interim between sessions would permit the legislators to return to their constituencies and secure from them their opinions of impending legislation, and would give the newspapers opportunity to discuss the bill, resulting in a general discussion and digest of proposed legislation."

Hon. M. Alexander, Governor of Idaho: "Biennial elections, as well as biennial sessions of the legislature appear to be sufficient for all legislation that is necessary. In fact, usually more legislation is enacted even in a biennial period than there is any real necessity for."

Mr. Finley F. Bell, Secretary, Legislative Reference Bureau, Illinois: "Concerning the question of biennial elections and sessions versus annual ones, I believe the consensus of opinion in this State, at the present time, is that we have too many elections and the cost of same is reaching a point where something will have to be done to curb the expense."

Hon. W. S. Allen, Secretary of State of Iowa: "We had annual elections until within the past few years, (1857) when we adopted the biennial election plan, and the change has been very satisfactory indeed. I know of no one desiring to return to the system of holding annual elections."

Mr. John A. Lapp, Director, Bureau of Legislative Information, Indiana: "I personally believe in biennial sessions, proIvided the Governor has power to call a special session and designate subjects to be taken up."

Hon. Oakley C. Curtis, Governor of Maine: "The fact that sentiment in a majority of States has brought about changes from annual to biennial elections is the best evidence of the trend of public opinion in favor of the longer term. Frequency of elections and consequent changes of administration seem to me to handicap good government; and I am of the opinion that annual legislative sessions tend toward enactment of a multiplicity of useless and unwise laws with which the Statutes of many States are surfeited."

Mr. Henry E. Dunnack, State Librarian of Maine: "The fact that no attempt has ever been made, since 1881, to change our biennial sessions and elections to annual, may be of interest to you."

Hon. Woodbridge M. Ferris, Governor of Michigan: “I can't

imagine an argument for annual elections and annual sessions of the Legislature. In my judgment every Governor should be elected for four years and a Legislature should not convene more than once in two years. To be perfectly frank about the matter it would be far better to have the Legislature convene once in four years."

Hon. W. S. Hammond, Governor of Minnesota: "There is no sentiment in favor of annual elections and annual sessions. Personally I am inclined to favor one election and two sessions of the legislature every four years."

Hon. Earl Brewer, Governor of Mississippi: "In Mississippi elections for representatives and senators in our legislature are held every four years, and sessions of the legislature every two years. I prefer this plan to having elections every two years. By electing for four years legislators gain experience the first session that is valuable to them the next."

Hon. Cornelius Roach, Secretary of State of Missouri: "Biennial elections and biennial sessions of the Legislature are giving general satisfaction in this State. Most official terms are four years, but nearly half the expiration dates of those terms occur in what is known as the 'off-year election.'

Hon. A. M. Alderson, Secretary of State of Montana: "Personally, I am inclined to believe that Representatives might be of more value to the State if their terms were four years instead of two. The ordinary legislator just begins to understand something of his duties when the session adjourns. He could be of more use to the State in the second session than he possibly could be during his first experience. I much prefer biennial sessions of the Legislature to annual sessions, and with our system of referendum am inclined to believe that were it not for appropriations, quadrennial sessions would be preferable to biennial sessions."

Hon. Rolland H. Spaulding, Governor of New Hampshire: "For many years, now, in New Hampshire biennial elections and biennial sessions of the legislature have been the law; and I do not think there is any sentiment whatever in the State for a change to annual sessions and elections."

Hon. William C. McDonald, Governor of New Mexico: "I have to say that I am opposed to annual elections and sessions

of legislative bodies. Biennial elections and legislative sessions, it seems to me, are likely to accomplish more for the people, with less disturbance and confusion."

Mr. W. S. Wilson, Legislative Reference Librarian of North Carolina: "There has been no agitation for a change in the biennial session of the General Assembly."

Mr. John R. Cassidy, Clerk of the General Assembly of Ohio: "From 1856 up to and including 1893, Ohio had annual sessions of the Legislature although the elections came biennially. Since 1893 we have had biennial sessions only. I think the sentiment of the State is strongly in favor of the biennial sessions and that annual sessions would not now be tolerated."

Hon. James Withycombe, Governor of Oregon: "I will say without hesitation that to my mind biennial elections and sessions of the legislatures are infinitely preferable to those occurring annually. In addition to the greatly increased expense of the annual procedure, it seems to me clearly established that the constant changing and increased necessity, or at least likelihood of playing politics, due to the incessant proximity of elections, would militate seriously against efficiency."

Hon. B. O. James, Secretary of State of Virginia: "In my judgment the elections should not occur oftener than once in every four years as much better results would be obtained."

Hon. J. S. Donald, Secretary of State of Wisconsin: "I believe that the biennial session of the legislature is proper. However, I believe in longer terms of office for members and State officers. The term is two years for State officers and there has been no consideration of any change, yet personally I am inclined to feel that if each State officer was elected for a four year term, it would be better."

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Beard, C. A., American Government and Politics, 1911.
Bryce, James, American Commonwealth, 4th Edition, 1910.
Holcombe, A. N., State Government in the United States, 1916.
Macy, J., and Gannaway, J. W., Comparative Free Government, 1915.
Mathews, J. M., Principles of American State Administration, 1917.
McLaughlin, A. C., and Hart, A. B., Cyclopedia of American Government,
1914.

Reinsch, P. S., American Legislatures and Legislative Methods, 1907.

All the books named in the bibliographies printed with these Bulletins may be found in the rooms set apart for the Delegates to the Convention in the State Library.

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SUPERVISOR OF ADMINISTRATION.