Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-08-29
WOULD REFORM
STATE ASSEMBLY
,0NE AGE ONLY A JOKE
Would cut Down Number, Increase
Salary and Have Sessions
More Oitcu.

COLORADO SPRINGS Colo, Aug.
2S.-Far- reaching reforms In the
makeup and methods of state legisla-
lures, including more frequent scs-
sions, smaller membership, bctc.r sal
aries for members and "a greater per
Ccntage of legislaturs-at-hrpu were
advocated by Governor Emmett O'Neal
OF Alabama in an address before the
Conference Of Governors here today.
Governor O'NeaL whose subject was,
"Distrust Of State Legislatures, the
Cause, the Remedy also urged an
extension Of the executive veto power.
III state constitutions stand in the
way Of necessary reforms said COY
ernor O'Ncal, "lot those constitutions
be amended. Lei no uarro" spirit
of conservatism check us in our eff
forts to mako our state governments
more efficient
Emphasizing the need Of radical
revision Of many of the present meth
DDS Of Legislative procedure, the Ala
bama governor cited constantly
growing dis.rust Of state legislatures
on the part Of the people. 'Iu some
states" be declared, this distrust
has grown into open contempt. IN
many. a session of the legislature is
looked upon as something in the ma
turc Of an unavoidable callmi y.
Business becomes alarmed, iudustrial
development is checked and there is
general apprehension"
Various methods adopted to in
crease the tone and efficiency Of leg
islative bodies have, said the speak
er, failed to improve the legislative
output. 1T will be found" he said,
that the legislatures have been more
corrupt and more incompetent i'm eX-
actly the proportion that they have
been increasingly deprived Of power
and their responsibility restricted"
Supporting his contention that fire.
quent legislative sessions would aid
in increasing the efficiency Of legis-
latures, Governor O'Neal cited his
own state, where but one legislative
session is held every four years.
THE quadrennial system" he de
clared, has proven TO be the most
prolific source yet devised for hasty,
ill-advised and ill-ConsIdered legtsla-
tion. The vice Of the system is that
It denies the people for four years
the right to repeal or revise vicious
or unwise legislation
Continuing, Governor O'Neal said:
THE present salary in almost ev-
cry legislature IS utterly Inadequate
II would be better for the state to
invite free service from her citizens
than to pay the miserable pit'ance
she now offers.
zone Of the strongest objections 20
our legislatures as now constituted is
that the members represent only To-
calitles and are more concerned I'm
promoting local legislation than in
enacting necessary laws for the state
at large. II would unqueetlonably
elevate the tone Of the state legisla-
ture II a certain proportion Of its
members were elected from the state
at large. The membership of our
legislatures should also be decreased.
Another defect i'm our methods Of
legislation IS that there IS no central
responsible authority which can be
held accountable for tho laws enacted
There is but ono remedy for this, and
that is to increase the powers and
duties Of the executive. As President
Wilson has wisely stated. the people
demand leadership They look TO the
governor. and no 20 individual mem
bcrs of the legislature. FOR such mnas-
ures as conditions NAV require"
The initiative and referendum was
characterized by fhe speaker as
merely palliative temporary.
not n permanent remedy"
1.-The theory that every citizen
should be allowed TO become g. law
maker" said Governor O'Na1l. "is
more plausible than practical"