The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-14
FOR ErrEc1IyE lA>y-M,I<INc

II is the form OF n constructive meas
urc OF the highest order. now pending
in the Illinois Legislature.
1t is bill to establish n Joint Icgis-
lative commission. to he composed or
the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor.
! the Speaker. the chairnen OF the Com
mittees on Appropriations of the SEN
ate and OF the House the chairInen
OF the Committees on Judiciary of both
branches. and five other Senators and
iiVe other Representatives chosen by
their respective houses.
The powers and duties OF the COM
mission are thus defined:
tp To make II survey and thorough
inXestigation of tho governmental in
dustrial, social and economic needs OF
tho state, and to make recommends
lions of needed legislation based upon
such survey and investigations
OBJ To investigate and report upon
the operation of laws OF other states
and countries in cases where such in
vestigation and report will afford in
formation OF value to the General AS
scmbly.
Co To investigate the administration
OF any department. of the State govern
ment
I'D To Investigate the expenditure OF
any appropriation.
(e) TO prepare and submit to the
General Assembly drafts of bills upon
matters investigated by it, when such
Investigation shows further legislation
TO be desirable
90 TO act through committees APP
pointed by it from within or without
its membership or partly within and
partly without it's membership.
The commission must establish a leg
islative reference bureau on the most
approved lines similar to that often
suggested By Tho Times Dispatch as
essential for efficient law-maliimg in
Virginia paid secretary and neccs-
sary employees are provided for.
The most powerful progressive news
paper in the nation. the Chicago Tri-
bune says of this method:
mo open minded observer OF the in
Conference and hnpha%ard methods of
legislation Of our states has failed to
realize the urgent need of some plan
by which law-maliing can he made
more consistent. practical and far-See-
ing. Our present system, or lack of
system, depends upon the dubious di-
rection or party platforms upon tho in
itiative OF the individual Legislator ana
upon the often discordant or unrcla ted
pressurcs OF relatively small bodies OF.
groups Of citizens. y great deal Of tho
enort of the most conscientious lclrls-
lative bodies is wasted and from shonls
or bills conglomcrate ia built up to
be tho law of Commonwealth"
The result is that much OF our law
Is stillborn Ineffective laws crowd our
statute books Yet generation upon
generation adhcres to the expensive
fallacy that law making takes care of
Itself and that the law-nakcr is wor-
thy OF his hire.
What we need most of all In Virginia
IS continuity ana forethought i'm the
preparation OF measures Blls dealing
with matters OF vital import to the
people are hastily and unsll!ufully
drawn up by uniformed Legislators.
Duplication OF measures is the rule.
Too many important subjects arc CON
sidered at n single session OF the Log
islature, with the inevitable result that
such statutes as are enacted are lll-con-
sidered and inefficient DAYS OF valu
able time are wasted in reconstructinR
poorly drawn mis- N
The CONFERENCE.-The f ,,,.r;.
r) a Legislative rcrara,o. h,roa,.. lo|
legislative cor,,tss,o, rnon ,,,o ,,ao1
of ,ha, proposcd in 1li,ois III ra
MGR would mia the ,eg,s,o,n. T., a.ar,
inE ho'epfoof statutes. supplying him
WIN all rcedru' Information ms to Ike
laws in Other states, and with argu-
men's pro and con Ii would subsu-
tute the skilled craftsman for the in
experienced scribbler The merits of
the legislative commission are obvious
Virginia tried out This idea in l9os-1o.
When me Senate Finance Committee
met some time before the Legislature
convened ana formulated an anpropria-
non hiii IN the belief that rs II result Of
Snch "H'e'esiSiative consideration It's
i'"sF''Re would not be delayed until tile
. y. IA "a -.