Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-20
TANNING" THE LEGISLATURE
Ludlow Man Thinks II Might Do
Something to Develop State.

1
Mr.. M. ]. Hapgood. Peru, VT
Dear Sir.-I have just read your
communication In the Brattleboro Re-
former of recent date, noting the
events at Montpelier as shown by the
acts of the legislature. In addition to
annual sessions OF the Legislature
with referendum to direct vote
of the people before any law
should be effective, l would suggest
the Initiative by the people also. Laws
proposed by the conventions OF the
people, as candidates are now nominal
ted.
A fraction over l6 per cent OF the
people of this state are farmers, but
under our system Of legislative repre-
sentation this small body of men con-
trolls the policy Of the state. Yet so
Idle have they been In their own In
terest that the value OF their lands
has shrunk to less than the value OF
the buildings thereon and only re-
Gently have they begun to awake to
the needs of encouragement to agri-
culture, a business on which the
foundation OF all Vermont prosperity
rests. There are hundreds Of thous-
ands of acres of fertile land In Ver-
mont and New Hampshire that Is idle
or indifferently cultivated through
lack of capital to carry on the bust
ness of farming on modern plans.
] In view of this condition, what a
pitiful sight 1t was to see the last part
of the session descend to a scramble
for increased salaries, new Offices or
securing some favored individual In
his soft berth. The bills In the in
terests of individuals and corpora
tons were of course looked after by
the able and well paid attorneys OF
said interests. The rural legislator Is
susceptible to the kid glove and SILK
hat individual who is always present
under one excuse or other. Why can
not something be done for the devel-
opment Of the whole state? Windsor
county, one of the most prosperous In
the state. gained In population bls
during the census term of 1890 to 1900
This period will be known as one
of the most rapid in the commercial
growth of the country. States that
have the advantage of land that has
waited for ages the advent of the agri-
cuturist can prosper under any con-
ditions, but even these fertile prairies
must come under New England condi-
tons in time.
Let us talk 1t over. In war times
we paid, say 80 cents yard for cal
leo. Suppose that the laws Of Ver-
specious reasoning corporations were
enabled to exact that price now as
they do the war time rates of inter-
est on money. Or suppose there was
a company organized in Ludlow with
exemption from taxation and other
privileges so that this corporation
could buy granulated sugar at cents
and sell 1t at 6. Money is the granu-
lated sugar of business and people
who deposit their funds In savings in
situations get about 3 per cent inter-
est, while 1t Is loaned at per cent.
Is it any wonder that trust companies
spring up in every town? A farm
mortgage was recently executed In
Ludlow on a nearby piece Of land at
3R per cent rate of interest. The
money came from Massachusetts.
Why are trust companies enabled to
double the value of their stock for the
benefit of their stockholders in few
years without adding to the wealth
of the state, but retarding It's develop
ment? People are willing to loan
their money, untaxed, at 3 per cent
with good security. Under law OF
Vermont enacted in 1902, towns and
village corporations are enabled TO
borrow money of people within the
limits of such municipalities. at 3
Ludlow borrows $4,000; aided by
this low rate, builds and owns fine
business and town hall block, an cleo
trio light and power plant, the finest
public water supply system. sewers,
etc. | wonder If it ever occurs to our
wage earners how much easier they
| could own their homes If money
was to be had to erect dwellings, at
per cent rate. Or If they rent,
how much cheaper, If there were no
double taxation" their rent must be.
For the rentor must pay for interest,
taxes, insurance-pay 1t all and the
landlord still own the home. If town
property can have a mortgage at 3
per cent, why may not the. humble
home of each individual unit of the
town bear the same lessened burden?
What a universal remedy for labor
! trouble! The workingman who owns
| his home will never be a rioter in the
streets. Mr. Billiard said in the legis-
lature, "The greatest trust so far as
Vermont is concerned is the insurance
trust" But the greatest and most in
sidious and firmly established Is the
money trust.
Mr.. Hapgood, you were, perhaps not
unkindly. called crank" What
would have happened to you IT, at the
beginning of the session. you had
stood up in your place and offered
resolution that in the future Vermont
should pattern her laws after those
of New Zealand? wouldn't it have
caused a laugh? Perhaps the author
of TANNED the cow might have add
ed something amusing to the litera-
ture of the session for city editors to
make fun of. The majority would
have at first said New Zealand was
run by a sort of improved order of
cannibals Let us see: Population,
aside from native, increased $4,000
since 1860. Before 1870 this little
new country of the sea had the par
cells post and postal savings banks as
most of the countries of Europe have.
whereby the savings of the people are
collected at postoffices and the safety
guaranteed by the government The
parcels post carries large packages
by mail. But the express companies
object you know in the United States.
Well, before 1875 New Zealand had
national railways: government insur-
ance; organized labor working united
ly with the farmers at the ballot box;
the Matchmaking of credit and low
rate land loans to farmers and home
builders: public ownership of coal
mines; the Australian ballot system;
the Torrens Land Title act; state an
nuities for the aged poor: suffrage
without regard to sex. The tide Of
population turned from city to coun-
try, but what. became of the banks?
All flourishing and sharing in the gen.
eral prosperity. as bank always does.
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