The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-09-01
FRANK E. HOWE. Editor and Pub,
BENNINGTON, VT, SEPT. i. 1911
THE SENATE

The question of doing away with
the State Senate and making the
Vermont Legislature consist of the
House of Representatives only is
discussed by the ST. Adams Messcn-
ger in an article reprinted elsewhere.
The suggestion to do away with the
Senate in order to add TO tho eilci-
ency and to reduce expenses OF gov
eminent was made by NJ. Howe Of
The Banner in connection with the
campaign this year, but was by no
means original with him.
The question is hardly an issue
this year except as a matter Of dis
cussion for by no possibility could
the change be brought about before
1928 which will give ample time
TO think it over. 1t is. however. an
interesting subject for discussion as
Ii Is evident that Vermont, as well
as other states must take radical
steps in the near future to reduce
the growing cost OF government. II
does no lasting good to lop off Ii
tie appropriation here and there.
Fo. real results we must get down
to the foundation and build on a bet
ter and less eXtravagant basis just as
a manufacturer or other business
man would under similar circum-
stances.
There appears to be an effort DO n
in some degree of partisanship in the
present campaign to accuse Mr.
Howe OF being a dangerous radical
because he has dared to suggest that
our Vermont COVE nment would be
more efficient and economical With
out the senate. The truth is there
is nothing radical about il. Tho one
house system is used by some of
the most conservative governments
in the world and the two house sys-
TEN by some OF the most radical. J.
is merely a matter OF Judgment
figured from results.
To return TO d legislature Of one
body would merely be going back to
the system established by the faith
ers of the state OF Vermont. When
the first constitution of Vermont was
written in l777 it provided for a leg
islature composed of one body-the
House of representatives The Yer
mont Legislature, styled the General
Assembly Of the state Of Vermont
was composed OF the House of Rep
resentatives only for fifty-nne years,
that is until 1886, when the Senate
was first attached to our state gov
eminent Is there anything radical
in suggesting that the state, as a
matter of efficiency and economy, try
again the system of ou' fathers
which was successfully used In Yer
mont for 50 years?
In this connection il is interesting
to notice that Immediately on the ca-
Enlistment of the Senate in Yer
mont state expenses took jump
and they have been jumping ever
since.
The real reason though for a legis-
lative system Of one body is that it
is found more responsive to the will
of the people, more trustworthy in
meeting tho problems of govern
mont. moro faithful in service and
tremendously less expensive. Most
OF the British colonies throughout
the world have settled on tho one
house system after due trial
In theory one house acts as q
check on the other. In actual p-ac-
tice the check is mostly on the will
Of the people A historic example Of
this is the fight for Homo rule for
Ireland over and over again the
people of Great Britain and their
House of Commons have voted TO
give ireland home rule. only 10 have
IL held up by the House of Lords.
the citadel OF aristocracy and selfish
privilege. In the end il has driven
England to take away the power
from tho Lords and the country to-
day is in effect governed by one
house parliament.
When you send two men to do the
same job, If it isn't done right, each