Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-11-03
Legislative Discussions.
BILLS CHANGING NAMES.

BILLS CHANGING NAMES.
On Thursday Senator Merrill of Rut-
land, Chairman Of the General Commit
tee, reported against the passage of bills
changing the names of Charles Cary, Lii
lie May Kenyon, w. S. Hunter, John NJ.
stearns, Katie May Martin, Ella Flem-
ing, Bradley Archibald Garter, and in
some instances constituting them heirs-at-
law of certain other persons, and the
third reading of the bill was refused.
Mr.. Dickerman called for statement
of facts from the committee, which was
responded to by Mr.. Merrill, who stated
that the committee were governed by the
resolution adopted by the Senate, instruct
ing committees to report against all bills
the objects of which may be attained I'M
der the general statutes. Thereupon the
following discussion ensued -.--.,.-.
Mr.. Dickerman supported the measure.
He believed the resolution instructing
committees to report against such bills
wrong in principle. He thought it the
duty of the Senate to consider proper pri-
vate bills. The time of the Senate is not
so mach occupied that there is not plenty
of opportunity for the consideration of
this class of bills. They will not add to
the expense of the State.
Mr.. Grandey agreed with Mr.. Dicker-
man. Some sanction should be given to
usage, when that usage is of long dure-
ton. We should not make change unless
it seems necessary. Such bills have been
considered and passed for the last eighty
years, without any serious objection being
made until last year. The time necessary
for their passage is chiefly taken in the
House, which has passed these bills. He
believed it foolish for the Senate TO tie its
hands. e#H @n@s a.-r...< .... b..
It may be that there is another means
of changing names. But it does not fol-
| low that the Senate should refuse to do II
good thing because it can be done another
way. H. r~@s ->s+ .eProeea % tte .s.,., ono
law. 1t is useful during the vacation OF
the General Assembly. But it never WAS
intended to supplant the duty of the Gen
eral Assembly. He believed it wrong to
disregard the petitions of the people. H
ridiculed the idea that it is undignified
for the Senate to consider bills of this
class. He was not present in the Senate
when the resolution was adopted or he
would have opposed it then. ..... -.
The procuring a change of name or an
utilization costs q considerable sum for
poor people. The expense of passing the
bills is very trifing. While Senators are
reading their morning papers, they could
pass all the bills of this character that
will come before the Legislature in the
next twenty-five years. These acts are
not published with the statutes, and sc
do not cumber the books, as is often
charged. Some of these same bills Were
before the Legislature last year, and if re-
fused this year they will come again and
haunt the Senate until they are passed
1t is the right of the petitioners to have
them passed. He was opposed to remov'
ing the landmarks of the fathers. The
Senate has occupied its time in discussing
many measures of much less Importance
Mr.. Diekerman stated that he remem
bered one instance where a wealthy
gentleman declined to go to any expense
to adopt a child, but was willing to adopt
her provided no expense be made. H.
stated the case to the Senate last yeal
and the bill was passed and the child, who
would otherwise have been living III worse
than log hut, is now living in luxury.
There may be similar cases before this
Senate. He insisted that it was the duty
of the Senate to pass these bills notwith
standing the resolution which was hastily
adopted.
Mr. Piugry was DESTROYS that the
Senate should attend to all necessary
legislation, but he was still in favor Of
| living up to it. He did not believe ia un
! l. La IUhn+hav b.
before the Senate belonged to the class ex
cluded by the resolution he did not know
That mattsr had been left to the com
mittee, If ample provision has been
made in the general statutes for securing
the object of this bill, there j.
no sense in encouraging people tC
come before us every year to taxi
up the time of the Legislature. l
is true that the Legislature has beer
3 in the habit Of passing similar bills with
the condition that the consent of the par
ties shall be obtained in writing. AS t.
constituting persons heiIs-at-law, it i
very easy for d man to make will II h
l desires There would be some saving 0
expense to cease to pass these bills chang
I ing names which now unnecessarily ia
= room in the statutes. As for the cas-
L iu6kltkOLSO W 49, |tCNS1 AA-"St -" " go 49,
covered by the resolution.
b Mr.. Eddy thought the Senate c0ul
{, turn its attention to economy III other di
. rections than this with more profit. A
has been said more time has been take
. up in the Senate this afternoon than thes
!, bills have taken in the last twenty year.
= So far az the constitutional conventio
# did act, it left the power TO pass such bill
| L., L. e Ia 81 md
- have such bills passed here is still RICH
e of the people. He hoped these bills Nigh
d be laid upon the table and the resolutio
d reounsidered. He could see nothing t
= be gained by refusal to pass bills whio
occupy so little time as these.
= Mr. Grandey said that last year tn
House, after passing similar resolution
I on sober thought, disregarded the rul
It and passed such bills. He suggested tina
p it axes as much time to decide that tn
% bills shall not pass as to decide that the
!, shall pass, and the greater part Of tn
: time is consumed in the House. Ii thei
= passage is refused now, they will not b
y deferred from coming next year. Instea
d of that they will accumulate.
d Mr.. Collamer moved to lay the bill vi
. on the table, which was agreed to.
Inc FOJ6S refusing ln6 lniru Feddlh
l. of the other bills were then severally r,
7r considered, on motion of Mr.. PIT CRY, an
II the bills ordered to lie.
v Pending the question of reoonsiderin
!, one Of the bills, Mr.. Abell said he believe
- this class of bills the most ridiculous eve
K brought before the Legislature. Any pc
i'd son has common law right to call h
r name whatever be chooses.
1T Resolution-By Mr.. Gardner, to rescin
!, the resolution instructing committees
- report against bills whose objects are pr
o. vided for by the eneral statutes.
rs Mr.. Heath believed the present rule
ne very salutary one. In the early histol
v of the State almost all the business of II
: State was done by the Legislature.
: the State increased this became very bu
ne densome, and the Legislature has bee
or gradually relieving itself from busine
er belonging more properly to courts or mu
- icipaI corporations, and whenever it b.
49, been done it has been on the ground tn
' the Legislature should be relieved fro
III 20 hills FThis want en- f1r thaS II