Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-06-16
TWIN SESSIONS.

Fidelity to tradition usually j:
commendable. But where the pub
lies interest would be promoted by
a departure from tradition, such de.
parture is also commendable.
For generations we have stuck to
system of making laws in LOuisi-
ana because the system was founded
by our ancestors. But the results
show the system makes for confu-
sion and inefficiency and the ques.
ton arises whether revolution OF
the system isn't in line with sound
public policy.
Senator Provosty has fathered two
constitutional amendments which
represent the thought of the Louisi-
ana Bar Association on the subject.
If they are submitted and a proper
educational campaign made, show
ing the people how much is to be
gained by a change in the system,
we believe the amendments will be
ratified on their merits.
One of the bills proposes split BIZ
ennial sessions of the General As
sembly. The first would meet on
the second Monday in May. for fif-
teen days in off years and twenty
days in the year of the general State
election. The second session would
meet not less than three nor more
than six months after the first, the
date to be fixed by the Legislature,
and sit for forty-five days.
The first session would transact
business as now, except that no bill
or amendment could be reported by
committee or acted on. Exceptions
would be, necessary appropriation
bills and such emergency legislation
as the Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor and Speaker might designate
as requiring immediate action. Be-
tween sessions copies of all bills and
amendments would be printed by
the Secretary of State and trans
mitted to State officers, members of
the Legislature, presidents of police
juries, mayor of cities, judges of
courts, libraries and, at a nominal
cost, to all persons applying therefor.
If necessary, committees would sit
at the capital within thirty days of
the second session to give hearings
on important measures. Final
action on the bills and amendments
would be had only at the second
session.
Under our present single sixty.
day session, bills pour into the Leg
islature like mountain torrent. In
the congestion that ensues these are
killed or passed with none of the
deliberate consideration which must
be part of intelligent lawmaking.
1t is not because the members are
unwilling to give the bills this con-
sideratiOh. 1t is because no time is
afforded them to do so.
At the session of 1914, for in,
stance, 1,445 bills appeared. OF
these 312 became laws, making ego
pages of printed acts. But the
amazing fact, which proves the case,
is that whereas in the first thirty
days only two acts, one to pay the
per diem of members, were passed,
245 or two-thirds of the whole we're
rushed through in the last five legis-
lative days.
What real part did the Governor,
constitutionally a part of the law
making power. have in confecting
this mass of legislation, when it is
stated that he signed 223 of these
laws in the last five days of the ses-
sion?
Is it any wonder then that in four
years ITO of ours laws have gone to
the Supreme Court for interpreta-
ton and construction, that so have
been attacked on constitutional
grounds, and that "a have been
wiped OF the statute books because
they were not constitutionally
sound?
II the first amendment is sub
mitted and these facts hammered
home, there can hardly be any
doubt of what the people will say
on the proposition of split sessions.
The second of Provosty's amend
ments would be worth passing even
If the other were not. We have
shown that the Governor had only
five days in which to considered the
policy and constituionality of no
fewer than 233 laws. Being merely |
human he could not even read the
bills, let alone digest them, and his
signature was attached to most OF
them on the word of those who sat
around the Executive and read the
bills for him.
The Provosty amendment would
correct this condition. 1t provides
that the Governor shall have ten
days to consider each bill and that
this time shall be allowed him even
in the case of bills which reach him
on the day Of adjournment. In other
words it is proposed to give the
same legal force to a bill signed
within ten days after the close of
the session as if it were signed while
the sitting was still in progress; and |
as this follows the Federal system