Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-15
THE LEGISLATURE DEFENDED.
Speaker Baskins Makes a Statement Re
rsrding Its Character and Services.

Speaker Haskins has written the fol.
lowing letter to the Brattleboro Phoenix:
Dear Editor. I thank you for allowing
me brief space in the columns OF your
valuable paper to reply to some OF the
unreasonable and unfounded criticisms
already published in some few of our
State newspapers in regard to the Legs-
laturo which finished its work the LIST
inst. 1 copy the following from the Bur-
1ington News:
TT strikes us that the Legislature, OF
which we were happily rid Thursday,
registered low-water mark as compared
with all previous legislatures still held
in remembrance. The House, at any rate
IL not the Senate, was the cheapest, most
offensively blatant body that could be
found this side of Kansas. AS well as
can be seen through the smoke, not one
bill of general public interest went to the
governor. There is one hopeful feature in
the situation. The last Legislature was
such very small potatoes that the next
one cannot help being an improvement"
The foregoing extract Is but a speci-
men of the gall and vituperation which
has been poured out by certain newspa-
pors of cheap notorety at the close OF
nearly every Legislature within my re-
membrance. To one who knows, 1t is evil
dent that the critic does not SEQ clearly,
but sees Through the smoke" only. / do
not deny but that the last Legislature,
like all other legislative bodies, left un-
done some things that they ought to
have done, and did some things that they
ought not to have DONE but I do know
that they did many creditable things,
and but very few, II any, to their dis
credit; also that very many bills of gen
eral public interest went to the gov
ernor" and became law If l had the
space I could name many such. 1t would
seem TO all fair minded persons that un-
secmly criticism and abuse should be
withheld until the work of the Legisla-
ture is published by authority.
/ The Senate was composed of 30 very
excellent gentlemen, "a of whom had
had previous legislative experience,
which Is all important in a law-maklng
body A legislature is not conducted
upon the same basis as Is the business Of
n town or village meeting, but is gov
erned by well established rules of legis-
lative law, which prevail alike in the
English House of Commons and the Con-
Gress of the United States, together with
rules of their own creation. and hence
the greater has been the experience of its
members the greater the efficiency of tho
body of lawmakers
The House of Representatives had 246
members, but l6 of whom had ever been
members of legislative assembly be-
fore, and but four of these for more than
one single term. 1t will, therefore, be OBJ
membership, being without any expe-
rience whatever. had much to learn and
while not lacking in capacity or good in
tentiOns yet could not tL;o up the work
at tho beginning of the session and speed
1t along like old and experienced legisla-
tors. Who but the people who persist In
electing new and untried men at each
biennial election. are responsible for such
conditions? Tho question readily sug-
gests the answer.
have been honorod with four cleo
lions to the Vermont Legislature, and
have been more or less acquainted with
the personnel of every Legislature since
1865. and l have no hesitation in affirm
ing that, aside from the legislative mex
perence of its members, the House OF
Representatives of 1898, was above the
average of any preceding 1t as to ability
and capacity to do good work. Its honesty
of purpose and strong desire to deal fairly
and justly were repeatedly made mani.
fest in this, that whenever its members
found that mistake had been made
they were willing and anxious to rectify
their error. The House properly refused
to concur with the Senate in agreeing &c
final adjournment the day before
Thanksgiving for there were many imp r
tant measures still pending, which, with
the bulk of business then on hand anC
undisposed of, must of necessity hav,
been rushed through In a day and nigh
without that consideration their merit.
deserved. The result was as can he east
~ and truthfully demonstrated that Will,
the extra cost was less than 5000 NOR,
than $4,000 was saved to the State. Wher
the record of the session of 1875 is fully
written, it will, as n whole, be ono Of
which both the Senate and House neet
not be ashamed.
KITTREDGE HAsKINs.
Brattleboro. VT, Dec. Z, 1898.