The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-18

The utter failure of the last legisla-
ture to seize upon the golden opportum-
ties, that the times and circumstances,
needs and wants of the state presented
to them, to pass wholesome Jaws in the
interests of the masses rs against tho
wishes of irresponsible and dominant
corporations receives severe and just
criticism from the independent press,
throughout the state. A writer in the
Waterman, one of the clearGst headed
politicians in the State, undcr the head
of .Plain Talk" caustically treats of the
whole matter, showing the after inca
pacity of the majority to iutelligcntly
deal with matters of the graFest import
to the people at large, or lack OF dis
position to legislate, otherwise than in
the interests of the wards and creatures
of the state, grown insolent rom their
known responsibility. In proof he
sites TWO eAailples, VIZ
"(I) All educational and otbc, bills having
reference to the moral, intellectual and physi-
raining of the young, and therefore the most
important and pressing of all, in lew of the la
nentable downward tendency in his regard,
5erc persistently given the cod shoulder
from the beginning; while the pr per bounty
to be paid for bushel of grassh1ppers, and
matters of kindred import and in ,ortance, en-
gagged the earnest attention of The average
legislative Solon The best met cd of arous-
ing the people Of the state from their intellcc-
tual and moral sluggishness as impaired with
the past, and so laying broadly and deeply
solid foundations on which to ba : vigorous
and enduring prosperity, ensaG d but little
thought, apparently, and certain gained no
favor, from the majority. (2) The several
railroad bills (notaby the short l. Ill bill and
the bill creating an efficient railr I'd commits
sion, similar to laws prevailing in other states,
where government still exists by, # and for the
people, and not primarily for corp rations), de-
signed to defend and protect the ople against
notorious extortions. unjust dis riminatons,
burdensome exactions and other grievous
wrongs practiced upon them by lie gre It cor
porations that the state has crea, ed, ostens-
bly, for the public good, were predestincd to
sure and speedy death-the fate hat has be-
fallen all similar bills TOR a score Ct years, dat
ing from the time when these ere lures Of the
states fostering liberality became greater than
their creator. So all-powerful ar they, that
no citizen can contend sucCesssu y with them
for his clearest rights, and only ii state itself,
emancipated and rehabilitated. can impose the
restraining hand, so mperatWelr demanded.
Having created these corporations, it is clear
ly the bo,mden duty of the state to see to it
that not one of her citizens, even he feeblest,
is wronged by them. And why should the
railroad corporations of Vernon in this III
stance almost soldly banded together, SO fierce
ly resist Just state supervision over them,
such as is exercised and cheerfuiy accepted
in nearly all other states? This lact i'll itself
amounts to a practical admission on their part
that such supervision is necessary. * =
at is not an exaggerated statenent-for the
fact is known to all intelligent ci,izens-that
for nearly score ofyears these corporations,
either singy or acting in concert, through The
expenditure of money that possibly might bet
ter haveIgone to creditors, by the lavishissue oil
free passes and other forms of personal favor
ittsm, through paid attorneys, political bench
men, and other agents and agencies in which
they abound, have substantially dictate, with a
few honorable exceptions general recognized
all important political and civil nominations,
elections and appointments; Will controlling
absolutely all legislation relating, nearly or
remotely, to their own interests
''The power of the ring and the lobby
was never more potent nor more openly and
shamelessly exercised. The legis lature never
convenes without the constant presence and
watchfull supervision of the trained attorneys
and expert lobbyists of these corporations,
with practiced eyes quick 10 detect any insol-
ent movement in behalf of the people against
lHS stSSuiHCu ulIlllilliCN plSloS5' lhSS VI llIS
railroads And when any such ,novcment is
made by some bold neophyte, as at the late
session, how quickly the great managing mog-
uls, with all their lesser satraps, e,en down TO
the paid local agents and attorneys in each
county, swoop down like an army with BAN
ners upon the rash culprit and lis doomed
bantng! And so thepeople, an all who at
tempt to serve them, go to the wsil.'
To this might be added, as a natural
sequence, the constant foistiUg of small
great men upon the people, Zen whose
capacities and dominant desires rise no
higher than the will of the master, their
creator. And a suffering people must
stand it, till they rise in their might and
power and overthrow the whole dynas.
ty. Portentious signs indicate that this
time is speedily approaching. The peo'
pie are being informed and aroused by
the labors of an Independent press that
have shaken off the free pass shackles
ond boldly and deilantly proclaim free
ON to the humblest citizen. 1t is un.
enable that this feeling found a sub
,antial lodgment, the past year, IL
Tindham and Windsor counties and a,
result these counties furnished the a
blest and most untiring workers in the
interest of wise and fostering legisla
ton, and their good work is ICED sowl
that will bring forth, in the near future
an hundred fold, even to the utter dis
comfture of the paid local agents, at
torneys and lesser satraps."
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