Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-09-30
THE LEGISLATURE.

The Vermont legislature convenes on
Wednesday next. The effect of the BIZ
ennial system is shown in the very large
number of "new" members that compose
both the House and Senate. In looking
over the list. we see only about twelve
of the members of 1876 in the House,
and only two in the Senate. This is
not saying that the two Houses do not
each contain strong and experienced
men, but it is we'll known that the one
term system puts altogether too many
inexperienced men into the legislature.
This evil which the biennial system
creates is shown in the very small
amount of legislative work. which is
accomplished in the first four weeks of
the session. 1t cannot be expected that
those who have had no experience in
legislation, will be able to forward bust
ness until they have learned something
of parliamentary proceedings, and legis-
lative work. They are school boys,
learning. as fast as may be, how to do
the little they have to do. 1t is well
known that few in the lower House
project, engineer and discuss the meas
ures that come before that body, and
that the majority have only the arduous
duty of reading the various papers they
compel the stale to furnish them, with
an occasional Aye or No to relieve the
monotony of the scene.
In trying to study out IN our own
mind what the present Legislature will
find to do, we confess that we are una
BILE to see great deal that needs to be
done. We are of the opinion that the
State would have suffered no great harm
if there were no session this fall but
possibly, there is great need of some al
teration or patchwork in present laws
and the creation of new, or the repeal Of
old ones. Naturally, the dog law, the
fish law, the tramp law, the Insolven
Act, and liquor laws require considerable
attention, while there will be the usua
call for Acts of incorporation, and spec
ial acts for the payment of various bill
: that the Statutes do not provide for.
This legislature will be very pro
ductive body, and the number of "bills'
which will get into the two Houses will
be very large. Every member must &c
his name on to the Journal, and int
the papers, in order to have his constlt
!, uents understand that he is really doin
! something, and is necessity in the leg
islature hence there will be much worl
If great deal of it is useless.
The end of the session can be foretolC
as 1T is ar inexorable law in this Stat,
n that the Thanksgiving turkey calls th
i weary legislators home, no matter no
o hurridly the important work of the SCI
q sion is passed over to shut the doors I
the State House on the Wednesday pr
q ceeding the day set apart by the goo
q Governor as day of thanksgiving.
N If suggestions from outside would NJ
"a be considered impertinent, we woul
% urge upon members of the legislatu
two thing: one is strict economy in a
preparations, including the reduction
r the per diem, and the other is the in
It portance of getting the work of the Sc
d sion started at once. The custom
l. spending the first three or four weeks
te adjournments and in idleness, is usele
lie and proftless. as it brings three fourtl
p of the work in the last few days of Il
he term when it is carelessly and impe
o. fectly done.
ID One thing the members of this legi
j. lature may be assured of, and that
r that they will get more credit out of
al short session which shall be devot
TT to economy, than to long session,
D. matter how much legislative tinkeril
e. and patchwork is done.
|