Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-07-23

During the eighty years following The
adoption of the first constitution Of Vermont.
the council Of censors was The body in which
amendments to the constitution were origin
ated The council was Il body OF thirteen
men, elected by the frccmcn oncc IN SrNrr
wears, whose duty il was TO inquire w!i'th-
or the public faxes have been justly laid ai.d
collected in all parts Of this Commonwealth.
in what manner the public monies have
been Disposed of. and whether IL" laws have
been duly executed. The council also had
the power to call convention 10 amend tie
constitution and 10 propose 20 the convention
such articles of amendment as th,y deemed
necessary and cXpedient The thirteenth
and last council of ccnsors mel in lSGo. call
ed a convention which met in June, lH'"'
and proposed to that conv'niion certain
amendments, including The change t. ihe
biennial system of elections and sessions 81
the Legislature: AMI IN entirely dill
fercnt method of amending ihc constitution.
These amendments became part of the or
ganic law of the State; AMI under Item the
old council of ccnsors ooas d to exist, the
Senate taking the place If the council as the
initiatorv body, and the Legislature taking
the place of the constitutional convention.
with an added provision for submitting MI
amendments To the people. The consiliu-
ton now provides that AT tie session ol Inc
General Assembly Of 1880 and every tenth
wear thcrcaftcr) the Senate H'as. lN Two
thirds vote. make proposals 81 amendment
to the constitution Of the State, which pro
posals of amendment, if concurrel in l,y
a majority of the Hoas' of Representatives,
shall be entered on the journals of th' i~o
Houses, and referred 10 the General Assem-
Div then next to Ice chosen, and Il "A MAJORITY
of both Houses concur in the same proposals
then they arc to be subEiiici 20 a direct vote
of the freemen, and if adopted lay 4 majority
vote they will become part of the State
constitution.
The next State Senate will thtrcir:c tc
charged with the important duty OF pro
posing amendments to the succeeding LrGls-
laturc. What amendments will h. proposed
of course cannot he predicted. There has
been very little discussion thus far IN the
public press or among the people in rrGtfd
to amendments. Thoughtful men, however
have been giving attention IL the subject,
and it is probable tina, amons the proposed
amendments which will be discussed hy the
Senate will be the following:
1. A return to the old method Of annual
elections and annual sessions of the Lc:5isla-
ture. The biennial system, coupled as it has
been with the wretch-d onc-tcrm rulc, has
not answered expectations. 1t has effected
little or no saving of expense, and has givea
IL. .sreen legislatures and crude legislation.
Possibly a chang which shall retain the
biennial feature as regards elections. hui shall
secure an annual session OF the L"s'llin'r,
may he the solution of the problem.
.. An amendment which shall secure
measure Of experience in the rprorand mere
conservative, branch Of III; General Assem-
bly,, by frightening the t''rn Of the Senator'S
and providing that lul half the body shall
20 out of office al once ,i.ny States Lave
this arrangement and v'as- well in piao-
tice.
3. A reduction OF IA, numbers Of The
House of Represent IS, and an ap;''-
tionmcnt of them ao'cloirs toioFGla'i"n-
Under such Il char, the expense "i tue
Legislature to the people might lac reduced
one half.
4. Changing the judiciary system, hy r;'.''-
ing the Office of Justice If Tie supreme
Court an appointive office, and lrnElheiin%
the tenure of the same.
These. and possibly other Amendments,
doubtless will occupy the attention OF tho
Senate, which, it is Ia I've hoped, viii take
wise action in re.,ard /" them.