Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1913-05-08

1NOItu 0uhOtd CklsidLoAS uoo Ioo
many members, and says that it
ought to be reduced by half. The
writer at the last two sessions was
the Oldest member of the lower body
of the assembly, and from his exper
fence he is prepared to indorse every
word said in the Searchlight article.
Not only is the matter of expense to
be considered; there are other rea-
sons. and weighty ones. why small
er number Of members in both
houses would be better for the peo-
pie Of the state.
To insure good legislation every
member should at all times during
the session have thorough knowl-
edge of what is being done. That can
not be done at all under present
conditions. 1t is impossible for a
member of or visitor to a House
session to understand why it was
that chamber ideal in most of its
arrangements should have been built
without the least regard to it's
acoustic properties. II is a fact,
however. that with the pr esent large
membership those members who
draw seats on the distant sides of
the room know practically nothing Of
what is transporting. Unless men,
Der has powerful voice and dis
tinct enunciation, scarcely a word of
his remarks can bee heard by every
one. The same is true of the read
ings by the clerks. Unless the read
ing clerks have strong and clear
voice, third of the membership
cannot understand them.
During the last days of the ses-
sions-and particularly the final
night session--there is such tur-
moil and business is so rapidly
rushed that only those not far re-
moved from the clerks desk have a
knowledge of just what legislation
is being enacted. This is all wrong,
and it is extremely dangerous to
proper legislation. 1t is fact that
many member who has drawn a
seat distant from the speakers ros-
trum goes home at the end of the
session with scarcely any knowledge
of what measures really became laws
especially those rushed through at
the final alI-nlght sitting-and he is
not wiser until the session laws are
published.
What an opportunity is thus
created for the passage Of wood
chucks' that would not become laws
were there time and opportunity for
the members to understand and
properly consider the measures be-
fore them.
At the first session held in the new
House-chamber, 1905, a resolution
was passed asking the board of
trustees of public property to con-
suit with some one having scien-
tific knowledge of acoustics and
ascertain whether it would be posi-
BILE to improve the depIorable condi-
ton existing in the chamber in the
matter of sound. In response sew
eral small wires were strung across
the room about on level with the
gallery. This hepled little, but
not much. and the trouble st;!!
exists. and it is said cannot be RENE
died.
The constitution provides that the
minimum number of Senators shall
be thirty and of the House members
sixty. With the House membership
reduced from its present number.
which is one hundred and eleven, to
sixty. the members could all be
seated within hearing distance of
the presiding officer and the clerks
and OF one another, and business
could then proceed with knowledge
on the part of everybody as to what
was taking place. The railing that
fences off the part of the room which
is given over to occupation by the
public could then be brought for
ward, giving considerably more
space to the people Of the state who
attend a session to view the machin-
cry by which laws are made for their
government. As it il at present,
there are occasions at every session,
and especially toward the close, when
the parts of the chamber devoted to
public use are uncomfortably
crowded.
With the reduction of membership
to the minimum allowed by the con-