Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-16

These figures show that, in proportion
to population, Vermont has (about three
times as many representatives as Connec-
tcut, ten times as many as Massachu-
sets. and AZ times as many as New York.
AS to senators. we have nearly three
times as many as Connecticut. seven
times many as Massachusetts, and Is
times as many as New York.
If the total population of Vermont
formed a ward in the city of Brooklyn,
it would send two senators and six rep
resentatives to Albany. If it We're a sec
ton of Boston it would elect four or
five senators and % representatives.
Now assuming that Legislative sessions
in the different States are of the same
length and that the honorarium for daily
attendance is the same it follows that
the individual Vermonter pays a much
larger sum for legislation than a citizen
in any one of these neighboring States.
Buy why? 1t would appear that New
York and Massachusetts have too few
lawmakers or that Vermont has too
many.
But consider, Vermont has no sea
coast comparatively few manufacturers,
no complicated trade relations The aver
age community is mainly agricultural.
Society here is more simple than in the
States named, and we might well assume
that less legislation would be needed here
than in either of the States named
Suppose now that we were to cut down
the number of our senators from 30 to
10, and that of representatives from 2i6
to SAY 50, We should still have great
many more lawmakers, reckoned on the
basis of population than either Massa-
chuSetts or New York.
Even so, we should save the salaries of
2ll men who now go up to Montpelier
to talk and vote. Nor would this be
our greatest gain. We could send better
men than now, men more experienced in
legislation, and who would enact better
and fewer laws, in shorter period than
Is now consumed by our general assem-
bly,. Some men who now get a job at the
State House with a prospect Of laying
up $l2 TO $50 per week for three or four
months would be out of business, to be
sure; but, the towns once properly dis
tricted, as in the States south and east
of us. keen search would be instituted
for the best man to stand for each group
of small towns and the most capable
and worthy man would be likely to ge,
the election
DO 10 senators seem too small a BODY
New Hampshire has never mad but r.
and has not felt the need of more.
Our present system is a travasty al
democracy. Why should citizen of St
George have 1877 times ms much influence
in enacting laws as a citizen OF BurlinH-
ton? Why should y Inhabitants of SOM
eTset wish uch power IN the House
as lo.734 in Barre? " this Is fair politi.
cal dealing, what could be unfair?
II Burlington had it's pr. OPTIONAL rep,
resentaton In the Assembly. it would
send "A men TO the House end two to the
/ SonetA
ore can easily make out "a -, Of s.
towns, zach with less than ~ mia ei-
tsnts. and all together totaling but 1885,
inhabitants-tone has e, ore %, Others
-, "a, SO, a5-the average population i:
2iG,. We're this city to exercise the sam,
fights" It would send 95 men to tn,
House instead OF one or course th'
State would nay their salaries, Mont
| pelier or st. JOhnsbury alone, on thi.
basis of population. Is entitled to "a rep
resentatives.
There was much discussion at the las
| session Of our Legislature about enlarS
new one. But nobody suggested an,
, reduction In our enormous number o
! legislators, X.