Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-27
Adjournment of the Legislature.

To-day wednesday, at ten o'clock, A.
NJ, the Legislature took its final adjourn
ment, the session having occupied precisely
eight weeks This is about the usual length of
our more recent sessions, which would doubt
less be slightly heightened or shortened by
an earlier or later recurrence of Thanks
giving.
The Legislature of 1873 has, upon the
whole, made creditable record. There
were many members in both houses of more
than ordinary ability and intelligence, while
strata of genuine good sense seemed
to pervade the entire General Assembly.
1t would be invidious to particuarize by
name those who have distinguished them
selves during the session either by their
eloquence, or by their more effectual and
much better appreciated quiet and unosten-
tatious method of doing their committee
work, and intelligently and carefully watch
ing the course of legislation to guard against
the passage of pernicious laws, or the re-
peal of wholesome ones.
There were many important measures
presented before the Legislature for action,
and Of course, many of minor importance,
some of which never should have been
brought up to vex the brains and the pa
thence of our Solons. And first comes the
tax-question always one Of absorbing in
terest to the average Vermonter. 1t was
painfully evident that there was need of es-
sential reform in this direction, and we sim
cerely trust that the stringent law which
has been adopted will have tendency to
promote-in fact accomplished much more
equal distribution of burdens than the old
system. Indeed it cannot prove worse; and
that's a comfort
Then there was the wholesale raid Of con-
demned murderers, five in all-and, in fact,
all there petitioning for pardon, COM
mutation, new trial, or any other action
which would relieve them from suffering
the penalty of their crime. We think on
one can find fault with the wise course
taken in this matter by the Legislature
There is one perfectly legitimate criticism
to be made upon this body, which is that
during the earlier weeks OF the session it
neglected to grapple with, and settle the
more important measures which came before
them. The mania for "laying upon the
table" any vexed question has prevailed TO SC
grevious an extent as to render necessary
the settlement of the weighty subjects OF
our insolvency law, our divorce law, and
others of equal Importance, at the very hee
of the session, when proper discussion and
investigation are impossible.
But the Legislature as whole, have
done well, and have reflected credit to them
selves and the state. They had just become
competent and effective Legislators at the
time of the adjournment. We suppose few
of them will be here two years from now
and then a new body will have to g
through the same expensive experience o
learning how to legislate, when their tern
will also expire. But this is part and par
eel of the biennial session rule, and, we sup
pose, must be endured until it can be cured
As we write, few hours before tn
actual adjournment, so many of the most
important bills remain undisposed of, i
would be utterly impossible to sum up ac
curately the completed results of the session
So we can but refer to the proceedings, AM
the public laws, which will be issued in tn
WATcHMAN & JOURNAL of next week.
1t is but simple justice to add, that tn
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