Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-15

The Legislature, which has been in
session a Little more than half Of the
time for the past four weeks, began
its work with loud professions and
promises of reform, but US yet il has
accomplished very little. Three hun
dred and ninety bills have been in
troduced into the House, and about
One-third Of that number have been
in reduced into tie Senate. Only a
small proportion Of these will be en-
acted. The latest sign" OF economy
was to adjourn until Wednesday TO
allow the members in the Third dis
trct to go home and vote for Con-
gresham This was entirely I'M
necessary, because they could have
voted at Montpelier. 1t is doubtless
true that a great many Of the mem
bers are already homesick AMI anX-
ious to be at home. IL Is no slight
hardship to conins Il farmer who
spends most of his time at home in
the open air, in the capital, and we
have not been surprised to hear sew
eral of them say that you will not
catch them in Montpelier again.
These men have a good many good
ideas on things in general, but they
are so little accustomed TO public, and
especially legislative duty, that it is
both irksome and difficult to them.
this being the case, we have been sor-
ry 10 observe a disposition among the
farmers to combine rs a class against
the other legislators. There are no
class interests in this State. The
farmer and the merchant, the public
carrier and the lawyer are naturally
dependent upon each ether, and the
recognition Of this natural dependence
is one Of the principal elements Of
patriotism. No man has any interest:
to be affected by legislation except as
q citizen. If the lawyers in the
legislature should Call meeting t
consult together as lawyers with ref
erence to legislation there would be {
tremendous hue and cry at once; ",
have confidence still that the @Tarmer
will not be misled BY any demagogu,
TO array themselves against any othe
elias, OF citiZeRs.
The character of the present HousC
is sach as might be expected as re
suit OF the bicnuial system. The ole
stagers have had their day. No maj
can be twice elected except in rar
cases, and the Legislature must, if tn
present tendency prevails, hecom
more a body of inexperienced mel
who comes fresh from the people, wit
good ideas enough, but without tacilit.
without practical comprehension of til
ways to secure the desired ends, an
the State will be fortunate if it escape
biennial infiietiou of crude legisla
ton. The laws in the end are, to
great degree, made hy the lawyers VIII
compose the supreme court, who sill
out the rubbish and Inconsistencies c
tentative legislation. When the legii
lature comes together again, we trus
1t will not be so strongly affected b
the flavor Of the coming Thanksgivin
pudding or pie that it cannot delibel
ately act upon the measures Of impol
; lance that may be reported from til
various committees. A great deal {
, time has been spent ia protitless dC
. bate. The members should not b
tempted 10y the love OF hearing the
, own voices speak on subjects whic
they don't know anything about. TIL
most useful and influential men i
: either house in former years hay
been meu of comparatively few words
the public have the correct idea {
: this business. 1t is results, not wind
debate, which the public approve
Rutland Herald and Globe.