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Bellows Falls Times
Bellows Falls, Windham County, Vermont
What is this article about?
A concerned citizen urges agitation for Vermont's constitutional reforms before the Council of Censors meets, questioning equal representation for small vs. large towns, suggesting fewer representatives modeled on New York's system, abolishing the Council in favor of legislative judgment, and holding sessions less frequently to cut expenses.
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Mr. Editor.—Amid the anxiety for the preservation of our government, let us not forget that we have something to do as members of the state. As the season is rapidly approaching when our Council of Censors are to meet, to determine whether any alterations in our constitution are needed. I have anxiously waited to hear something about the proposed alterations; but it seems that either the people of the state are not in favor of any change, or are utterly indifferent upon the subject.
I hope the subject will be agitated; and if there are any good reasons why a town of one hundred inhabitants should be entitled to an equal representation with a town of six thousand inhabitants, I would like to know it. And if the state of New York can get along pretty well with her large population, with a diversity of interests, with one hundred and twenty-eight representatives, why do we, in the little state of Vermont, need two hundred and forty? Would not one-third of that number be just as good, and save two-thirds of the expense?
And why cannot our legislature judge, just as well as anybody else, whether alterations are needed, and do away with the Council? And why is it necessary that our legislature, in times of peace, should be called together every year? Would not once in two or three years do just as well, and save the expense?
A Tax Payer
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Tax Payer
Recipient
Mr. Editor.
Main Argument
the letter calls for public discussion of constitutional changes in vermont, advocating for representation proportional to population, reducing the number of legislators to one-third for cost savings like in new york, allowing the legislature to handle amendments instead of the council of censors, and convening the legislature biennially or triennially in peacetime to reduce expenses.
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