Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-09-30
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
FRIDAY EVENING. SEPT. 30

stitutlOn as lOllONS
First. for ninety days sessions Of the
legislature, instead of sixty days ses-
sion as now authorized.
Second. for the reading of every bill
originating in either house by title on
three different calendar days in each
house, and at length at least once IN
each house, instead Of the reading OF
every bill at length on three different
calendar days in each house, as now
required.
Third, the election, by the qualified
voters of each county, Of one county
treasurer. The constitution now pro-
yides that the county treasurer shall
not be elected or serve for more than
two consecutive terms, nor act as dep
uty OF his immediate successor. d" The
constitution now provides for the cleo
ton or appointment, as the legislature
may provide, of commissioners OF reye-
nue., for each county, in whatever num-
Der the law shall prescribe, for term
OF four years, and if such commission
ers are elected by the people that they
shall be ineligible for reelection TO the
Office for the next succeeding term.
The proposed amendment provides
that these commissioners shall be elect
ed for four years, and, in such num-
Der as the law may prescribe, without
making them ineligible for reelection.
Fourth, in the constitution, as it
now stands, provision is made for the
election or appointment of one COM
missioner OF revenue for every city, but
il elected by the people that he shall
be ineligible for reelection to the office
for the next succeeding term. The
constitution, rs it is, further provides
for the election by the qualified voters
OF every city Of one city treasurer for a
term Of four years, makes him eligible
for only two consecutive terms, and
that he shall not act as deputy for his
immediate successor. The proposed
amendment provides for the election OF
one commissioner of revenue and one
city treasurer by the qualified voters OF
every city for term Of four years; but
places no restriction whatever upon the
number OF times they may be elected.
There is no good reason why men
who do not make laws, but who sim
ply follow directions, should not hold
office so long as they perform their
duties honestly and faithfully and to
the satisfaction of their constituents.
II they are guilty of misfeasance or NAL
feasance they can be removed by legal
process, or if they prove unsatisfactory
or are derelict in their duties the people
can turn them down at the next cleo
ton. We hold that good and faithful
men of this class should be retained
to office so long as they faithfully and
efficiently perform their duties and the
longer such men hold their places the
better officers they become by reason
of experience. Therefore We say adopt
the third and fourth constitutional
amendments.
But in regard to the first and second
amendments we advise that they be de-
feated. Sixty days sessions of the leg
islature are sufficiently long for the
transaction of all legitimate business,
for We hold that there are now sufficient
laws on the statute books to last gen
Grafton at least. Indeed it would be well
to devote thirty of the sixty days Of each
session to repeating rather than enact
ing laws. In conversation recently
with a member of the constitutional
convention, who ably represented a
neighboring county, he declared that
whereas during the meeting of the con
yentiOn he advocated a ninety days
session he is now convinced that SIX
ty days is amply long Lengthy SEES
sions give time for the passage of all
kinds of pernicious legislation, hurtful
to all save those for whose especial
benefit certain laws are enacted. 1t is
an established fact that those most in
terested in the welfare Of the state
dread the approach of a session OF the
legislature and breathe a sigh OF relief
when it closes. Then let the agony be
as brief as possible.
The amendment providing for the
reading of bills by title instead of at
length should certainly be defeated.
Most OF the harmful, hurtful and per
nicious legislation that has heretofore
been enacted has been rushed through
before many members had an oppor-
tunity even to know the contents of the
several bills presented and the same
state OF affairs would be brought about
again should that amendment be adopt
ed. The talk of loss Of time in reading
bills should not be considered. 1t was
an open scandal even in recent years
that questionable measures for queS-
tionable reasons were held back till the
last few days of the session and then
damned through the legislature with a
rush. This should never be made pos
sible again. Then split even; kill the
first two and adopt the last two amend
ments.