Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-11-25
The Legislature.

After a rather stormy session OF SIX weeks,
relieved by frequent and unusual absences
the Legislature adjourned last Friday morn
ing at o'clock. The laws, published in the
Freeman Ertr0 show what they did how
they did il is another story. In many
|pccts the composition OF the House was
singular one; there was 40 leader, or clique
Of leaders to whom the rank and file looked
for instruction or guidance. While this may
show the independence of individuals, it
Iuestionably retarded Legislation, and occa-
sionally led TO odd scenes. In the same
spirit of assertion the reports OF committees
we're frequently treated with the greatest
GOODNESS, and their decisions reversed with
out discussion or attempt to impugn the facts
said to exist Time enough Is consumed
every session, under the show OF giving com
mittees an opportunity to make the needed
inquiries to warrant that their reports should
be entitled to almost conclusive credit this
year il was almost the opposite Notably in
another respect was life made burden 10
the unfortunate committee men. the prac-
ice prevailed of assailing them in open
House with a searching fire OF cross qes-
tons over the broadest possible field OF in
quirv they would be called on to relate the
minutest detail of perhaps weeks investi-
CATION, and to recite almost verbatim whole
pages of testimony. This sort of badgerin &
was very common and if it was not unpar-
| lismentary it was unpleasant. Il the COM
Z h.lr m tn frnf n
statements OF the business done by them, the
| system should be done away with. Ii it IS
otherwise, it seems unnecessary and iEnpoite
to treat gentlemen of the Legislature like
witnesses suspected OF perjury.
| A commendablc tendency carefully 70 -x-
partmcnts OF government, exhibited
early in the session. and committee APP
pointed TO find out where the money goes TO,
and for what purpose. 1t ought to crafty
the tax-pavers to know that this committee,
after careful investigation, reported tina
every branch of the government had been
conducted honestly and with economy, and
they could find no place to recommend re-
trenchment except in one small matter con
nected with the management of the State
Cabinet"
i The final passage of Mr.. Parks bill FOL
the extension Of the Bennington and RUTLAND
Railroad to West Rutland, was secured by .
tnree-fourths vote in tine House and q goot
majority in the Senate. During the las
night of the session bill passed both House
by large majorities, to incorporate railroad
to run from the Rutland and Washington
Railroad in Poultney to a point on LAX
Champlain in Shoreham, to connect with
! road being built from Plattsburgh down tn
west side of the Lake. This bill was sen
to the Governor some hours before the ad
journment, but has not since been heard Of
so that His Excelency has availed himse
Of the pocket veto" This proceeding ha
= been very uncommon in Vermont, and e1
cited considerable comment. The friends {
the proposed road claimed that Gov. Pag
took this method of defeating the project fo
fear it would injure certain railroad scheme
in which he has large interest. 1t is pei
u haps charitable to suppose that the CHI
Magistrate of Vermont would not resort
. such trickery if the bill was really props
one.
The number Of {. talking men" vi
: smaller than usual, and with the exceptlo
of the railroad bills, and the bills to 1egaiii
!. a higher rate of interest, and TO repeal a
attachment law passed last year, the busine
was very generally transacted without form