Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-06-17

The Cnalr ruleu the resoiutioh Wv Va
order the article having been referred to
committee Of the whole.
The committee then resolved itself in
to committee of the whole to consider
the second proposed article Of amend
ment, Mr., Powers of Morristown in the
chair, which article was read by the sec
rotary.
The question being on recommending
to the convention that it is expedient to
adopt such amendment.
Mr.. Slade of Middlebury said he had
been urged by leading and influential
men of his town to favor the adoption Of
this amendment. He said this was an
important matter, and one that ought to
be considered with the utmost care and
the most thorough investigation of its
bearings upon the industrial interests of
the state. We are mostly an agricultu-
raj community, and our requirements in
legislative enactment are but few, and
the less legislation we have the simpler
and better understood viii become our
laws. We should have more stability in
our legislation If our legislature met on
ly once in three years instead of once in
two years as proposed by this amend
ment. The less legislation we have the
better understood and the better respect
cd will be our laws. MIR. Slade then pro-
duced statistics from the auditors report,
showing the legislative expenses of the
State for the few years, and the need
there is Of the exercise of the greatest
economy in our expenses, so as not to OPP
press an industrial and agricultural peo-
pie like our own. He also referred to
the debt of the several towns in the
State, and the funded debt of the State,
amounting in the aggregate to debt of
the State amounting in the aggregate to
debt of nearly 100000, which was
to be paid by the people of the State or
by our posterity that are to come after
US. To meet this debt, we must exercise
the greatest economy in our public ex-
penditures, and the adoption of this
amendment is one step in the right direc-
ton. He said that perhaps the people
Of Montpelier would be sensitive on this
subject; but he had the most kindly feel
ing towards Montpelier, and would not
deprive her of an iota of her prestige as
the capital of the State. But ne beliey-
ed that if this question could be submit
ted to the direct vote of the people of
the State, more than two.thirds of them
would favor the change. Let us make
the trial for seven or ten years, and then
if it is not acceptable, we can return to
the present system of annual sessions
He should vote for the amendment, be.
cause he believed it would conduce to
the best interests of the people Of the
State.
The expenses referred tie by Mr.. Slade
are as follows;
In 1854 debsnturcs Of general assembly and
other legislative expenses. amounted to
In 1865 the EXPENSES for the same purposes
In 1870 they were. 5s,ii5l [
In 1868 they were, 81 ga 4
In 1859 they were, 63TT 9,
Making an average annual expenditure for
the legislative expenses Of the State for
the four years named, of about 53.000o0
In addition to this we have a state
ment of the debt of the State as follows
Amount of indebtedness of the towns In
the State as found in auditors report Of
1855 in pursuance Of Joint resolution of
the legislature 70 that effect, sl,939,las g
- report of auditor in 1869, I0f750O D
Total amount amount e. coupon bonds outstand
There is due on funded debt June 1867, $4,000
towns Is in gross, the sum Of 2,eS6,6pS s.
Mr.. Walton of Montpelier did no
wish to argue the question, as there wa;
prevalent idea that the feeling Of hi.
town was selfish in regard TO the matter
His opinion was that no economy woulc
result to the State and no less money
come into the pockets of Montpelier
He wished that the men. bers had beer
compelled to take the oath to do moth
ing to abridge the legislative rights o.
the State" With this oath on their con
sciences they would not honestly vote fol
this amendment, which is such an abridg
ment. We, yesterday, had proposition
before this convention which, if it hat
been adopted, would have taken from the
people all control over the corporation:
of the State and thereby abridge theil
rights in that respect. We have now
another proposition which, if adopted
will abridge the rights of the people BY
one-half The constitution provides that
the people shall have the right to elect
and be elected to office; and vet this
proposition abridges that right by one.
halt, and heprotested against any change
to the constitution which would abridge
the rights of the people as now secured
to them. Every year the people should
be represented in legislative assembly