Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-11-08
LEGISLATURE TAGGING.
Week Behind in Its Work-Less Than
800 Bills Have Been Introduced.

Montpelier, November g.
The present General Assembly is at
least a week behind its recent prede-
cessors Less than 800 bills nave been
introduced in the two houses and it is
expected that fully 1000 will appear be-
fore the end of the session. The time
for the introduction of bills expires next
Wednesday, After that time they can
only be introduced in the House by
unanimous consent and in the Senate
by the consent of two-thirds of the
members present. This rule does not
operate as well as it sounds. 1t is sell
dom that any member objects to the
introduction of a bill after the time
limit. and If a member fears that OBJ
lection will be made he arranges with
some committee to introduce the bill.
While the number of bills introduced
does not constitute a measure of leg
islative accomplishment, 1t may serve
TO indicate the term of legislative ses-
sion, for every bill introduced, no mat
ter how foolish or unnecessary must
have its proper reference, consideration
and discussion. And all this takes time.
Many of the bills that thus consume
time of the session come up year after
year until they have become old and
familiar friends with those. who are
about the state house. There is no way
to prevent their introduction. The right
of member to introduce a bill can no
more be denied than can the right Of
petition on the part of the people 1t
might be possible to avoid some of this
congestion If more old and experiences
members were sent here at each ses-
sion. But so long as members come
here without experience. without ac-
quaintance with their associates or ia
miliarity with state affairs or the
results of past legislation or efforts at
legislation, there will be the same futile
efforts the same travelling in a circle,
the same large amount OF attempt and
small measure of accomplishment.
The members are not to be censured
for this. They are average representa-
tives of their towns, determined to do
the best thing they can and anxious to
see what is the best thing The Senate
of 1912 is a strong body, largely COM
posed of experienced members Wind
ham county sends two strong men in
Mr.. Rabbit who was one of the most
forceful men in the House IN 1910. AMI
now president pro TEN of the Senate,
and Mr.. Barber representative from
Brattleboro four years ago Windsor
county also sends two good men-Mr
Elliot. who was in the House in 1910,
ana Mr.. Blanchard, who has a wide
acquaintance with public men and af-
fairs Bennington, the third southern
county, sends j. X. Batchelder of Ar
| lington, speaker of the House 2S years
ago and Norman Mattison, who has
represented Glastonbury in the lower
house many times.
If the House had any considerable
proportion of experienced men, as the
Senate has, it might be a strong body,
for IL appears that the average of abil-
ity among members is higher than
| usual. But body of more than 200 men,
unacquainted with each other and unfa-
miliar with public affairs cannot accom-
plish much without leadership and lead
ership is entirely lacking in that body.
There are few men who have been
supposed to be capable of leadership,
but they have not yet dared or cared
to take the steps looking toward lead
ership. Everything has drifted in the
House The speaker is doing all that a
presiding officer can do, and there is no
waste of time during the sessions. But
there is a lack of initiative. a lack of
plan and purpose, that makes the will
lingness and ability of the members of
small account.
There is time yet to overcome this
situation. and II is hoped by many of
thpse familiar with affairs that the
condition will be changed after the ma
tional election.