The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-06-17
To CIT State Expense

Various state newspapers have ex-
pressed a degree OF CONSERVATION
shen confronted b. the Increase In
the cost OF state government. which
has gone b. leaps and bounds from
$50. 5.s.6l IN 1855 Legislative year.
or s2l1.Sse.ss IN 1854. 10 sl.ls7.s7i.os
In 1899 and 81 ass .s6s.6i in 1913 (leg-
islatire year.. Suggestions for
working remedy. however. have been
more than inirequent
Lieutenant governor Frank r Howe
places the responsibility with the peo-
PIE and their demands for such
things as better farming propaganda.
bette roads. factory inspection,
workmen's compensation, public
schools and colleges. state advertis-
ing and Institutions 10 care for the
sick. the blind and defective. lie
finds the remedy in more efficiency in
the various branches OF state govern
ment.
The 81. Adams Messenger points
out the need OF a budget system. in
which a hard and fast estimate could
be made and legislators pledged TO
IFS limitations. There is much merit
in both OF these suggestions. but
neither of them begins NJ the source
OF the trouble. which Is in the Legs
latnre itself
As The Herald views Il. the first
and absolutely essential reform must
come from the Legislature itself Of.
session limited by joint resolution to
co days will accomplish all necessary
legislation and the spur OF the time
limit and accompanying salary-limit
will make for efficiency.
Cumbered BY helpless and un.
wieldy numbers. the House. in parti-
cular. loads itself up with a mass OF
mostly worthless bills and then lab
oriously and conscientiously plows
through them under such leadership
as a score or two OF trained members
may provide.
Half of these bills are not worth
taking up a moments time TO consid-
or. In the aggregate, fool bills. freak
bills and needless bills probably
waste one-half the time OF the gener-
al assembly. Such rubbish need
never leave the committee-room and
most of il never would under a time.
limited Legislature
As TO self-goyernment. the Legisla.
thre that viii courageously place It's
daily calendar in the hands OF the
speaker and a committee OF veteran
members and then consider nothing
not formally. entered on that calendar
will accomplish more and cut its over
head cost In a fashion that will seem
startling In the light OF the latest
$4,000 session. With a twothirds
vote safeguard. by which a member
might call out his bill at any time
this rule would enable the absolutely
necessary legislation to be advanced
and the needless and inconsequential
would be postponed sine die on the
last night OF the session.
Such a Legislature would listen
with slight patience to the special
interest booster and could give little
time to fireworks. II would meet. dc
what could be done in 60 days and
adjourn. II would cost less. do more
and appropriate less money than the
endlessly attenuated session that
drifts along aimlessly and finally has
TO be sent home"
The budget comes logically into
such system. and departmental EFF
fciency would be apt to follow legis
latiye business methods. The whole
system of state government would
take on an atmosphere of accomplish
ment and there would be mighty lit
tie excuse for the political appointee
who could not make good on eff
cheney lines.
Reform a the source would bring
refo,m clear down the line and the
member who participated in such Q
whirlwind session as the time-limit
would insure would be such a special
ly trained expert that second OF
third term should follow in natural
consequence. Consider, then, these
three things:
A session limited to 60 days.
\ calenda, committee.
A budget based on the states natu
raj revenue.
These require no constitutional
changes. They can be accomplished
by any Legislature that really means
business.-Rutland Herald.