Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-21
THE COUNCIL OF CENsORs.

D
The proceedings Of the Convention to nomi-
nate a ticket for Council Of Censors, held at
Burlington on Wednesday last, have been
published, and the ticket there nominated
will probably be elected, there being no other
nomination having any show of authority or
indicating any concert Of action BY the people.
The men composing that ticket are, as far as
we know them. men Of experience in egisla-
tive matters, aud men to whom may safely be
entrusted the important work Of reviewing tho
laws OF the State in reference to their consti-
tutionslity, and who are every way competent
to consider whether or not the Constitution
Of the State can be amended for the benefit of
the people Of the State.
It will be seen that the Convention recon-
mended certain amendments that seemed
proper to be made. and We think the recon-
rnendations wise in themsslvesHeFi-thes If
concurred in by the Council and adopted by
.he people, would. be Of advantage to the
State. One great evil in our State Legisla-
tion is shat there is too much Of it---toJ much
special legislation under the guse Of general
lsws Any person who cannot find his way
clear to any special object under existing laws,
rushes to the Legislature for the passage Of
an act that will enable him to accomplish his
purpose; and in many instances the act is put
through without properly considering its gem
eral effect upon the interests Of the State, on
ly to be repealed at the succeeding session on
account Of its impracticability or positive in
jury. This class Of legislasion would be
greatly diminished by substituting biennial
for annual sessions. Legislation would be
conducted with more care, and our laws
would have more stability and permanence in
their character.
The fixing Of limit to the length -of. the
sessions, also, would be beneficial to the
State, and with the substitution Of biennial
for annual sessions would be a saving OF one
half the present cost Of legislation. The Leg
isature, however, should not be bound as it
now is in the matter Of adjournments. Now
the Constitution prohibits the adjournment
Of the Legislature for a longer time than
three days; and in every case it is so managed
that by adjourning say from Friday until
Monday afternoon the State is made to pay
for from three to FIVE days work that are not
performed Remove this constitutional OBJ
lection and limit the length Of the session to
certain number Of days the Convention rec
ommend forty Of actual session, and then if
they see fit to take recess they can do so
without any pecuniery loss to tie State.
The recommendation for the abolishing Of
the Council Of Censors and that hereafter
mendments to the Constitution be proposed
- the Legislature and adopted by direct
vote Of the people, we consider jadicious.-
The Legislature would probably be com
petent to recommend amendments as would be
Council chosen for that purpose and in Ell
ther case their adoption in the end depends
upon the direct vote Of the people, so that the
process is simplfed by the looping off of
much unnecessary machinery, and the matter
brought to the vote Of the people in more
direct and far less expensive manner.
We think the Convention has acted wisely
in making these recommendations, and we
hope that the Council of Censors to be chosen
viii recommend their adoption by the people
and that the people will approve them by pop
ular vote