Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-14

Respons Utility for Legis-
Iation.

represented, and large portion not
represented at all. That the smaller
towns have an influence which is unde-
served, and the cities are deprived of
their just rights. We do not wish TO
argue the theoretical proposition at this
time, but enquire as TO the practical
operation of the law as it has always
been.
The st. Adams Messenger says that
this wrong system sis responsible for
the passage of laws that the great bulk
of the people do not believe in and do
not try very hard to live up to; that the
people in the large towns and cities are
in the habit of thinking that they are
misgoverned any way; that laws to
which they do not consent are forced
upon them, and it makes little or no
difference whether they resort to quiet
notification or not" For more than
hundred years the good people of Yer
mont have been required to be obedient
to laws originating under this system.
All the progress which we have made,
all the history which we have written,
all the glory which we have earned, has
been under the system of town represen-
tation. Is the Messenger ashamed to
turn backward the pages which tell of
the splendid achievements of our SONS
and daughters? Has our position in
affairs of state and nation been an indi-
cation that we were a misgoverned peo-
pie? Has the shadow of "restless discon-
tent" environed us about in both private
and public life to the extent that we
have been thereby handicapped in the
race with other communities for leader
ship?
The contemporary says "Present con-
ditions are not alarming, and Vermont
ers are law abiding people," Are Ver-
monters of that kind of stuff that they
will submit for over century to absolute
misrule? That they will willingly chain
themselves to the past and whistle to
keep their courage up while they are be-
ing outstripped in the race by their
neighbors? Are the inhabitants of the
small towns in their so.called selfshness
blind to the highest interests of the
state? Have they not as much interest
in the welfare of the cities us have the
cities in that of the small towns2 Can
not the small towns better live without
the cities than the cities without the
towns? Which of the two are nearer
self-supporting?
But we do not believe that thus far
the law has operated against the growth
and development of the state. True the
cities have been asked to render to
the small towns certain aid in refer
ence to schools and highways. Has this
mad the effect to lessen the interest
IN good schools, and good roads? Have
the cities thereby been deprived of any
single thing except few dollars And
has not the whole state been benefited
by the better schools and roads in the
towns which surround the cities and
business centers? We are not saying
that IN these respects the large commu-
mites have been antagonistic to the
needs OF the hamlets; yet from our
OF past legislation we fear
that the contemporary has this slightly
In mind, when it refers to claws forced
upon the people in the large cities and
towns what it calls "the great bulk of
the people,
Vermont has ever been well governed,
and wisdom and honesty have deter
mined the laws under which we have
builded our homes, and developed our
Industries. Who will claim for mo-
ment that the cities and towns have !
been for day handicapped in material
'hings because of a condition of repre-
inaugurated by the fathers?
md who does not believe that the rural
'ections have been benefited thereby? fl
We presume, if the contemporary
Gould effect its ideas that the House of Ii
representatives would consist of not b
more than one hundred and fifty men, t.
'ers, member to about twentv-three P
hundred inhabitants. That would give 7
burlington eight or nine members. Rut-
and five, and other cities pro rata. To
what extent would that remedy the evil of Il
nwise legislation, referred to, by implica- m
ION, to say the least, when the contempo. II
airy nall way recommends 'quiet multi OF
cationT' 1t is always conceded that B.
score OF members are responsible for W
he legislation of session, and no bet- I'll
Or judges of who those twenty are can it,
found than the men who sit at the TO
ress table. Examine the journals of Or
'ssion and see who introduces the bills tie,
hich are found worthy of passage. Are m,
ley always credited to the gentlemen iri
no represent the larger communities an
an we not credit many of them to on
lose whom we are requested to believe 10
e not actuated by the highest interests a v
the state as a whole i? Go back to
rough the legislation of the last me
Tpnty.fiva vaara