Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-09-20
Reduce the Mileage. /.

Reduce the Mileage.
M. Editor A TAX Payer" who gives
his views respecting short sessions of the
legislature, in your last paper, spoke sensi-
bly,, to the point, and doubtless uttered the
sentiments Of a large majority of the tax
payers of the state.
But "adiaurnments" are not the only OBJ
jectiGnable features that have characterized
our sessions Of late. Another abuse--thal
OF extravagant mileage--has crept stealth
lily in. and grown TO be quite an constitution"
The truth is, as your correspondent sug-
gests, if "all the railroads within forty miles
of Montpelier" were taken up, it would
have the effect to stop the practice of adj
journing SO frequently; and furthermore,
we suspect the railroads may have some
thing to do with the increase of mileage, for
by comparing the mileage lists before the
introduction of railroads into the state with
those of the last few years, it is found that
the latter amount TO several thousand miles
more than they did dozen years ago. In
the table Of mileage appended to the laws
OF 1893, we observe quite difference IN
mileage allowed to members from towns
that are contiguous; for example: from
Groton TO Montpelier, il is legtSlatirelg reck-
oned at "a miles, while Topsham, the town
next south Of Groion, and farther from
Montpelier, is called only % miles In one
case the member received $22 80, while the
other, who lives at a greater distance, gets
but s4 60. Throughout the list, there can
be found similar discrepancies. In our own
county we find Vernon, the most southeast
ern town in the state, to be 1873 miles from
Montpelier, and yet it is, according to law,
$50 TO Townshend, which lies some 30
miles farther north. In Windsor county.
the representative from Bridgewater, had
pay for 10 miles, while the one from Plym-
outh, the next town south, took pay for 40
miles, or Is dollars mileage more than his
neishbor from Bridgewater. Weathers-
field is, by legislative enactment, only 80
miles from Montpelier, but Cavendish,
which Joins on The north side Of it, is l29
miles.
Now, Mr.. Editor, is there no way TO cor
rect these abuses Of power? Shall we con-
tlnue TO send men TO the legislature, and sit
silently and let them disburse the public
money in such unequal, careless and ex-
trayagant manner? or is it our duty to raise
our voice in opposition to such selfish lecis-
lation! We have no surplus in our treas
ury that needs distribution, therefore, .
continuance Of the practice 10 spin out the
session as long as the money lasts. is not
necessary this year. We hope a radical
change will be made in the law regulating
the pay Of the members at the evening SEES
sion. We suggest that nothing be allowed
members for mileage, except the actual fare
charged by stage or railroads by the near
est route, and instead of having a per diem
allowance os two dollars, that there be es-
tablished a stipulated salary of say $50 or
$50 per session. With this arrangement,
we think adjournments would not be fire.
quent, nor would the members seek the
most eircuitous route to the capitol, with the
hope OF increasing their pay by SO doing.
"Buncombe" speeches, charters for hotel
companies and brass bands, projections Of
fish and tad-poies in mud ponds, and other
important ~ business of this kind, would
not receive the attention Of future lecisla.
tors that has been bestowed by the '.wisdom
and virtue upon subject. of kindred ma.
ture during the past few years, but the nee.
essary work would be done, and the first
adjournment would be sine die. Is there
not patriotism enough in the members who
are to compose the next Legislature, to carry
into effect some measures that shall SAVIOR
less of selfishness than those Of their pre-
decessors. We shall see and if there i,
man who shall call for adiournments. and
oppose re'renchment in these times. le,
US hear his name thai he may be marked
man. ANorHFR Tax PAYER.