The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-30
A. M. FIetcher's Views.

There has been considerable criti-
cism of the length OF the recent SEES
sion of the legislature, and it has not
been easy for some people to under
stand why il should have taken that
body so much longer than it did any
of its predecessors to finish up the
work in hand.
During a recent general converse
ton with the gentleman from Caven-
DISH the Tribune representative ven
tured this question:
What do YOU say, Mr. Fletcher re-
garding the complaint OF press and
public that the legislative session OF
the past fell and winter was unneces-
sarily long drawnout, and the claim
that the business could have been
completed in a much shorter timer
There is one thing you may as well
put down as settled was the reply
the old regime-the ante-Thanksgiy-
ing rut in which the legislature NOV
ed along for so many years-is decid-
eddy thing of the past. SO many
new members are sent to Montpelier
every term it takes so much time
for them to get acquainted with each
others temper and inclinations as to
state policies: the business demands
of the commonwealth have so in
creased; the proper preparation OF
the bills and the getting OF the com
mittees into line for work are so diff
ficult tasks. that, in my opinion, the
habit of adjourning before Thanks
giving day cannot be resumed in JUS
tice to all state interests. There is
one feature for instance, which
crowds itself upon the attention OF
the general assembly of late years as
it never has done before-namely
legislation in the direction of the cor
porations and labor; and this neces-
sarily consumes much time"
DO you really mean TO intimate
that the three months stay concern
ing which so much fault has been
found could not have been avoided
The conditions which | have just
named contributed in no small degree
to the length of the session, and they
always will. 1t is very probable that
the time could have been shortened
by two weeks II the advisers of the
administration had realized that the
house would not pass any such taxa
ton measure as was put up to II. The
legislature was held there for AT least
two weeks for the sole purpose o.
bringing about the passage OF tina
bill, when It was plain to a maiorit,
of those familiar with the situation
that the house could not be made t
change its views on that particular
subject"
Does this criticism of an undul.
long session involve any suggestion
of practical value for the committe
on the revision of the constitution
> The Tribune and other papers hav,
argued somewhat in favor of a chang
= in the date of the meeting of the leg
T. islature. What would you say as Il
p | that?'
a Just how the members of the con
/. mittee would feel on this matter ! an
( unable to say. OF course. Personally
:. however, | am frank to say | shout
favor a change of date from early 1
4 October to the first week in Januar!
d Many members of the legislator
o have business duties pressing upo
!. them during the fall and early winte
d which must be attended to and whic
/. naturally interfere with close after
s ton to the business of lawmakin'
II These demands would, in the case
s majority of the members, not be S
II urgent in January and February
It from the very nature of things tn
e social functions and outside distra
e tions would not loom mp so conspi
uously at that season of the year; an
Ie am of the opinion that the stat
If would get better service from its re
n resentatives and more time be ava
% able for serious consideration of IN
k portant measures, If the session wei
Of held with the opening Of the ne
o. year It must be remembered TIL
re fall sessions are the exception al
Of not the rule, among the states gene
D. ally. Ludlow Tribune