Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-01-08
FOR the Freeman.
Our Legislature.

Presumlng that tins interrogation is one OF the
sovereigns of the State, and acknowledging
the old adage that q the servant is not above
his MASTER" I will, as an humble member OF
that honorable body, proceed to quote the
interrogatories in their order, and make such
responses from my standpoint of view as ac-
cords with my honest convictions.
lst. :. Can there be any good reason or
justification offered by the Legislature for
letting the contested election case trundle
along to the close of long session without
any decision - We think not, and in our
humble opinion no contested election should
ever be allowed to go up from the towns to
the Legislature. The towns could better de-
eide those questions, and the purity of our
elections be better preserved than they now
are, and thousands of dollars and great deal
Of political chicanery saved the State. 1t is
perfectly disgusting to 90 into our committee
rooms and see two or three lawyers a
side, pitted against each other upon some
little petty contested election justice case, as
was instanced from the town of Bradford at
the last session. ID. I" Can there be any
good reason for commencing business at ten
O'Clock instead Of nine ?" Not if members,
who have business TO do would present it in
due season, and committees would feel the
same responsibility collectively, as they
would individually, and be prompt in making
their reports but, if there IS no business
the Speqber's table, ten o'clock is early
enough. Sd :. Can there be any justifca-
tion for suffering members to leave with i'm
punity and give attention to their private
business during the session of the Legisla
ture We think it is setting bad moral
example and is degrading to the State. 4th.
Is it not palpable iniustice-a glaring
act Of dishoneay?" Yes. 9TH. :. Is it right
to tax hard working, honest men to pay for
such derelction of duty - 1t is a sin
against God and man. 9th. . Was there
any propriety in getting band from Boston,
when there was respectable band in Mont
pelicr - In our opinion it was an extrav-
agant uupropricty. 7th. :. Would not Gen.
Sheridan have preferred the music of the
Green Mountain Boys, of whom he has such
high regards ?" We cannot answer for
Gen. Sheridan; but fear he must have
Yermonters for some of their demonstrations
in rushing into tho Representatives Hall
after the General, was worthy only of mob
:. am ashamed Of Vermont " exclaimed
an ex-senator from Windsor County in our
hearing. Sth. :. How many boys are en-
ploved in the House and Senate, and by Heads
Of Departments, and what pay do they get =
81. -, tbar f,l1rT
senrers in the House and two in the Senate
two assistant librarians and one messenger,
all Of Montpelier. . at home" In the Ser
geant-at-Arms Department. two clerks and
two messengers, All at home III Montpelier
except one In the State Cabinet there is
messenger. for what particular purpose | am
not able t. say. should think the term
Guard - would be more appropriate,
though upon second thought there is nothing
there that any one would desire 70 steal,-
and 50 we think this department might be
relieved a little and the service rendered in
some other direction Perhaps the assistant
door-keepers would like little help, as their
duties must be somewhat onerous We
noticed messenger in the Military Depart
ment but rs we are entirely ignorant Of
military affairs, we can give no information
Of their hardships The sweepers and fire
men are not put down in the books For
information as u pay for all these satel-
Iites that move round these official head
centres. we commend Intcrrogator to the
Heads Of Department. The sweepers and
messengers, we believe, receive the same pay
As members of the House.
The messengers were nice, sprightly little
bows from ten To fifteen years of age, and
served the double purpose Of doing business,
and keeping the men in countcnance during
some of those long, mysterious, painful, pc
riods of silence, when some one would move
to g adjourn and the House, from sense
of shame, or some other motive would re-
fuse. and then members would disgorge their
pockets OF bills and resolutions, (enough at
least To meet Parliamentary exigencies, }
which had been retained mysteriously or
purposcly, for more favorable opportu-
nifty before committing them to the Legisla-
tive hopper One could not help cxclaiming
now ana then mentally q If have any
business t. do here, tchy IN the name Of Jus
tice 90 they not present it - lnterrosatol
closes with the following 1.-The questions
have proposed and many others, are frequent
" and earnestly mooted among the people
there seems at least to be a determination t
call their agents to a strict account" Gla
to hear it ! Let your vauntlng be made tru
and it shall please US well That these leg
islative abuses do exist to fearful exten
no one will pretend to deny. There is
reckless waste of time and money, not s
great as at Washington perhaps, but to
great altogether for the little State of We
mont
But how are these abuses to be reformed
How are members of the Legislature to
brought to time? The people-the sove
eigns of the State-must take it in han'
The people must insist no icOrk, no pay
4 bill to this effect was passed in the Hou
the last day of the session, but it was lost
the Senate, what reasons we are n
able TO say. To be it was too late
save the credit of the House, but it was
step in the right direction, and ought to ha
passed, as it showed there was a little Ii
conscience left in the House though bad
diseased.
One word in relation to the item of prir
ing In lS48 we got along with one Dire
tory In 1867 we have three for what prs
teal purpose we are unable to see Th
again, we vote 1000 copies of the Governo