Scan Bills
Closely, and Must Neces-
sarily Neglect Some
That Are
Good.
BY LEWIS II. MAcnEN.

weeks more of life. The ses-
sion may be prolonged for a
period not exceeding thirty days by a
three-fifths vote OF the members of
each house, In which case. they would
ct no pay for the additional period; or
fwo-thirds OF the members OF each
house may request the Governor to call
an extra session, In which event 1T
would be mandatory upon him to do
SO, or the Governor may call an extra
session OF his own motion. II an extra
session should be called by the Cover
nor the members would each receive
the sum OF $3.50.
II the regular session Is prolonged
by vote OF three-fifths of the mem
oers the work now In progress would
go on without interruption. In case
OF an extra session IL Is apprehendei
that all the bills to be considered must
be introduced anew and again take
the course prescribed by the Constitu-
tion. OF course. each bill now on the
calendars OF the two houses might be
reintroduced In it's present form and.
by a roll call, the appropriate commit
tee might be discharged from It's con-
sideration. It Is rule of parliament
tary procedure that every bill pending
at any session OF legislative body
dies with the final adjournment.
Objections to Both.
The method OF extending the session
Is Objectionable because OF the addi-
tional expense to the members, and
the extra session Is Objectionable be-
cause of the additional expense to the
State. Yet It is becoming increasingly
evident that one of these courses must
be adopted or the Legislature must go
away leaving unfinished a large por
tion OF IT'S most important business.
On Saturday there were 1s6 bills on
"a. - t. Il y ..,.
that of the House. making total OF
All on the two. A number of these
bills were taken off the calendars on
Saturday but Ii is safe to say that
enough were reported from the COM
mittees TO I'LL their places small
portion have been finally considered
by one or the other OF the two houses.
acted upon by both.
Since the beginning OF the session
1900 or $500 bills have been intro
duced. and by the Goth of this month,
which Is the limit fixed by Joint reso-
luton. for the introduction of bills,
there will probably be zoo more.
The committees will continue to re-
port these measures up to the last day
OF the session. If ten a day are re-
ported in each house. which is a mod
crate estimate. 1t will mean that the.
two houses will yet have to consider
about 1000 bills in eighteen working
days. or sixty-six a day. Even If each
house should sit eight hours a day.
which is scarcely possible, that would
give only about seven minutes to each
bill. But the constitutional readings
and roll calls would occupy twice that
time, allowing no time whatever for
explanation or discussion. Can 1t be
accomplished without a miracle? Yet
there are people claiming to be intelli-
gent who say that sixty days is long
enough for the Legislature to complete
Its work.
Other Work to Dc Done.
Moreover, there are other things to
be done besides those which are strict
ly legislative. The General Assembly
must pause every now and then to
elect Judge, to confirm an appoint
nlent, to adopt resolution governing
its own procedure, or relating to OUT
side matters. For weeks it has been
in tho throes of an important investi-
CATION, not yet concluded, and to-mor-
row II will begin another. Still others
have been suggested.
The more important committees are
meeting constantly and holding ses-
sions early and late to give the pub
Tic an opportunity to be heard upon
pending measures. But the members
of the Legislature are human, and
there Is limit to human patience and
endurance. Pretty soon the committees
must practically shut off their hear
fngs, II they are to have any time for
the executive consideration of bills.
It is understood that a resolution
will be presented in a few days to eX-
tend the session for a week or two.
Each member will then have an oppor-
tunity to say, probably by a recorded
kn yyh ha ic
q personal sacrifice for the purpose of
finishing the sessions work. The pay
OF the members. which is $500 for the
session, and not a per diem, as many
suppose, Is now about double what it
formerly was and one OF the argu-
ments freely used for the increase
was that 1t would enable the Legisla-
ture to extend the session, IL neces-
sary. without great financial loss to the
members. The Increase was made, but
nobody gave bond to carry out this i'm
piled contract to extend the sessions;
in fact, 1t is now next to impossible to
identify all who used this argument.
The new members. of course. do not
feel bound by any suggestions that We're
made last session, and, indeed few of
the members think that their present
pay is more than enough for the sixty
days. Perhaps, If some We're put on
oath they would admit that their SER
vices for that period are worth twice
that amount. Upon dlspassonate
survey OF the whole situation. there
fore, the gloomtest forebodings must
be entertained regarding the fate Of
the resolution to extend the session.
Ninety-Day Session.
The Joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution so as
to provide for ninety-day sessions,
with leave to Introduce bills for sixty
days, has passed the House by a prac-
tically unanimous vote, will come up in
tho Senate to-day, and is expected to