St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-04-14

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acre government What improve
ments would follow a change? Is
our legislature, generally speaking,
not fairly responsive to popular SEN
timent, once its trend is fully assur-
ed? Do our laws lag as the result
of small town predominance in the
House? Would the state as whole
be any better off if members were
sent by districts?
The best way to judge is by COM
parison. Take the history and rec
ord of our Vermont legislature for
one hundred and twenty-five years
and put it alongside that of the law
making bodies of other states where
districts rule. With all it's imper-
fections, it will not suffer by con-
trast, even on basis of solid accom-
plishment The quality of our en-
actments is fully up to the average.
Vermont in many respects even ap-
proaches the lead. Real progress
the kind that does not rush after
every wi1d-eyed experiment, but the
working out along practical lines, of
measures of public advancement
appears all along the course. Few
steps once taken are retraced after
disastrous experience.
Is 5IdIO VI O1AdAA " WIS
and scattered communities, whose in
terests in many ways are better re-
presented under the present system
than they would be on straight
basis of population. 1t is essential
that these interests be protected IL
Vermont is to prosper. The larger
towns may in some cases find their
own desires ungratified for a time
when they conflict with the needs of
the little communities, but they can
endure it better than the little COM
munities can. A kind of progress
that meant the building up of few
centers at the expense of the rural
sections would not be progress at all
in Vermont.
1t is easy enough to criticise the
workings of the Vermont legislature
but not easier than it is those of
other legislatures made up according
to population. One thing to the
everlasting credit of our Vermont
body is that no faint of corruption
has attached to it, while nearly every
other state reeks with dishonor. The
smaller and more select the body or
lawmakers, the easier for such IN
fuences to get in their work. Hon
esty in public service is not SO 3om-
MON a LTdlI LudI VIC 0AO0AO 0ASA Oe3oNA "a
If in properly placing ourselves along
side sister states. If any reasonable
part of it proceeds from the selec-
ton by each town of its men most
noted for wisdom and virtue" for
a seat in the House, let us not be too
hasty in condemning the system-at
least until we can find somewhere
one that serves its state better than
ours does US, and which, If we adopt
ed it, would be likely to serve Yer
mont's particular and especial needs
better.-Herald and News.
A Question of Enforcement.
The Mayo bill, H 44O, which puts
the most stringent safeguards around
disease, has become a law
with Governor Gates signature. Com
pared with the eugenic marriage bill,
for which it was substituted, this
measure is one of the most drastic
measures ever enacted by a vermont
legislature. Whether it really be-
comes effective in checking the black
scourge of social infection is another
matter. 1t assuredly provides the
teeth for a most nipping enforce
Herald.
The question whether this measure
really becomes effective in the hand
ling of the terrible 2scourge against
which it is aimed is pertinent one.
AS the contemporary says, the meas
ure is a drastic one, and assuredly
If Vermont is in earnest in graphing
with this great evil, nothing less
than a measure with teeth is needed.
The Standard has confidence to be-
Iieve that Vermont is in earnest in
this matter, that the need of strict
measures as vital neces-
sity is generally recognized and that
a full and steadily growing enforce
ment will follow the enactment OF
the Mayo bill.
The success attending the efforts
to make this law effective depends
almost entirely upon how well the
state board of health, and local
health officers and physicians per-
form their duty and exercise the
powers lodged with them by the
provisions of the act.
The Vermont State Board of Health
is not, and never has been, spine
less and inactive agent. On the con-
trary it has been one of the most eff
ficient among the several state de-
partments, aggressive and progress
sive in the exercise of those powers
with which it has been invested for
the public health. 1t
ranks high among the health depart
ments of the several states of the
lnion and has the confidence and sup
port of the people of Vermont.
The board undoubtedly recognizes
the difficulties that will lattend the
of the Mayo law, d1h-
culties much more complicated than
those attending the regulation and
quarantine of the diseases heretofore
prescribed as contagious and subject
TO the regulative rules of the board.
But if the board has, as it has the
right and reason to expect, the
earnest cooperation of the local
health officers and physicians
the state, substantial re-
suits should be obtained.
The legislature has provided q law |