The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-21
FINAL ADJOURNMENT.

BY the Governor.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT.
"All work and no play makes Jack
dull boy" is the principle upon which the
legislature of Vermont seems TO go. Five
sixth of the time is passed in doing com.
paratively nothing and then they COM
mence work, but it is generally found to
be the work of apprentices rather than of
the accomplished workman. The present
general assembly of Vermont is not amen
able TO this charge more than have been
their predecessors. 1t is a common fault
with all legislative bodies, one needing an
imperative remedy bat, at the same time, a
fault apparently impossible to reform. The
attempt has been made in New York to
shorten the sessions of their legislature and,
at the same time, strike blow at one of
the numerous causes of bribery and cor
ruption, by constitutional inhibition of
special legislation, but it is more than
doubtful whether their legislature will
hereafter, pretend to be in session less
number of days than has been the case
heretofore. In our own state, no attempt
has been made to procure short legislative
sessions except by the endeavor to awaken
public sentiment upon the subject. All the
legislation required for the well being and
proper government of the state, the due
administration of justice and the security
of individual and corporate rights could be
accomplished In three weeks at the out
side. You may pass through every town
in the state, and nine out of every ten in
telligent persons Intercepted
past senators and representatievs--wou
answer that three weeks is all sufficient.
But elect one of these same men as a rep
rcsentativc-takc the one, if you please,
who has acclaimed the loudest against long
sessions, the waste of time, and consequent
expense to the state-and you will find him
the first to vote to adjourn Immediately
after the reading of the journal, to take a
recess from Friday into the middle of the
next week-ostensibl to allow The COM
mittees time to work but really for COM
mttee members and all to visit home--to
accept invitations to visit public instltu-
tions, or for any other measure that will
prolong their stay in Montpelier. They
will fret and fume relative to the accom-
modations for "bed and board" there to be
found, but they are always found 10 be re-
luctant to leave them and ready to return
again at the least suggestion from any of
their constituents.
1t is impossible to account for this fond
ness for legislative lite except upon the
well grounded suspicion that the majority
of the members never before had the op-
portunity of earning-we suppose they
would call it by that name-threc dollars
per day, less the price paid for board, for
six consecutive weeks, and they propose to
make the most of their opportunities. We
are aware that all are not SO situated as we,
also, are that a respectable minority would,
If they could, dispatch business, discoun-
tenance special legislation, have the COM
mittees promptly at work, oppose all long
adjeurnments, do their business thoroughly
and then close up and 60 home. Unfor-
tunately, however, these do not constitute
the majority of our legislature and are CON-
PEELED, unjustly, to bear the blame that at.
taches to others. The expenses of legis.
lative session, extended to twice its neces.
sary length, is no small item to be consid
cred by a people groaning under taxation
as are the people of Vermont. But what
do the majority care for this consideration
so long as they are sure OF three dollars pei
day in cash? We could stand the taxa.
ton, well enough perhaps, if any real good
was accomplished. But what does theii
work all amount to Is there much of il
beside the incorporation of, or attempt tc
incorporate, cheese factories, hotel com
panles, brass bands, publishing companies
fish and game associations, changing, or at
tempting TO change, names and other SINH
lar enactments, all of which can be accom-
piished without any action on their part
The state auditor of accounts has, fo
some reason or other, this year, added t.
the regular business of the session
as we should judge from the fac
that at about the end of the fourtl
week of the session the only bills ready fo
the governors signature were acts to pay
given person the sum therein named. Ant
so it goes on from year TO year and tn
end is not yet.
The joint resolution providing for tn
final adjournment yesterday morning wa
passed early enough to allow the committe
to finish their work in time for the deliber
ate action of both the senate and house
but, as usual, business was procrastinate,
so that. at the eleventh hour, it was found
rs the majority said and voted, impossible
to complete the business of the house-th
senate having their work so completely il
hand that they were ready to adjourn a
any time. The result was and is that th
general assembly of Vermont continues il
session until Wednesday of next week
when If any one supposes they will be an,
nearer through with their business, excep
by crushing things" and hasty legislation
We greatly fear that he will be sadly mis-
taken. As II is, thanks to President Grant
Governor Peck, or time honored custom
we hardly know which is entitled to tn
praise the senators and representative
will leave Montpelier on Wednesday, an