Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-07
Member Of Session Of 1911
Urges Radical Changes in
the Law making Plan
With a Much Smaller
Body.
ONE HOUSE ENOUGH;
TO MEET ANNUALLY
No Necessity for Present
Cumbersome Body With
It's Intricate Machinery
Would Limit the Number
of Bills to Be Introduced.
BY I. j. JONES.

Oy J.. JoNGSs
For many years there has been
growing dissatisfaction in the public
mind with the operation of our state
| legislatures, having expression many
times in denouncing the members
thereof as either fools or knaves, and
no one seeming to inquire if it might
be the system instead of the indi-
vidual members that caused the trou-
BILE. Lately there has been an occa-
sional reference to our method as
cumbersome. imperfect and expensive,
with a suggestion that a less number
of members might improve it.
| Now, that our Legislative bodies will
soon convene, the time is opportune to
direct attention to some of the defects
of the present system, that the people
may more closely study the proceed
ings of the ensuing sessions for If
any change is made it must be by
constitutional amendment adopted by
the people
At the very beginning of our exam
nation we find the faliacv of having
the two branches, the senate and house
| of representatives. I can see no rea-
son for this other than the one of ira
dition and custom. The colonies hav-
ing copied the plan of their assem-
blies from the parliament of Great
Britain our federal constitution estab-
| lished congress upon the same plan
| and our states followed after
JEALOUSY AND CONFLICT.
] But what can be the advantage of
the same electors in a county Sc
| lecting members to two different bod
les which may come in conflict with
1 each other in their deliberations.
Even if they work in harmony. it adds
more expense. And frequently there is
such jealousy and conflict developed
between them as to seriously retard
their proper work.
4 l do not know of any better way to
get at the defects in the system,
than To look into the workings of some
| particular session. We will take the
Idaho session Of 1911. in which | was
one of the members from Bonner
county in the house of representatives.
In that session there wore 50 mem
bers in the house and % in the senate.
THE LIFE STRENUOUS.
/ Arriving in Boise a day or two be-
fore the session convened. we were
Immediately besieged by applicants for
positions as clerks, copyists. pages, etc.
collectively known as attaches. and
numbering, before the close of the ses-
sion. some 30 odd in the house and %
in the senate. As these position were
considered as strictly party plums,
however, TO be dispensed by order of
the party caucus. we did not give much
time to their consideration unless it
were to secure a position for some one
from our particular locality
1t was. indeed. the life strenuous for
the members. from the time we arrived
in the capital until we departed a
little more than so DAYS later.
i Many things We're to he arranged be-
fore the opening day, by caucuses and
political trades and compromises. esrc-
: cially the selection of the speaker IF
the house, for upon him Woula deNolve
the appointment of the various COM
mittees of the house
And most ef the effective work fer
Or against measure is ACCOMPLISHED
in committee
MEN OF CHARACTER.
| was favorably impressed with the
personnel of The membership. as beng
mer of more than averose ability ana
character. practically without eAceI
ton, and all earnestly intent upon na
triotie and conscientious performance
OF their duties.
l did not change my opinion after so
days Of close association in the regular
session and nearly 20 DAYS in the eN-
traordinary session of 1912.
This is not remarkable, as il is not
likely that an intelligent people would
elect either scoundrels or men of scant
, intelligence to represent them in Il
law making body.
| have decided that the shortcomings
of our legislatures are due almost en-
tirely to the system under which they
Z operate. and not to corrupt intentions
of the members
BE il remembered that a session is
, practically limited to so days. as pay
cannot be drawn for a longer period,
and few would care TO remain very
long on their own expense.
!, OPENING OF SESSION..
Upon the arrival of the day for open
| ing the session, we were sworn in by
} the chief justice. of the supreme court
and quickly organized for business. by
} the election of our speaker. the adop-
ton of rules and the appointment of
! the committees
! The governors message was read
of bills. The first one was a bill APP
! propriating money for the expense of
: the session. 1t was passed under sus-
pension of the rules. and quite a num-
i Der of bills were introduced to take
! their regular course. amounting to 32
in number. for the first 10 days. Dur