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

A busy, profitable and apleasant session
has ended. In the history Of legislation In
Vermont, it is doubtful if more harmo-
NOUS or a better.mannered, a more indus
trious or a more painstaking general as
sembly has convened in the state house.
The members of the house seem to have
worked like well-broken team. No per-
sonal jealousy or violent antagonism, no
itching for leadership or straying from the
main line of legislative work, has disturbed
the good fellowship or marred the proprieties
of the session. Members have given an
unusual amount of time and courteous
patience to ascertaining and hearing the ex-
preston Of the outside world upon the i'm
portant measures which have come before
them in committee. In their reports to the
house we believe they have voiced the popu-
lar wish more faithfully than their fellow
members in their disposition of the matter
reported upon have always done. Speaker
Martin has more than vindicated the wis
dom of the choice of presiding officer.
His committees were singularly well con-
stituted, and by their works 1t shall be
known and conceded that they have been
loyal to their sworn duty. His lightning
like rapidity in the despatch of routine
business, his unerring precision and his
lucid direction of body of new members
through parliamentary lsbyrinths, has very
largely contributed to the intelligent under
standing of measures and the orderly pro
cedure of the house. In the few instances
in which he has Joined in the discussions he
has spoken with force and displayed good
sense and sound reasoning, and he has been
uniformly on the right side of all measures
of distinctive character. The vote of
thanks to him was no affair of cold conven-
tionality.
The house and senate have not always
agreed on some important as well as on many
unimportant measures, but the two bodies
seem to have worked well and understand
ingly together. The passage by the latter
body of the revenue and the grand list bills
substantially as they came from the house
illustrates the good understanding which
has existed between the two houses of the
general assembly. acknowledgement Pin
gree, as president of the senate, has d.
rected the deliberations of that body with a
modest grace and efficiency entirely charac-
teristic of the man. The senate has many
members noted for having minds of their
own and able to maintain their ground in
debate, but the discussions have always
been temperate, and the course OF senators
seems always to have been inspired by
genuine regard for the public welfare.
The contest in joint assembly over the
election of chief Judge of the supreme court
and the debate in house and senate over the
bill for the communication of the sentence Of
able and most dramatic of any legislative
events for many years. Each was witnessed
by large and brilliant company of in
terested spectators, and the scenes of those
occasions will not soon be forgotten by
participants or lookerson. We believe the
general assembly of 1882 has done its work
well. 1t has been business-like and order
ly body. 1t has left undone two things,
at least, of vital Importance. These two
things, reform in the management of the
public schools and highways, have gained
foothold. They are bound to succeed, and
in the matter of educational reform especial
ly will be found the groundwork of pros
perity which neither grand list nor revenue
bills can bring to the state.