Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-15
Prom the Montpelier Freeman.l
The Late Legislature.
OPINIONS OF THE VERMONT PRESS.


For certain reasons not necessary to
enumerate, we cannot now comment upon
the acts of the late Legislature, or speak
of the members composing it with that
fnllness and freedom which perhaps, I'M
der other circumstances, might have been
both desirable and profitable. We give
below what the Free PreSs-whose editor
was most useful senator this session
the next morning after the adjournment,
said of the things done and left undone
by the Legislature:
The press generally of the State have
not spoken of the recent Legislature and
| their acts with the respect and reverence
which is always desirable to have enter
tanned towards legislative or law-making
body. It is perhaps true that the last
session has not fully answered public ex-
pectation, and il will be well indeed If
each individual member has that quiet
consciousness of duties we'll and faithful
ly performed that is said to make amends
for all lack of popular commendation and
praise.
In SONS respects the House of Repre-
sentatives was singularly constituted. 1t
was not, so to speak, homogeneous body.
views, and il seemed to outsiders that
certain members delighted to make the
breach as wide as possible between them
selves and brother members, unless their
pet measures were at once accepted. 1t
almost appeared only necessary for certain
ones to Introduce or favor acts of leeisla-
tion to insure general pouucipg upon
and ruthless slaughter, if possible. of such
measures. The House was restive lest it
should be accredited with being under
leadership, or having leader or leaders,
as prominent and trusted Legislators
are sometimes termed; and yet the power
of "the ring" was never so unblushingly
attempted and shown in Vermont Leg
islature as it was several times this seq
sion. That so little harm came therefrom
is only due to the general good common
sense of members, that "the rings" found
could not be frightened or bullied into
acquiescence to their behests. But this
phase of the late House of Representatives
is not pleasant one 10 dwell upon.
The Senate was composed of good and
strong men. We doubt if it has been ex-
celled in this respect since the session OF
1861 and 1862. Many of the Senators
had just served in the lower House, and
have left in both Houses a record for
scarcely a particle of which they will
ever have occasion to blush or regret
We felt this year thankful for Senate
May it always be composed of equally
worthy men, and equally safe and sound
From the Middlebury Register
The first of our biennial sessions of the
al &c n1rt n1 ha nfx
suits is made up. The verdict of the peo-
pie is that those results are unsatisfactory
to use the mildest term possible.
The failures are more marked and i'm
portant than the enactments. The listing
which passed the House, failed in the
Senate, to the general disappointment
and modification of the people, ETC., etc.
From the vergennes veImonter.I
There was a great hurrying through of
public business, and much needed legis-
ation, it claimed, was left undone. The
sffort to equalize property valuation by
some acknowledged standard, failed TO
become law. Speaking of this the cor
of the Boston Adcertiser says;
Dur present system is probably the worst
n the United States. Certainly il could
lot be made more unequal without the
exercise of deal of talent and ingenuity.
From the ST. Johnsbury Times.l
This legislature puts US in mind of q
emark said to have been made of Bayard
Taylor by Baron Humboldt, when asked
lis opinion of the former.-"He has trav-
led more aud seen less than any man /
yer met" The last legislature was after
hat order, we think. 1t attempted more
nd accomplished less than any similar
ody Of men Vermont ever called
ogether. 1t done great many things
/ ought not to have done, and
sft undone many things it should have
one. 1t legalized the grand lists of
bout half the towns in the Stste-town
y town-but did not pass any general
sting law, which it might, could,
yould or should have done; consequently
he appraisal of 1870, which the Free
'ress says is "the last and worst on re-
,rd," stands for two years more.
LFrom the Manchester JournaLI
Many bills of a private nature were
lus disposed of, but all bills in relation
taxation and equaliZiDg the grand list
ere rejected, also the tills in relation TO
le State prison and jails, and the general
Iilroad law. Thus the. more weighty
alters were sll rejected, and the State
i'll be compelled to drag along two years
ore without these needed reforms, unless
e Governor should see fit to call an ex
a session. which il not improbable.