TO THE EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON: -

AT the last meeting of the Harvard Union, the plan for adding a Legislative Branch was deemed inadvisable. Many of those, however, - including the President of the Union himself, - who considered it inexpedient for the Union to branch out in a new direction, yet favored strongly the foundation of a Legislative body which should be independent of the Union and should interfere with it in no way whatever.

Following up this suggestion, a number of men held an informal meeting on Monday last, the President of the Union presiding; and a committee was appointed by the chair to provide for the organization of a Harvard Legislature. This committee now ask space in your columns to state the purposes of the society contemplated.

It is proposed that the Legislature shall be open to all members of the University. That its object shall be to discuss questions in a parliamentary form; to obtain a knowledge of practical legislation; and to have some little experience in committee work. Of quibbling, and disputing on unimportant particulars, nothing is contemplated. The machinery will be as simple as possible; the officers, only two, - speaker and clerk, - and every one will have his own place as member of some committee.

Of the reasons for the plan little need be said. To all those who wish that the name of Harvard should not, as now, be connected with the idea of ignorance and indifference as regards parliamentary law, these reasons will commend themselves. Those who make the proposition appreciate to the utmost the importance and necessity of the training which the Union now gives, but they feel also that every man who purposes to be a good citizen ought to understand the workings of the law-making bodies of his country; and they fully believe that, in a Legislature of the nature intended, he would be enabled to gain such an understanding. They wish it distinctly understood that this new society will be in no way antagonistic to the Union. So far, indeed, from conflicting with the Union, a Legislature, meeting on the alternate weeks, would, they are convinced, increase the prosperity of that body; for it would afford a supplementary practice to debaters, such as could not fail to add to the excellence of the debates in the present society. The cordial cooperation and encouragement of the President of the Union and others, who opposed the scheme of the Legislature as a branch of the Union, but warmly advocate it as an independent society, would entirely prevent the action of those who now make this proposition in your paper from being misconstrued into an attempt to damage the Union.

On Tuesday evening, February 8, in a place afterwards to be announced, a meeting will be held to organize the Legislature, and elect officers. It is earnestly hoped that all who are interested in the formation of the proposed society will be present.

H. PUTNAM, Chairman,J. A. C. WRIGHT,J. H. BEALE,J. H. McINTOSH,Committee.