Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-14
The Work before the Legislature.

The Work before the Legislature.
The Legislature this Fall has much more
work before it than usually compels the atten-
ton of Senators and Representatives. Of the
very first importance is the enactment of some
law that shall give the State an Efficient military
organization. The suggestions in the Govern
or's Message are OF The utmost consequence
though we believe the Legislature will neyer
have "a better occasion than now to adopt
" complete and we'll proportional militia system
which shall embody the permanent poLcyol the
State" 1t certainly u necessary, if the en-
rolled militia Of the State is to be regarded as
the basis upon which the quotas OF the respec-
tive towns are 10 be leckoned in any further
raising OF troops, that some official medical
board should be constituted, whose examinations
shall be as rigorous and impartial as those Of
the Government surgeons. Otherwise il Will
happen, as it has happened already, that by ac-
cident or design or collision between listers and
examining physicians, certificates Of disability,
in some localities will be multiplied until the
enrolled militia will be reduced below any fair
proportion Of the populaton.-'l'hc militia bill,
before the two Houses last fall. will doubtlest
in some form be up this fall, and the sooner tho
Legislature gels at work upon them, the better.
The General Statutes, coming aelOre the Leg
lsaturc in the Report Of The Committee of Re
vision, will also furnish considerable work for
the industrious members. 1t is a book Of nearly
one thousand pages, constituting, il adopted,
the complete Statute law OF the State The
action upon il ,holld not bo hasty, and yet the
work oleXam.nng and approving it need not
prolong the session beyond the usual time, if it
is done, as it should be, chiefly through work
ing committee. And 1t should be examined
and adopted, either with or without amend
ments, this fall, or half the expense already IN
CURED in the work, will be lest.
The finances of the State are also to be care
fully attended to this tall. We are glad to find
them looki.g no worse than they do look, in
the exhibit in Governor Holbrook's Message /,
and for this, the State is under great obligations
to the officers to whom the management Of the
State finances have been coniided for the past
two years. But Vermont will necessarily be eX-
pending money largely while the war lasts and
for years to come, and careful attention should
be given to every mattsr that Affects the treasu-
rv and thf cred IL of the State
The election of United States Senator for six
years will be made this ull. We have heard of
no candidate except the present incumbent
Hon. SOLOMON FooT, and we presume he will be
unanimously chosen lie has served the State
with ability for twelve years, and is now one Of
the most popular, il not influential members Of
the Senate.
These arc the leading subjects which should
engage the attention Of this Legislation. OF
course, topics of less general will be in-
troduoed, and should be heard if need be. Very
much, however, Of what has been worse than
triAng legislation and debate for years past,
should be given no place. Petty debates upon
insignificant or misehoyous propositions should
be sterny discountenanced Talk Tor buncombc
should be made unpopular at once, and every
member should give his best endeayorS to the
work of forwarding the real and important bust
ness of the session.
And if this is done, there need be no haste.
Time enough should be taken to care for the in
terests and reputation OF Vermont as u sovereigu
Site, and constituent member of the Fedora
Union. SESSION Of the ordinary length will
give time to do this work and do it well But to
reach that result the work must begin at once
Then let there be no unnecessary delays no friv-
olous debates, no wasting of hours or days upon
bills of no possible consequence, but steady per-
severing labor, and at the end of six weeks the
constituency of each member may welcome home
their Senator or Representative with the com.
mendation 4" Well done, good and faithful SER
want"
We think the Legislature appears to be in too