Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-10-22
raoouIMo rng LeolsLAruRE

I0e newspapers are ooluE too usual
bear dance because the legislature adj
journs from Friday till Monday and
wastes the time and money Of the state.
Some Of the officials and 8 few Of the
members have responded to the procding
and have leetursd on the abuse.
That's right It win do no harm.
Also very little good. It is always so;
never otherwise. An sorts OF remedies
and proposed corrective measures are fu-
tile, necessarily. It's 80 because
Because nineteen out Of every twenty
members are absolutely green at the bust
ness. They know nothing of the rou-
tine. Half Of them have never even visit
ed the legislature. The gresner they are,
the more timid and bashful. They have
simply got to wait and watch the wheel
60 around q while before they venture in.
Not one in g dozen knows how to frame
bill, even If he has an idea of what be
wants. He must cautiously take counsel
OF someone wiser. Who? he must wait
and find that cut.
And first OF ali be must make some &C
quaintances. He is among total strang-
ers or nearly 50. There must he time for
breaking the ice. for an au-round hand
shake, for game Of pitch, perhaps; all
this before legislation fairly starts
Measures are promoted largely by the
personalities behind them. Even the
most meritorious acts require careful at
tention and close following to get them
through.
quainted and used to each other and their
surroundings. there is a general thawing
out Business comes on then all right.
The Legislators have found out how to get
their bills whipped into shape, know how
to guide them and how to avoid the mis-
takes and bIunders that are 30 humiliat-
ing. II takes three or four weeks to ae-
eomplish this, and is necessary part Of
the session, though tangible results are
few.
During this time but few bills stray in.
These are Of two snrts-either those
framed BY old hands long in advance, or
the freak bills hustled in BY anxious
members. which raise laugh and are eel
dom heard Of again. The body OF legisla-
ton is still incubatiDg. Short daily ses-
sions are the rule, for there is as yet little
to do. The time spent outside is time
better spent, anyway, at this stage.
By and by Mr.. Jones Of Dippyville will
be overheard saying to Mr.. Smith of Top
pytown, "rm going to introduce bill
providing 30 snd-so. What do you think
OF it7" Then follows an exchange Of
ideas profitable to both. Generally the
bin never appears-which is eminently
proper. But practically ell measures
reach the light in this way, after a care
full ieeling-out process. The state pays
for the time - smplOysd-it ought to
and can afford to.
Bye-and-bye will come the busy time,
with longer sessions, committee meetings
lasting well into the night, late hours
spent in study Of measures and plans for
putting them through. No oserpay for
overtime then. II isa part Of the Job.
Il IL Just as impossible for q Vermont
legislature to start OF at high speed as 1t
is for locomotive to jump from standing
stock stin to wild rush Of miIe-a-min-
ute.
Then these over-sunday adjournments
are not an unmixed evil. Few members
eau arrange to leave their Affairs at home
unattended to for weeks. A day week
during the hrsT part Of the session when,
, for reasons set forth, there is nothing to
1 keep one at the capital, can be taken at
home without real loss to the state, re-
sulting, as it does usually, in settling the
members mind, relieving him Of worry
or, il you please, banishing that home
sick feeling that makes him altogether
useless.
But they shouldn't draw pay wher
they are not at work, shrieks someone
Pay them lump sum for the whole ses
sion, says someone else, and see 'em hus
tie. The present plan is much better
Few members hold onto the job or strinf
! It out because it is so easy and so profita
y bic. It is neither, especially toward til,
: end. A lot Of Legislators bidding fare
well to the capitol are as gleefuI As bow
let out for vacation. The charge TO
board in Montpelier goes right on owe
Saturday and Sunday and Monday jus
the same, whether the member is there O
not, and his three dollars per viii b
: needed to meet it, too. II he goes home
y and lives far away, of course he is lose
every week, besides. on account Of ca
!, fare. The average member is q loser
anyway, financially, and ought not to b
figured with overtime, if he gives good
faithful thought and labor to his duty
= even II he is absent tfrom chambers
portion Of the whole time during the se.
sion. Paving them a hmm auv,, 70 "A :.