Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-04-06
Strong on Patching.
bennington Banner

NDtHulnStOn banncf.
Around a house, barn, corn-crib,
creamery or other piece of real estate
it is necessary to take time occasion
ally to patch holes due to service. The
roof may leak, section may have
rotted through the floor III a damp cor
ner, the rats may have gnawed their
may be other patching rendered ncccs
sary by wear and tear. FOR one rea-
son or another the time comes when
repairs and hOIe-stoppng are in order.
Inc present legislature seems to be
sort of repair gang, which makes 1t
its duty to go over the state outfit
plugging up rat holes, plastering over
u rev damaged spots in the ceiling,
rcIaYIng the pantry floor, putting in Il
couple panes of glass in the south win
dow and 50 forth, ct cetera. For the
past twenty years nearly every Yer
mont Legislature has done few really
constructive things which have marked
notable advance and intelligent plan
ming for the future. Particularly not
able in this respect of constructive
building were the legislatures of 1902,
1906, 1910, 1912, and 1915, all of which
did so much good that their mistakes
should be forgiven.
The legislature of 1917 started out
under favorable auspices. IT is made
up of fine body of men of high
character, but it looks as though it is
going down in history as a repair gang
rather than building gang In
response to Governor Graham S urg
ing this legislature is doing lot of
good work in fixing the rat-holeS in
the state cOrn-crib. The departments
are being ov2rhaulod and real plans
made to better the business system
of the state.
The courts are apparently going to
be tinkcred again aud some of their
loose joints sodcred up, There is an
earnest disposition to fix up the
things on hand safely so that they will
not be damaged by either thaw or a
freeze but so far the present legisla-
ture does not appear to dare TO get
out of the beaten track and do any
real constructive work.
The nearest approach to daring is
on the suffrage question, but here only
Il little frightened half step is cssaYed.
The real basic things on which the flu.
ture of the commonwealth must de-
pend seem to be let pretty much alone
by the legislature of 1917 and the sos-
sion is fast nearing its close. Possibly
it is wise and proper to devote scs-
sion occasionally to repair work chief
ly. Perhaps it is not best to be al
ways advancing the trenches. 1t may
be essential occasionally to consolidate
the gains made,
We should not be too ready to criti-
else. Still with two weeks or so Of
session left the Banner would Just love
to see one daring march made outside
the straight little road marked out by
our grandmothcrs. There is wide
chance Of opportunity; radical ad-
vance in road building; something
done to bring back to productiveness
our million and more acres OF dormant
tillable land; development of our
water resources; TO attempt to raise
men and women rather than thieves
and prostitutes from the homes where
the children are neglected and from
parents who are homeless; provision
for the education of those now robbed
of Il fair opportunity in life; Vermont
ought TO get an income of million
dollars a year from the production of
trout and other valuable food fish and
can if we can have constructive de.