Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-18
An Exemplary Legislature.

The Legislature Of Vermont which has
just closed its sessions at Montpelier, If not
in all respects a model Legislature, has at
least furnished an example in many things
which the people Of this State would like
to see followed at Albany Although the
Green Mountain State, under its amended
Constitution, is only blessed with biennial
sessions Of the Legislature, yet the body
that has Just adjourned at Montpelier
found time, in the brief space of fifty.sevcn
days, to pass all the laws that their cons,it.
uonts are supposed to need for two years to
come. When it is considered that the pop.
uar branch Of the Vermont Legislature is
more than twice as numerous as that Of
New York, and that more than double the
time must have been consumed ia the ire-
duont calls Of the roll Of members, some
idea may be formed Of the diligence, indus
try, and close attention to business that
could enable them to finish up their work
in so short space Of sine. 1t is doubtless
true that the State Of New York requires
larger amount Of legislation than the
smaller commonwealth lying on its eastern
boundary and yet, if We exclude from the
session laws of this State the acts that
properly come under the head Of "private
legislation" there need not be so much diff
ference after all. Public acts or those az
fectinp the welfare Of the entire people,
need not be much more numerous FOR the
government Of large than Of small
commonwealth. 1t is the private legisla-
tion-the framing of laws to promote the
interests Of individuals and corporations -
that consumes so large portion Of the
time Of our Legislature, and, what il still
worse, that draws around the Capitol at
Albany those vile creatures Of the lobby,
whose maign influence taiuts with corrup-
ton the entire work Of the session.
The Vermont Legislature, as we learn
from the Montpelier WatchmdH, passed at
its recent session about three hundred acts,
all Of which, so far as they are Of a public
nature, that paper is enabled to publish in
a one.sheet supplement- Among them We
find several that might well be incorporated
10 the statute.books Of this aud other
States. Here is one, for instance, which,
so far as we are aware, is entirely new in
this country, aud yet, in view Of the almost
daily accidents resulting from the careless
and reckless use Of firearms, seems to be
timely and worth copying by the Lcgisla-
ture Of every State in the Union, to wit
An Act to prevent the careless use Of
firearms. IGycn in our published list
The woman suffrage" question ap-
pears to have bad one or two jealous cham
pions in the Vermont Legislature but they
did not succeed in making much Roadway.
The nearest approach they made toward
legislative recognition Of their demands
was to secure the votes Of thirteen out Of
twonty.sevcn Senators in favor Of allowing
=" unmarried taxed females to vote in school
district meetings, and hold school Offices"
This is considered such a hopeful beginning
that the woman suGfogists are eujoincd by
the Vermont papers to take courage, aud
hold themselves 10 readiness at the next ses-
sion Of the Legislature to respond to the
call Of sup girl., aud at 'cm. "-Neio York
Time