Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-11-16

pnst operations OF the machinery of government
ls essential to the correction of errors and to con-
fra our attachment to what is really valuable
As my object is one of practical utility it would
moi We barely invi1ious, it might Illustrate that OBJ
lect altogether, If should institute critical com.
pafison between the operations oil the two bodies
now constituting the General Assembly The es.
pTt du corps may be found in legislative, as well
as military, or other body Different views
therefore, might he entertained on the same sub
jects and | might he suspected, il not charged,
with an attempt to exalt the Senate Mt the expense
ottbe House OF Representatives. This consider
alton will prevent the enumeration of several cir
culnstances calculated to prove the importance of
having the legislative power vested in two co equal
branches; but il saves all occasion Tor jealousy in
the friends of either. omit, therefore, any au
sion to specific cases, in which the Senate has re-
iected bills sent from the House, aud those, in
which many and important amendments were
made before concurrence could he had. Senate
bills nave met the same reception in the House;
though, probably, of much less frequent occur
renee; and the question, which body is entitled to
the credit of the greatest wisdom, prudence or
patriotism in their several acts may be left to be
settled by the people whenever they sla see fiji to
examine them, uided by the light of experience,
which time only can supply.
But with regard to the amount Of labor of the
two bodies in the appropriate business of legisa
ton, there is no danger Of nstituting the most
anu muS SHOWING lie lmDOr
lance Of the Senate, without detracling au ght from
the established reputation oflhe House. Deduc
ting from the whole number of public acts passed
the last four sessions, those termed revenue laws
which by the constitution must originate in the
House, il will he found that in 1886, nineteen or
ginated in the Senate and twenty in the House.
n 1887, fifteen in the former and fourteen in the
latter. In 1888, twelve in the former aud twenty
in the latter. In 1899, four in the former and
three in the latter. OF the comparative mpor-
lance Of these bills, no opinion can now be ex-
pressed, which would be likely to meet the views
OF all. II other duties have been divided in the
same ratio, it will be seen that nearly n molly Of
labor actually performed in the important business
Of improving the laws OF the state, has been done
n the Senate. These neritorious services can
not with proprety bo attributed to the superior
skill or industry of individual senators, for most
of them have labored in the House with no better
results than others. The conclusion therefore, is
PLAIN that for these benefits the state is indebted,
SOLELY to the circumstances in which the Senate
differs from the House. The paucitv ofnumbers
and the comparative aggregate amount Of talents,
have given to the Senate its peculiar facilities for
business and secured these favorable results.
Should this partial review, accompanied MS il
may he, with minute comparison Of other cir
cumstances now purposey omitted, convince
The people that the public good has been promo
ted by the institution OF the Senate, an0hCr inter
esting subject is presented in the question show
can its efficiency be still further augmented aud
! its permanency secured|
This must mainly depend upon the qualifca
lion of Senator's: How then can the freemen Sc
cure for the Senate that high grade of talent and
| experience which are indispensable to success /?
To this end, general diffusion of information
aud patriotic attachment TO our institutions are
! highly important; but are not alone sufficient.
The principles which regulate the construction of
a legislative body, will have nn important bearing
| upon its efficiency 1t the freemen are restricted
TO narrow geographical hm:s, in which to make a
selection OF public servants, they may not always
succeed in finding the hest talents, though in the
language Of the constitution, they may choose
men most noted for wisdom and virtue" within
those limits In the selection of senators no diff
Guilty ofthis kind can be anticipated. Every coun.
iy will contain the requisite number of men oi
unexcep,ionable qualifications. Something may
depend upon the compensation and other induce
ments connected with the office, for the men best
fitted for public service are generally engaged in
! lucrative and honorable empoyments at home
The reluctance 10 serve the state at a pecunary
sacrifice, cannot always be overcome by the mos
ardent and enlightened patriotism, and there is
danger st II case that changes will be SO FIRE.
quent n preclude the possibility of acquiring
the necr 1ry degree ofeXperience.
The tic of rotation in the Senate of the United
States which is the same in principle in several
of the individual states, where the elections are
tri-enniel and the term of service three years. al
election OF one third to be made annually seems tC
mos, generally approved This rule was sough
to be incorporated in the amendments to our con
stitution, and probably would have been but from
our attachment 10 the long continued practice o
annual elections. 1.-THE friends of that rule haC
succeeded, the whole number of Senators return
cd Mt five several elections, could not have excee
ded seventy, whereas in point of fact there has
been ninety one the changes having been some
thing over five per cent greater than the public
good seems 10 have required.
Another effect oil the above rule Is TO make iht
changes from year 10 yenr uniform, securing, ex
cept from casualties, at least two thirds who ba6
the advantage OF some experience. In this par
tcular our practice shows entire want of uni
form:ty. At the second election there were twelve
changes at the third, sixteen; at the fourth ten
and at the fifth twenty three At the close ofth
session it will be found, TINT of the whole number
two only have served four years eight, three
years thirty seven, two years, and forty -four, ONT
year. Ofihe present Senate three are now, who
were members in 1886 but wool 1887; one o
1888 six of S39, and but seven who have never
before been members. Whether these excessive
fluctuations may have arisen from the reluctance
of Senators to become candidates for reelection
or from versatility in the freemen, have not the
means OF deciding. If The former, some further
nducenent should be offered if the latter, the
remedy is with the people & they should prompt
Ivy apply il.
or "the Fundamental principles" to which ouI
constitution asserts the necessity Of frequen
recurrence, perhaps there is no of greater
practical importance than economy in the eXpen
Idture of the public money. II is clear that III,
people of this state have wisely intended TO secure
n cheap and efficient government. rather than |
isplcndid and expensive one. The compensation
Tor all our public servants is graduated on a scale
of rigid If not severe economy, and in all Gases, SC
far as practicable, distinct allowance is made ol
every deiinabe quantum Of service This iea-
ture in our constitution and the economical habits
of our industrious ard thrifty population, admon
ish us to confne ourselves to careful application
of the law, when we have definite legal enact