Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-12-03
1 ri:;i Tor thoilshlag ln: Legislature

] the Legislature discovered in its treatment q
= The work Of that honorable body has satisfied III
? that the bill to encourage manufacturing wa
, not it. only mistake. The Communication Of Plum
ley's sentence under the operation Of an or pos
r fscto law, or rather the retroactive operation
law which was declared to have only prospec-
tive effect, was grave error. The failure tC
amend the interest law was another. The defea
Of the school district suffrage bill for women wa:
another. The list might be almost indefinitely
extended. had thought Of discussing at length
some Of these measures. but justice to the sub
jet would require more spacei in your paper than
YOU would be willing to grant for the purpose.
Therefore have thought best to present briet
general statement Of my complaints, and to ask
the FREE Pass 10 head a movement TO abolish
tie Legislature.
The value of any political institution depends
upon its usefulness. legislative body has a
sfi.l narrower claim 70 existence. Its life can
ouly zoe ju-uiel by it, absolute necessity. We
have therefore two criterions. enc general and
one sFocial, by which 70 judge the Vermont
Legislature.
Looking Over the proceedings Of that body for
several years, ind among its duties, prescribed
AMI per iarmed, the following
The counting Of the state vote and the inau-
Duration Of the Governor; tie election Of subor-
dina;e state officers and supreme Court judge;
/ the aiiustmea; of the grand list; the lncorporl-
/ ton Of railroad, manufacturing, sad other com
pauie,; the protection Of fish, the changing Of
names ! don't claim that the above Is a full
list; but ii VIII DO flr my purpose. | have
selected those which appear 10 bc the most sig
nifcaut No one NIL deny that these are ser
vices Of considerable Importance And any
plan which will not secure their faithful per
formauce ought 10 be frowAed upon. | would
be reluctant to propose scheme which should
threaten TO leave the State without a Governor,
its citizens without taxes, or its fish without pro
lection Leaving these matters to be disposed Of
in another place. / propose 10 consider some Of
the other functions Of the Legislature. The first
Of which speak Is the altering Of Laws. This Is
generally the result Of carelessuess ia transcrib-
ing or enCrossng. And in general the doctoriug
Of the law makes II 10 better than before. Ia It's
remedial function, our Legislature pursues the
traditional policy Of the physician, who regards
the speedy recovery Of his patient rs a serious
calamity Like the quack, too, it persstently
campers with laws which II is unable to perfect
Often. a. in the case If the amended liquor law,
the statute book IS thereby made 10 exhibit
remarkable inconsistency and stupidity. In enc
section %; that law liquor dealers are held respou-
sible for all damage done by their iutcXicattG
patrons; while ia another they are solemnly
prescribed As criminals. Their violation Of the
latter clause Of the law is made the ground for
prosecuting them under the provisions Of the FIRST
This is as II the United States should hang
JEFF Davis for treason, and afterwards indict
lin for delragding the government. Besides, if
liquor sellers are 10 lie punished for the acts Of
those 10 whom they sell liquor, IL viii entail a
heavy expense upon town agencies. l mention
this cs q specimen Of the legislative mania for
medlHug with existing laws. The best way 70
improve AN imperfect statute is to repeal it.
This course toward the Interest law for instance
would have been the policy Of stGtesmanship.
We .o not need the Legislature 10 amend laws.
Nor 10 we need il as battle ground for con-
teulirr railroad factions, and rival parties in /.
seminary management Let any person calculate I
the cost t. the State at which these s4nguinary /
conflicts are carried on Without the LeEisl2- .
tl-e these fights would not be st the public oz-
rense-unle>s tie railroads added the exreuii-
lures 10 their passenger and freight tariffs. The
arui-rameut Of the Legislature in these contests
is another service with which the state can well
dispense l might eaumerute many others q
the same kind but these Will suffice now ask
you, MIR. Editor, if they warrant the heavy e1-
rs. 80 =, los. duties which as
l' j. now .ia ~ - ,1 c,- ,bsr ,o
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Now g. is plain thst these can lst as well De
done by the successful candidates themse.ye-.
Ie, the ticke, supported hy the majority be con-
stitutei q board 10 canvass the votes The adj
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