The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-09
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.
Looking Backward,

The practical rejection of the fish
hatchery appropriation bill by the
House of Representatives on Wednes-
day morning, is important chiefly as il
lustratiug the retrograde tendency of
Vermont Lawmakers. A progressive
step is taken by the Legislature, in any
direction, and a succeeding Legislature,
made up, for the most part, of entirely
new members, will devote its energies
to retracing that step.
long years were passed in securing
the adoption of the town system of
school administration, and some of the
bitterest contests of the past ten years
have beenN over propositions, in one
form or another, to return to the dis
trict system. "a similar contest, sue
cessful to-dayA,-in defeat tomorrow,
has been wa god over the highways.
The existing road system, adopted after
many defeats and maintained against
constant efforts to face the towns back
ward toward the times of the highway
district and "tho hoe handle Brigade"
is again the object of attack by the anti
quarians. They yearn for the ancient
dignity of the school committee man
and highway surveyor, or for the times
when leaning on hoe handle for a
day brought goodly compensation in
taxes cancelled.
u Some years ago, the Legislature, in a
lucid moment, enacted a law under
which the Supreme Court of the State
threw off its character of tramp and
was given a fixed habitation for the adj
ninistration of ultimat justice. The
result has been highly beneficial to the
State and to litigants. In the case of
the latter, causes have been heard and
decisions promptly rendered. A spa
cious and convenient home for the
court has been provided. The judges
are together at stated periods during
the year, and, whereas, under the
tramp system of holding court in the
fourteen county-seats of the State they
could seldom come together in council,
and the rendition of decisions in cases
referred to them was therefore long de-
layed, often to the great injury of lit
giants, appeals are now heard and de-
cided by the full bench without inju-
rious delays. AS sensibly require the
Supreme Court of the Unite States to
sit in every State of the Union as to re-
vert to the old plan of Supreme Court
sitting in the fourteen counties of the
State. Yet this is what it is proposed to
do in bill now before the General
Assembly. 1t is another of those re-
dictionary spasms that are apt to seize
timorouse or ultra conservative people
after having taken bold step forward.
Since the Legislature committed the
State to the business of fish production
for stocking its streams and ponds,
$4,000, more or less, have been ex-
pended on this progressive step. Now
the House halts, refuses to continue
the appropriation and thereby would
throw away what has been expended,
and bring to naught the work of many
years. This is not wise states manship
for statesmanahip pertains to small
things as we'll as great. 1t is folly SUI
preme, development of the same ma
MIA that has fought reform and progress
in school and highway administration
and progress in other directions; the
same mania that impels horse, res
cued from a burning barn, to rush
back into the flames and perish. This
sort of craftsmanship will never make
State prosperous and great; it is the
policy-or impolicy-that leads straight
to chaos. The House does not really
mean to strangle the fish hatchery, to
throw away the money it has been ex.
pending, to falter and take a plunge
backward. 1t will reconsider it's &C
ton in this matter. 1t may, ant
should, hedge about the expenditure OIL
this appropriation with every reason
able restriction, but will make an APP
preparation in the end, when it is fully
and better informed, and it will allow
the other good and wise things of it,
predecessors to stand.