The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-01
LAW MAKING.


LAW MAKING.
In d few days tie recently elected repre-
sentativcs and senn ors-all indeed, repre-
sentatives Of the eople, or ought TO be-
assemble in the capitol of the state oil Yer
mont t, let us know what they know about
law making. From reports and personal
knowledge, we judge that the Vermont
house and senate for 1874 will, in point of
talent and integrity, compare favorably
with any previous legislature that has ever
before convened in the state Whatever
may be signs of personal and political de-
generacy of the American people as mani
Tested by the legislative bodies, they have
of late years been wont to elect in other
states, we are happy to know that these
sigus of evil times are not exhibited in the
newly elected members of this legislature
of the Green Mountain state. AS whole,
they 60 from their confding constituents
with clean record, and it is confidently
believed that they will preserve that record
pure and unsullied. We hope much from
them. We hope that no log-rolling job.
berry, no yielding to demands of overgrown
corporations for exclusive and unequal cx-
emptions from fair share of taxation to
meet the public burdens, or any other par
tial measures, whereby ''flesh is made of
one man, or class of men, and
fish of Others will mark their
enactments. And where the laws
are now imperfect or of doubtful
Interpretation in providing, in the matter
of taxation, or on any other subject, to
yield equal and exact justice to all men,
that they will be, to this end, suitably made
clear where they are now obscure, and
where original provisions are needed, that
such enactments will be added to our
statutes as cven-handed equity requires.
Nor should the rights of men alone re-
ceve attention. Women have rights which
men ought to be willing, as well as just
enough to respect. We forbear to go into
details, but certainly in respect to property
let it once become law that all a woman
owns before marriage, is hers thereafter,
except she, with her own motion, parts
with the same, and all husbands are
thoughtful, considerable and loving-will
generally be as well satisfied as with TIE
laws as they are now understood to exist.
Something, 1t seems to us, can be done
to promote economy in the cost of collect
ing Understanding to obviate the OBJ
vious evil of making the prompt taxpayer
Pay for the loss the public sustain by those
who either do not pay at all, or only after
long delays. Let the delinquent taxpayer
be taxed such an interest, from month to
month of delay, when taxes are past due,
as will prompt him from pecuniary motives
in promptly paying them.
The machinery of tax collecting, it
also seems to us, can be simpiiied and
cheapcned, and taxes be just as fully col.
lected as they are now, by having but one
ofiicerto collect and hold the public moneys
of our towns, school districts, vlllagrs and
cities, as is the case with the city of Bur.
lington at the present time. Let every
tax paper, go in person, or send by @
neighbOr, his tax to this collector or treas.
urer at his Office, within certain pre-
scrlbcd time, or pay the extra expense OF
its collection by the compulsory measures
The burdens of public taxation, almos
always hard to bear, and in some towns
from various causes, almost uncomfortable
should be lightened as much DIS possible
by making that taxation equal as far al
may be, and the cost of its collection ant
disbursement as cheap as is consistent will
its fullest possible realization. If w
would keep our towns and villages from
depopulation, let none have just cause t,
plead onerOus taxation as reason for for
saking their chosen and native hills an,
valleys.
And when we consider the great evil o
town Indebtedness it often deter
people from coming in, and even drive
people Quit seems that il would be wis
if some restriction, and that q very clos
one, should be put upon towns in tn
matter OF contracting debts. AS a rule
"pay as you CO. should be adopted b.
towns, and when towns do this, they vii
be more likely to see to it, that what none
they do raise, is faithfully and properl
expended, and for useful and necessar
purposes only.
In closing, we hope to be pardoned 70
remarking = what every judiclous law
maker, however, knows that the value o
our next legislature to its constituency wi
not properly be measured by the numbe
and length of the laws which 1t may enac,
We need quality rather than quantity i
legislation. A few well-considered measure
are far better than huge piles of statute