Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-09-28
COMING SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE.

The Vermont Legislature will con-
vene next week and enter upon a
labor, which profitable Or otherwise,
will consume several weeks OF time
and end up in great hurry and bus
tie on the night proceeding Thanks
giving Day, probably November 26.
The work, SO far as is now known,
which requires to be done is of no
great Importance and with the excep-
ton of a few matters might go over
to another term, or indefinitely. The
laws have recently been codifed, the
work having been done with great
care, by a very intelligent and pains
taking committee; a new statute has
been published and it will seem al
most needless to alter or amend ex
isting laws. In fact there is no call
for it. Nearly every matter of law
which can be called specially impor-
tant has been overhauled, altered
and perfected within the last dozen
years and the statutes ought to stand
as they are.
We have no idea, however, that
the two or three hundred men who
make up the legislature will be con-
tented to let we'll enough alone.
False as the belief is, members sup
pose their usefulness, not to say I'M
portance, depends on the invention
and introduction of "bills." Few of
them ever ought to become, or will
become laws, but they will bear the
signature of the introducer, and will
be the means of getting his name on
to the journals, and, possibly, into
the papers. These bills will consume
some time; they may afford opportu-
nifty for speech making and oratori-
cal efforts, things not particularly
necessary, so far as the State is con-
cerned.
The first weeks Of the session will
be short, and adjourn overs will be
frequent; Fridays, Saturdays and
Mondays will amount to very little;
the food tide of bills will not set in
till four weeks are gone and the end
begins to hover in sight. The three
or four weeks then left will be busy
ones, and the burden of work will in
crease to the end. Probably some of
that which has been attempted will
be rushed through and improperly
done. The adjournment will be made
and members of the legislature will
be as anxious and surprised to learn
what has been done-what has really
come out of their efforts-as the gen
eral public. Fortunate if it shall not
turn out that very large approprla-
tions have been made, some unwise
and loose laws enacted and general
harm done to the State.
If advice were worth any
thing, and if it is really the intention
of those who adorn the seats of the
House or Senate, to do the best thing
for the State, it might be given. 1t
may be brief: If you must present
bill, present it early; follow it into
the committee room and watch its
demise. If, perchance, it gets re-
ported on favorably, push it along,
but do not talk it to death yourself.
Remember that the most dreaded and
unpopular man is the one who is
everlastingly on his feet seeking the
attention of his fellow legislators.
Your reputation will not suffer if you
are not heard every day. It will be
more important to look after meas
ures which are intended to sap the
State treasury than to help along the
schemes of many who try to force up
expenses to highest limits. The one
term legislator is notaware how large
sums of money will be asked for this
and that, which may be reduced if
every man is as careful of State ex-
penditures as he is of his own eXpen-
ses. The number Of things and insti-
tutions demanding appropriations
have increased largely, and if great
care and some economy is not had
the sum total of all appropriations
will be very large. Keep the purse
strings Of the State treasury tight.
Do not try to tinker the laws now on
the books. See if it is not possible
to reach adjournment before Thanks
giving.
Lye rots clothes; use less lye by using
less soap: do both by using Harmless soap.