Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-15

OPEN FORUM
( = : **A**A******* / y
Legislative Expenses.

u bAC hoNN iANtN ~ Nv
braska many years and was familiar
with the law-making body of that COM
monwealth, and more especially the
house Of representatives, and some of
my friends here insist that | write my
views for publication, but feel as
though people in Oregon might not be
interested in Nebraska legislation, but
| finally concluded that | would comply |
with their wishes, and if | can say any
thing that will be of interest or bene-
fit TO any of your readers ! shall be
amply repaid. There no doubt was a
time when the speaker was elected days
and weeks before the organization Of
the boly and not only the ehairmansips
but the whole committees were made up
ready to be announced as soon as the
speaker should assume the gavel like
boys trading jack knives insight and
unseen, but the people woke up to the
fact that the system was wrong aud
that no difference how intelligent the
memoirs were that in too many cases
they were placed on committees the
work of which was entirely out Of their
| line and as consequence the whole
machinery Of the Legislature was re.
tarded and in recent sessions of the
/ Nebraska house Of representatives the
system was changed and they nave ia
ken away the appointing power from
| the speaker and vested it in the main
body. Here is one uf their rules: "All
standing committees shall be elected by
the house in such manner as it may d.
rect. " Then we find a committee of
three elected by the body whose duty
it is to recommend not only the chair
men but the members of all the com
mittees to house, and they are tnen
voted upon by the body. This commit
tee ia selected from the different see
'tions of the state. They first take the
name and occupation of each members;
then they study his characteristics as
far rs possible. They then place each
member upon the committee; that is,
the llost suitable, and in harmony with
his avocatiOn in life. In this way the
members of the committee are not work
ing and acting on bills they know moth
ing about. The committee making the
appointments, or doing the selecting,
has no axe to grind, and they do not
aim 10 make random sho's. They would
not think of placing farmer on the
judiciary committee or lawyer on a
labor committee. The committee on
committees this session took five days
; in which to make their report There
was plenty of other work for the main
: body, and the time was well spent.
There are several advantages in thi'
plan: First-No aspirant for speaker
can use the charmanshp or ecmmitte,
appointments for log rolling purposes L
! satisfy his aspirations; second-Eacl
d member is in the line of work to whicl
he IS best adapted and most familiar
and therefore most efficient; third
Efficiency saves times and mistake
and therefore gives better service, an,
there are seldom any minority report
in the house. Here is another rule @
the house; "Upoa the second readin
~ of bill the speaker shall refer 1t I
the proper committee, which shall re
port IL back within five legislativ
d. days. This rule is seldom violated
u in spite Of the fact that every membe
VINO has bill before the committee
- requested and urged as well as othe
members who are interested to com
% before the committee TO make thei
showing. The speaker, on the first da
" Of the session, after his election and NJ
on assuming the gaycl, said, among otl
r. er things: "l want TO suggest to th
a. orators of the house, and there are man
ls oe them, to use their surplus energy b,
fore the committees and be ready
come before tne house with busine'
wheet there will be little time for o
"' atory,"
Here is another rule Of tho housi
''The hours Of conl ening shall be at
" " a. m. and 1880 p. M" The committe,
y generally meet at a. m. and work n
til . and have an evening session an
perhaps two if they should adjourn ca
ly aud the committees be crowded.
H. the daiy Journal we find another rul
which reads as follows: "The employ
OF the house shall be selected by cor
al mittee of three members, one Of who
d. shall be from the eastern part of u
IS, state, one from the central part and OIL
m. from the western part. Such commit
ly shall be elected by the house. n
committee shall make detailed al
itemzed report to the house once eve
two weeks concerning the number
house employees and the ammnt pa
ne for their services - Then we find q
er following motion made aud carried;
ha move that ---- ---- and -- be ma
in. our committee on employees, with II
cc power TO employ and discharge. Sa
nw employees not to exceed 80 in number
q left the names out as ! do not wi
q to be personal, but ! have them he
,rs for inspection) On January is, pa
ay S2 Of the house journal We find the
nj port from the committee to the hou
on cuyering the first two weeks Of tnc 81
sion with the number of employees
* and the amount reported for tn
services at $646.53 On February 4
chairman made the statement that
DAYS, or one.tbird OF the 60-day sessi,
ON had expired and that but 1880 h
been expended by the house for scrvi,
nd Of employees. There are now 30 on
~ payroll and he SAYS that everything
running like clockwork and ne positiv,
a,,, knows that he will not be compelled
ilis exceed the limit Of 80 allowed by
mo house. There are four Of the lcadl
us' committees that have clerks. Here
eh whas friend Of mine, who Is now
member, says. cor the 100 memb
in the house not one has either cl,
fth or atanogrnpber and ] wish TO
Of that not member since 1889 has ha'
in clerk or stenOgrapher, and the quail