Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-15
RADICAL DEPARTURE IN lEo,c.
~tAruRE SUGGESTED az
SENATOR WILSON.
SoAT or COMMISSION
GOVERNMENT ron STATE
Wilton Resolution Calls For subrnis.
sion 10 Voters 81 Change in csnsti.
tuition of Stats-Weuid kssp Sma''
Legislative 0edy Or Duty Az the
Tims-A Radical Departure.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Dcs Moincs, Feb. Ex-senator Will
son. of Appanoose county. chairman o.
the senate committee on constitutional
amendments has introduced IN the
senate OF the Iowa legislature con-
current resolution which. II adopted.
would set In motion the machinery 10
provide for only one house in the Iowa
legislature.
Senator Wilson proposes in his con-
current resolution To submit to the
voters Of Iowa at the election in lS.V
the question Of whether or not the
constitution shall be changed so as to
provide for one branch OF the general
assembly. or u sort Of commission lorm
for legislative procedure.
Every ten years the voters OF Iowa
can vote on whether OF not Il consutu-
tional convention can be called TO re-
wise the constitution Of Iowa. In TINS
connection Senator Wilson proposes 10
put up the question to the voters OF
one legislative body to make the laws
for the state.
This Is what Is called a uncameral
system. whereas with two branches
the system Is known as bi-cameral
system.
The question to he submitted TO the
voters would be, Shall the constitu-
tional convention. il one is called. re-
wise the constitution so as to provide
that one house shall constitute the
legislature Of the state instead OF two
houses as under the present constitu-
ten.
The Advanced View.
Senator Wilson has been collecting
information on this proposed one house
legislative body. This includes an ar
ticle by c. +. Taylor. editor and pubt
Usher of the Equity Series. which dis
cusses changes in the ways Of conf
Quoting the state legislative matters as
follows:
One thing seems certain-that the
people OF this country will soon find
way to stop law making by legislatures
as at present constituted. No observ-
ing person can visit legisla ture in
action without concluding that II is
very poor way 70 do the states BUSH
ness. First in material. Not one leg
islator in one hundred is properly pre-
pared for his duties. Most OF them
are honest enough but II requires much
more than honesty to make laws for
state. 1t is snot the faul! OF the men
put them there
Second. limited sessions at long in
tervals. Most Of the states have Iegis-
lative sessions only once in two years.
and few every four years-some
every year The organization and
other necessary formalities Of two
large houses require considerable time.
This unweildly system with unframed
material gives trained politicians their
opportunity. The session is well ad-
ranced usually before any great pro-
gross is made. As the end approaches
there is much of importance to be
done. and then. as the Philadelphia
Ledger says. there is 'lawmaking in
hot haste" AS to what is desired the
editor suggests the following.
Legislature Of one house.
Efficiency favored oy body Of COM
paratively few members. ssy from fiji
teen to twenty five
by the block vote. A ballot system
shoild be used that would give true
representation to every considerable
faction in the electorate.
Body should be in constant service
and members paid sufficient salary
10 induce exclusive attention to public
duties.
z Powers should not be limited to
making laws. II they truly represent
the electorate they could be trusted
with the powers of the electorate but
subject to the initiative. referendum
and recall
Large power Of appointment could
be intrusted to this body including
regulativc commissions. executive and
administrative offices and extending
TO the judiciary"