The Springdale news., 1917-11-30
STATE NEWS ITEMS
By Clio Harper.


 Convention adjourned until the first Monday in July, 1918. It was in ses- sion three days at cost of $4.000, but it decided one thing definitely and with practical unanimity, and that is, that the usual procedure followed in the drafting of a new Constitution is not applicable at this time When it came to the issue, there were very few who insisted upon continuing in ses- sion until the new instrument could be completed, and there was a general agreement upon next summer as the most opportune time to reassemble and complete the work for which they were elected.
 An analysis of the personnel of the body was most gratifying, as it is found to be of a superior type of statesmanship and representative cit lzenship. There are many former state officials and Congressman in the Convention, and the average age is much higher than that of the ordinary Legislative body.
 There was a small, very small, ele- ment that contended for an imme- diate adjournment sine die, but this was unpopular and gained no head way. There are many salutary changes in the present Constitution which the delegates will insist upon, some of them radical, but in keeping with the tendency of the times.
 One of the reforms which will like ly be urged has to do with the Legis- lative branch of the government That radical changes will be made in this is almost certainty. It is felt general ly that the General Assembly is not measuring up to the highest efficiency on account of restrictions that have grown up about it, and practices with in the law but detrimental to the best interests of the state
 There will be members of the Con- vention who will insist upon quadren- nial sessions with the members placed on an annual salary, subject to emer- gent calls at any time. Still others will contend for the biennial sessions for the transaction of important bus mess that cannot be deferred, with al- ternate long and short sessions. It is being generally recognized that the siXty-day restriction is mistake and that better plan would be to put the members on a salary and require them to stay long enough to finish the work
 The evils of local legislation, which has grown to be the distinguishing feature of each session, were con- demned by Gov. Trough in an address before the Convention. He said that 85 per cent of the 220O pages of law passed by the last Assembly is local and special in it's nature, and that there should be some definite means of overcoming the evil There is too much of disposition to '.legislate Johnson grass out of Greene county, and green grass out of Johnson coun- ty." Many of the things done by spe- cial act could more easily and eco- nomieally, and just as effectively, be done by other constituted authori- ties.
 One of the suggestions that will be advanced is that the General Assem- bly, shall convene and for thirty days do nothing but introduce and advance bills. A thirty day recess would then be taken, to enable the Representa- tives to return to their homes and dis cuss the various issues with their to secure the trend of public opinion. They would then re- convene and consider the bills upon final passage. This would not pre- clude the introduction of other meas ures after the re-convening, but 1t would be provided that a two-t thirds majority would be necessary to per init new measures being introduced
 Dr. c. A. Millar, editor of the Ark ansas Methodist, who has made a careful study of political economy, suggests that the House of Represen- tatives shall consist of only thirty three members elected from the state at large for terms of four years, no two from the same county. They shall serve on salary and be in con- tinuous session, but shall not initiate laws They shall consider and enact only such measures as may be pre-