Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-13
PRESENT HOUSE TOO LARGE.

PRESENT HOUSE TOO LARGE.
| CFrom the st Adams Messenger
During the course of an editorial in |
which the number of commissions in Yer |
| mont is said to be too great, The Rut- |
| land News makes the following suggcS- |
| ton of the change of state government
| tor Vermont: The News has argued long
| that the most effective municipal govern
/ ment Is the government by a small com
| mission, each member of which shall
have full responsibility Of and authority
over some particular department of city
work. 1t IS entirely possible some ad-
! vanced and progressive State may adapt
this plan of government to the conduct
of its public business. And why should
not that state be Vermont. as likely rs
Nany other? We venture to say that seven
men could manage all of the affairs of
this commonwealth comprised Of 375,dU0
people as effectively as and much more
economically than 100. more or less"
While not wishing to subscribe to such
an advanced theory off hand because it
thinks that there would be necessary
| such fundamental changes that II would
be almost impossible to bring them about,
approval and sanction OF higher powers.
Tn" Messenger is heartily in accord with
its contemporary in the belief that there
are too many men mixed up in the run
ming of the State government to-day.
Vermont has about as much need for
her biz House of Representatives as she
has for a navy, a foreign consular SER
vice, or anything else for which she has
, l,,A oil I,
Of different conditions, is this big House
of Representatives. It Is needless OK
pense, both in the dollars and cents call
p ed for to pay the salaries and mileage
of the large membership, but also in the
. way Of legislation, which is not Of the
high standard II would elf the House
had a smaller number of members
The present House and Senate are all
o out of proportion. and moreover, this is
o directly opposed to the American scheme
{ OF government The House is not a
@ popular body at all, representing rather
n certain divisions of land. while the Senate
/ is the nearest to a possible body OF which
It the state is able to boast.
f. In an argument based upon he pure
+ science of government 1t would not tax,
n long to drive Vermont out of court. Bur
e OF course This is not such an argument
T. and probably never can become one, but
n the people must face this truth II Yer
~ monters want to see an end to Ions
sessions, if they are tired by the flooc
OF laws that is loosened every two year,
10 at Montpelier, If they wish to have
W democratic form of governments in fac
. as we'll as in name. If they wish to hav,
~ on their statute books all OF the best o
advanced legislation, in other words. i
they want tn give Vermont the right op
-, portunitY to make the best of herself
. th,u they must he willing to change tn
"a present fiona e government. even thougl
ID, at thu outset il will appear that man.
b.. localities are surrcndcrinE some ccrtau
ri poW"i which they possess at present.
col That power now possessed 10y the SINAI
~ towns which equalizes them in the Hous
ne with the property ana popu; {, N % IN
lalg' cities, ought to be SURRENDERED
Thrr" is no r'ason to-day Tor is cXis
re t'n'e. \,.mout would he better off witt
or out tn" town for the unit, and in tur
To the town would enjoy the increased at
as vantdges Of the State and so in the On
H. would profit IS the change. although
MS is admitted mat II would he easter f.
ne n camel TO pass through the eye of
III needle than 10 make the towns bclieN
~ this to-day
~ Divide Vermont up into election di
49, tricts based on population Populate
ougt to determine the number of re
' resentatlVcS from a certain number
,r acres rather than the extent of Ian
,cb Democracy under any other system is
Nor fake democracy and you cannot escal
,rl it.