Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-29


Among matters of importance that will
engage the attention of the legislature at its
coming session will be the report Of the
commission on the revision of the laws.
This work was intrusted to the competent
hands of the late Hon. c. w. Willard and
Hon. w. G. Veazey. The responsible task
has been ably performed, and it is hoped so
thoroughly and satisfactorily that it will re,
quire little if any more than the formal
sanction of the legislature to dispose of it
finally.
A commission was appointed by the gov
ernor at the last session to consider the
matter of the increase of court expenses.
The report of this commission will be
awaited with interest," though its object has
been to some extent anticipated by the very
satisfactory improvement in this direction
the direction opened up during the last BIZ
ennial term in which further improvement
is possible by the more rigid utilization Of
fines levied in Justice trials as well as by
atory institutions. The whole subject of
court expenses will come before the legisla-
ture, and the direction of legislative action
will naturally be taken from the report and
recommendations of the commission of
which no public intimation has been made.
1t has been intimated in some quarters that
the redistricting of the state for our repre-
sentation in congress, which it is assumed
will be cut down to two members in the
new apportionment which will follow the
completion of the last census, will devolve
upon this legislature But that can hardly
be done till the new apportionment is made,
and Vermont will hardly wish to discount
whatever chance may arise for the retention
of an undiminished delegation in congress
by making any provisional arrangements,
even if such were lawful, for settling the
estate of the third member before his actual
demise. Another biennial session of the
legislature may occur before the state will
be called upon, if at all, to act upon this
subject.
Economy in state administration will be
afruitful source of legislation. As the ses-
sion advances great diversity of opinion
on this subject will doubtless be developed,
and efforts made to incorporate these views
in legislative enactments. On no subject,
perhaps, will the wisdom of the legislature
be subjected to more severe or discrimi-
mating test. To many minds the idea of
economy in expenditure is bounded by an
arbitrary reduction in the amount of money
paid for salaries, for the per diem of mem
bers, for our educational and eleemosynary
institutions, or for any specific object. To
others, while insisting that all expenditures
shall be reduced to the basis of the market
value of the services required, quality and
responsibility being duly considered, more
intelligent idea of economy extends to a
sagacious and wellconsidered liberality in
making such appropriations of the state
revenues as shall in the end conduce to the
Developments of the varied material resources
of the state, the elevation and improvement
of the commonality in morals, in education,
and in capacity to add to the material as
we'll to the ideal wealth of the commu-
nifty. This is true economy, in the practice
of which the highest wisdom and the
shrewdest common sense Of the state will
be laid under contribution an economy
that practically and honestly applied, will
make the state rich and powerful, that will
form the soundest basis for the sure and
permanent amelioration of the burdens of
taxation, and an economy that every true
citizen would have our legislature embody
in effective enactments.