Proposals for Legislative The need for reform in our State legislatures has long been recognized and a variety of remedies have been suggested and in some cases adopted. These proposals may be considered briefly as follows: (1) The first is a sweeping change in the structure, composition and organization of the legislature. The bicameral or two-house system is to be abolished and the size of the single house much reduced. This, it is claimed, would minimize confusion and encourage effi ciency. This single house is to be elected by a system of proportional representation so that the various political and economic interests may have adequate representation therein. Finally greater harmony is to be established between the legislature and the executive of the State the governor and heads of the administrative departments to have seats in the legislature. This program was devised by reformers in the State of Oregon but has never been adopted in any State. (2) A sec ond and less revolutionary measure of reform is directed against the abuse of lobbying. Two schemes have been devised for this purpose: One of them, embodied in a New York statute, requires the registration in the office of the secretary of state of all lobbyists together with the names of the persons or interests they rep resent and an account of any money spent in influencing legislation. The other plan is in force in Wisconsin and forbids entirely all efforts to influence members of the legislature privately. Lobbyists must confine themselves to appearance before legislative committees and the presentation of printed literature to in dividual legislators. Both of these laws have produced salutary results. (3) A third remedy for legislative abuses is the introduction of a budget plan for the control of State finances. By placing in the hands of a responsible State officer the duty of presenting a financial pro gram which shall comprise the estimates both of income and expenditures and by taking from the legislature the power to increase the ap propriations thus proposed the serious evils of the "'pork barrel will be removed and the energies of the legislators will be released for the consideration of matters of State-wide importance. (4) In the fourth place legisla
tive procedure must be reformed in such a way as to secure adequate and careful considera tion of all measures. (5) Fifth, the length of legislative sessions should be extended so as to permit a more efficient and leisurely transac tion of public business. Good laws can hardly be expected from a legislature which must complete its work in 60 days. (6) Sixth, legislative salaries should be increased to a point which would make it possible for the abler and better trained citizens to become legislators without too serious financial loss. A State which pays but $4 a day to its law makers cannot justly complain if their work is not of highest grade. (7) In the seventh place, several States, following the lead of New York and Wisconsin, have established legislative reference bureaus. To be most efficient such bureaus should not only collect data upon problems of legislative policy for the benefit of the members of the legislature but it should also be able to offer expert help in the difficult task of bill-drafting. These bureaus have materially raised the quality of legislation the States where they exist. (8) Finally, real and permanent legislative reform cannot be expected unless the people of the State take an interest in the work of the legislature, keep informed and alert in regard to matters of legislative policy and show a willingness to let the legislators know their opinions and de sires. Bad government cannot exist for long where public sentiment is intelligent and aroused.
Beard, 'American Govern ment and Politics) (revised 1914) ; Dealey, Growth of American State Constitutions) (1915); Dodd, 'Procedure in State Legisla tures> (Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1918); Holcombe, 'State Government in the United (1916); Reinsch, 'American Legislatures and Legislative Methods> (1907) ; Reinsch, ings on American State Government> (1911); Young, New American Government and Its (1915).