Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-29
The Session.

1t is early to make reliable review OF
mental retrospection there seems to have
been the usual amount of tinkering with
the statutory law, the usual amount of
trivial legislation or of efforts at incense
quential law making. The old standard
subjects for statutory regulation, dogs, fowls
and noxious animals, the adjudcating of
claims against the state, legalzing illegal
grand lists, chartering church and cemetery
associations, protecting muskrats, etc., have
consumed as usual large part Of the time
of the house. But these matters, which the
Impractical law maker seems to use as
dumb bells or Indian clubs for getting up
his legislative muscle, have been interspersed
with much serious work on measures of far
reaching Importance to the state. Some OF
these measures have been carried to a sue
cessful issue. Some which we regard OF
greater Importance than any which have
prevailed have not only suffered defeat, but
the house, with majority of whose men,
bers the mighty dollar seems to have been
the touchstone by which the merit of a
measure is tested, has not even shown dis.
position to give them fair field in the fight
for hearing. Senator Towards bill for
the practical submission to the towns of the
question of the adoption of the town system
OF schools sought an attentive and candid
hearing in vain. Passing the senate unani-
mously after the able and convincing argu-
ment Of Senator Howard in its favor, it
found no argument against it in the house
but noise, confusion and the slamming of
desk lids. Priest of Barre CALAMITY and
eloquently led the debate in favor of the
bill, and the best intelligence, the progress
sive and enlightened element of the house
supported him against kind of mob spirit
which squelched the measure very much as,
it is alleged, free speech is smothered in the
south. There is bourbonism in Vermont
and it cropped out sharply in the treatment
accorded to measures looking to reformation
in school and highway management. Sew
eral meritorious measures to secure better
roads and judicious and economical ex-
penditure of road taxes, for guaranteeing to
towns and individuals alike protection
against old or existing abuses, were either
summarily dismissed or grudgingly heard
for appearance sake and then crushed.
Apart from the spirit shown by the house
in its treatment of school aud highway
measures, the course of the legislature has
been commendable. The work done by
some of the committees has been conspic-
uous for its efficiency and its fidelity to the
people. The ways and means and the grand
list committees of the house have exemplifed
the truth of the reasons urged by the pro-
gressive press of the state and recommended
by the republican state convention for the
reelection OF old and capable members.
Hooker Of Brattleboro, chairman Of the for
mer, and Jones of Waitsfeld of the latter,
were members of the last legislature. Their
native capacity, assisted by their previous
training, has given the house two members
whose absence would have been most ser-
ously felt. In the benefit to the state by the
return Of these men some idea may be
gained by the loss inflicted by the pernicious
practice of rotation which has kept at home
much valuable talent, skilled by the labors
OF two years ago. Messrs Hooker and Jones
have had strong coadjutor in Wing of
Montpelier, who, though new member, by
his previous experience in public affairs in
the office of state treasurer aud as deputy
secretary of state, by his participation in
the municipal affairs of his town, had much
of the training and familiarity with public
business acquired by direct legislative expe-