Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-08
Trivial Legislation.

If any bill for changing the name of
John Smith and making him heir.at-law to
Ssmmie Jones, or for charting the Bear
Swamp brass band, has been offered in
either house of the legislature at the present
session, the fact has escaped our attention.
There has been gratifying absence Of
triaing measures, and yet great deal Of
time is used up on subjects which reappear
in the legislature with the regularity Of the
recurrence Of the seasons. IL is undoubt-
eddy true that more time is used up by each
legislature in canine legislation, in ascer-
tanning at what age "purp" becomes a
dog, and what shall be his status in the
body polite when the much.legislated brute
arrives at a dogs estate, than all the reve-
nue. derived from the whole race Of Trays,
Pointers, Tips and Tigers. The status Of
pups and dogs should be settled by consti-
tutional amendment, so that side by side
with the question of license or prohibition,
it may disappear as subject for legislation
and make way for other matters.
Bills to pay Tom, Dick or Harry " the
sum therein named" together make a
class of measures which occupy no incon-
siderable portion of the time of the legisla.
ture and entail an expense in their con-
sideration which, it is not improbable, vastly
more than duplicates the original amount of
the bills themselves. These bills cover claims
in varying amounts from very small sums
upward, for running down chicken thief
to pursuing and capturing, or failing to
capture, transgressors for graver offences. 1t
would seem that some Scion Of the general
assembly should be equal to the task Of pro.
viding way, outside of the legislature, to
hear and decide these claims and put them
in the way of payment. That a bill for
ten dollars, frequently less sum, should be
put through The cumbersome and complex
legislative NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in SEN
ate or house, first and second readings, refer.
ence to committees on claims, examination
by that body and report, perhaps, after a
lengthy hearing, running the gauntlet of
debate, third reading, final passage and sig
nature by the governor, with the side tracks
of routine over which it must travel in its
journey along the main line,-all this is very
much like using columbiad to kill flea
In smaller and more flexible local tribunal
of some kind the claim, it would seem,
might be more expeditiously audited, more
Just conclusions reached, and at an expense
somewhat less than several multiples of the
claim. There is, however, one useful pur.
pose which the settling of these claims by
the Legislature may serve. They are an ex.
cellent means of breaking the legislative ice,
A new member, unused to the sound of his
own voice, oftentimes has bridged the aw.
full chasm between his fears and the forum
by rising in his place, scroll in hand, and
announcing to " listening senates " that he
"desires to introduce bill to pay Con.
stable Dogberry the sum therein named.
lie resumes his seat with the cold sweat
starting from every pore, but he has made
an effort, he has "passed the Rubicon and
thenceforth mingles in the fray with the
nerve of veteran. 1t is, however, expens-
i've ice-breaking, and open to the objection
that the advantage may not be commensur.
ate with the subsequent cost.
Much light and routine legislation has
been before the general assembly, but none
of the weighty measures relating to educa.
ton, raising of revenue, the grand list and
the highways, which are the great measures
at this session, have yet come decisively
before either branch. Time is passing on,
and it is very desirable that some of these
subjects should be brought forward by the
committees without longer delay. To con,
slider either one fairly and on its merits
time must be consumed even after the ma
turing process in the committee rooms. II
would seem that time enough has passed tc
Justify the expectation of a showing of hands
by some of the leading committees.