The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-13
Legislative Weaknesses.


Legislature held at Bennington in
February. 1882. the following act, to
compel the more punctual attendance
OF the members Of the General AS
sembly, was passed.
BE it enacted, etc, that whenever
any member Of the General Assembly
Whose credentials shall be produced
to and approved by them) shall neg
lect to attend at the time and place
fixed for the opening of any stated
adjourned or special session of the
Legislature. and shall not, before the
end of such session, give a sufficient
excuse, to the satisfaction of the
House, he shall, for every day, after
the first day of the session from
which he shall be SO absent, without
a satisfactory excuse, forfeit the sum
Of one pound and ten shillings; to be
sued for and recovered, In any court
proper to try the same, by the Secre
tary of State for the time being, In
his own name, by virtue OF an order
of the General Assembly, to be made
at the close of the Session thereof
In which suit the roll kept by The
clerk of the Assembly shall be con
elusive evidence of such persons be
ing a member, and Of his absence
from the House; and that the salt
Secretary shall be accountable for
and shall pay into the treasury Of thu
State, the monies by him so recover
ed.
And be it further enacted that a
often as the said Secretary shall nee
lect to commence such prosecution
as aforesaid for the space of 81
weeks after such order made by tn
Assembly for that purpose, he sha
for every such neglect, forfeit to tn
treasury of this State, the sum {
fifty pounds to be used for and n
covered by the Treasurer of the Stat
for the time being, by virtue Of a
order from the General Assembly"
This act was repealed the ne,
year, Feb. 26, 1888. At the time whe
this act was passed the journey
the temporary capital was made. as
rule, on horseback. For many men
bers such a journey, in the wints
over rough mountain trails, was 7
holiday excursion. The problem
the present day, with good railroa
facilities, is not how to get mer
bers to attend the legislative sessio
but rather how to keep them
their tasks and how to make the
work expeditiously. or course Il
chief difficulty is due to the fact thi
Legislative work is new business
all but handful of the members ar
they must learn how to work befol
much can be done.
There are always a considerab
number who were eager TO come
the capital, who turn longing ey
homeward about Thursday Of ea'
week, and a very slight excuse is 81
ficient to secure adjournment ne
the week end
II is probable that under prese
conditions. and with the increases
State business, II is idle to expe
that the old rule of adjournment |
fore Thanksgiving day can be folio
ed longer. II ought to be possit
however, to complete the work OF Z
session before the Christmas no
days. Montpelier would be glad
keep the distinguished visitors he
until Easter, or longer. but the w
fare OF the State demands prompt
E well as efficient service.
G /. II matters could be arranged
= that few committees were not on,
u worked and the majority OF the CO
mittees had almost nothing TO do, /
business of the session would be
pedited. II the legalizing OF gra
lists and the granting or amending
charters for corporations were car
for through some State departing
much routine business would be
r pensed with. One OF the propos
constitutional amendments deals W
: the chartering OF business corpo
- tons.
In most states many members {
4 returned year after year, so Il
there are always a sufficient numl
OF old members, familiar with les
lative proceedings. to take up
work at the opening OF the sessi
and carry II along. In Vermont
have the bad habit OF returning
member OF either House or SEM
only on rare occasions. For the so
OF passing around the honor OF
election We make the public busin,
suffer delay II not more seriC
evil, and We make the State treasI
stand the expense OF educating a n
crop OF lawmakers every sessi
This may be considered good polIt
by some, but Il Is poor business.
| We need no longer a law conn
ii ling members to appear at the ST
capital, but methods that will sect
more prompt and efficient service
ter they arrive.-Montpeller Jourr