The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-06-13
JOE HILL HALL
IS OPPOSED To
BIENNIAL SESSION
5l75 COUNTY LEGISLATOR
WOULD EXTEND TIME OF THE
PRESENT SESSIONS.
He Thinks the Legislature Should
Meet Annually and Continue in Ses-
sion for One Hundred Instead of
Fifty Days.

Macon, Ga. June I2.-Instead OF
tayoring the plan that has been sus-
gested to have bienn al sessions of
the state legislature, Hon. Joseph Il
Hall. one of the representatives from
Bibb, is in favor of doubling the
length of the present annual sessions
making them one hundred days in
length instead of fifty.
"Why 1t seems most unreasonable
this talk about having the legislature
meet but once every two years. The
amount of business that the legisla-
ture has to do has been rapidly in
creaslng each year and as it now
stands, it is almost impossible to get
through on time Were the legisla-
ture to meet but once every second
year, and for session of fifty days
it could not begin to complete the
work that it should.
Back in 1877. the state constitution
provided for biennial sessions and the
system was in vogue until 1891, but
during that time there was a proyis-
ion for extending the sessions and
this had TO be done often. In that
period the legislature convened in Oc-
tober and several times it had to
meet again in the summer. One time
the extended session lasted nearly all
the summer
In 1892 the state decided to take
up the annual sessions again, and
limited them to fifty days. Since
then that plan has been il effect and
each year has shown that more time
is needed. Under the present ar
rangement it requires several days for
committees together, and then it re-
quises. four or five more for the tax
and appropriation bills to be passed.
After all this is done the regular
business must be taken up and it is
always a rush for time. biennial
plan would be utter folly and corpor
ations are backing the movement, OF
course the railroads and the other
large Interests are opposed to legis
lation and legislatures in general, and
if they could have their own sweet
way about it there would be no legis-
latures. Over in Alabama they have
pretty good control of thiEgs as in
that state the legislature meets but
once in four years. A system like
that in Georgia would play havoc, and
even biennial sessions would have the
effect of doing injury
This summer the legislature will
meet again and it is going to require
every minute of the time to pass on
the different matters that are coming
up If a biennial plan was in effect
all of this years work would have to
so over until 1910 and how could it
be completed in fifty days? l for one
am opposed to any such movement
and believe that the people OF the
state would promptly vote it down at
enough it may be put 20 a vote at the
next general election, but | have my
doubts. | feel sure that there are but
few representatives of state senators
who would ever vote or support such
a plan unless their interests and those
of the railroads or large corporations
are common. 1t all looks like a move
to play upon the sympathies of GER
tain classes for the supporters of 1t
have stated that biennial sessions
would save the state money This
would not be the effect at all"
Unlike his brother in the service
Mr.. Hall, Mr.. W. Hamp Evans, who
is in the house, wants the legislature
to meet but once every four years as
is the case in Alabama. This morn
ing Mr.. Evans was asked for an ex
preston and he said:
81 would be perfectly willing to-
have the sessions so arranged that
the legislature would meet but once
in four years. Perhaps / am expect
ing too much but l certainly think
that all the business could be proper
ly transacted each two years in place
of meeting annually. The quadrennial
system is working all right in Ala
bama and if we can't secure it here
then biennial sessions should be IN
augurated."
Mr.. Evans was elected to the Leg
islature along with Mr.. Roland Ellis
and Mr.. Hall, and ne will serve for
his first time this summer. He is a
strong man and will probably aid the
leaders Of the novement to secure
a two-year pla-.