Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-12-05

an approximate estimate. Now what
have we to show for all this Cui bono ?
Granted that something has been accom-
plished, something of great and real i'm
portance to the people. Yet we ask,
what has been accomplished that could
not have been, and more too, in one
third, yea one-half, Of the time and at
correspondingly less expense? These
things ought we to have done and not left
the others undone. We ask this without
any intention of rejecting on the gener-
al character of the Senate and House, as
whole, or upon individual members of
either body. We believe that, as con-
stituted this year, they will compare
very favorably with those of former
years in intelligence, ability, business at
tarnments and capacity. and in the dis
charge of their duties as legislators
Granting all this, what has been accom-
plished for the general benefit of the
public? What has been done towards
the curtailment of expenses, the relief
of the people from the burdens OF tax
alton, for the placing of all property on
the same basis for the purposes of as
sessment and taxation? Nothing, alb
solutely nothing, in comparison with
that which the people expected and had
the right to expect. We refer to this,
not because it it is especially the fault of
the last Legislature, because it has been
equally fault with former bodies, but
because it is the fault of our whole Yer
mont system of legislation. We think
| that the recent session has demonstrated
! two propositions. First: That the House
| of Representatives is too large and I'M
weldy body for the interests of the
State, both for the sake of economy and
the proper dispatch of business. Sec
| Ond: That some system of general laws
! could aud should he devised whereby
the necessity of all special legislation
would be obviatcd.
In reference to the first proposition,
we do not propose, at this time, to
speak, because it is engrafted upon our
organic law, and for some years to come
no attempt can be made to lessen the
number of representatives, by providing
for their apportionment according to
population and the division of the state
into representative districts. The time
has not yet come for the discussion of
this question.
TIE second proposition, the necessity
of general laws and the doing away with
special legislation, is a pressing necessity
and one which, if not adopted by the
legislature on their own motion, will
br taken up by the people and made
emphatic and unalterable by cOnstitu-
ti0pal amendment Perhaps that in
acts OF special legislation, the Legisla-
ture of 1872 does not differ materially
from its predecessors. but there is one
cause why it is more noticeable, and |
why the attention of the people will |
naturally be called to it, to which we
shall shortly refer Upon this subject |
of special legislation. let us look at the
session Of 1870. During a session of |
fifty days. five hundred and siXty-eight |
bills Were Introduced and acted upon,
four hundred and seven originating in |
the House and one hundred and sixty |
one in III" Senate. OF these one hun |
drrd and nnety-nine, or ooer One-hird, |
e ,fc
to acts of Incorporation, bill 10 change !
the nanr Of Holm Doe and constitute |
him heiv At law of Richard Roe. TO pay |
.Ichu Su,i,il the sum therein mentioned. |
foxes somewhere, etc. etc. Here is |
over 0uc-thrd of the legislation entirely |
private and special III its character, un- |
necessary, if not improper in whole or
in part. lengthening out the session by
DAYS if not weeks. entailing great cX-
pensc ON the State and increasing the |
burden of taxation. If ever corruption
enteres Vermont and dcbauches her
Legislature and State officers, it will be
through this channel Take the present
session. As large. it not a larger. pro-
portion of the over seven hundred bills
introduced were of this same character.
To be sure general railroad law was
enacted. under which all railroads could
be organized without the necessity OF
special charter. yet the Legislature went
on chartering railroad after railroad,
passing bills to enable town after town
to assist in their construction, all of
which are or should be provided for in
the general law. So cheese factory af-
ter cheese factory, company after COM
panv were chartered, fish were protected
or left unprotected ''the sum therein
was directed to be paid or to
remain unpaid, all at an expense to the
State of over twenty-five thousand dol
lars. 1t seems to us that this expendi-
ture of the public money for private
benefit can and ought to be stopped.
Other States have enacted general laws
and have ceased the granting OF
special charters and have found its
workings of great practical advantage in
saving of expense, in development OF
resources and in doing equal and exact
Justice to all Vermont has made be-
ginning in her general railroad law, let
it be perfected if necessary, and then let
special legislation on this subject cease.
The United States has applied the same
system to the business of banking and