The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-15
Mliooleburp 8tgisttr,
The Legislature.

\ glance at the long list of represent
tatiVe- and senators elect gives assur-
aucc OF a strong Legislature, for the |
next two years land we may reason
ably expect good work from them dur
ing the session which is to commence
on Wednesday, Oct. eth. OF the old
senate six have been reelected and
quite large number of the members
of the old House.
Some of the work of the session may
be conjectured with considerable de-
gree of certainty. Of course 1t will
open with the contests for organization,
with regard to the result of which in
either house ii is not always safe TO pre-
dict Then will come the usual pre-
lminary resolutions and other forms
of pref aration, the consideration of the
Governors message, and the formal
killing of time until he committees
are announced, when they will be pre-
pared for business.
This body will hardly be able to es-
cape the usual consideration of new
railroad projects, the formation of new
counties, changes in county seats and
town lines, claims for remuneration OF
personal services and losses, applica-
tions for charters of savings banks and
various other matters which are rs sure
of appearance every session, as is the
continuance of the laws of gravitation
So also we are tolerably sure that the
school and militia laws will be tink-
cred and improved (?) that bill for
regulating the legal rate of interest will
he voted down, and that bills designed
to increase the efficiency of our pro-
hibitory liquor law will be supplement-
ed by bills for the repeal of the law and
the substitution of 'judcious license
law"
The reelection of Mr.. Edmunds for
the term of six years, in the United
States Senate is generally conceded,
and no one seems to be dissatisfied with
the prospect. The reelection of all the
old Judges OF the Vermont State SUI
preme Court except Governor Peck, is
at present unqucstioned and the mat
ter of 4 ~ucces sor to Judge Peck has not
vet been discussed. There are import
ant reasons why one of the judge
should be a resident at some central
point in southwestern Vermont, as fol
instance the large amount of chancery
business which needs the attention o.
Judge at other times than during the
regular sessions of the county courts
If the Rutland and Bennington people
should ask for the appointment ofsom'
good lawyer whose reputation for sount
sense and integrity is already estab
lished, like Judge Dunton of RUTLAND
perhaps, the people Of Vermont would
undoubtedly eXp1oss their approva
through their represer tatives, when thu
time for election comes.
There are some matters OF great i'm
portance to the public which may o
may not come before the Legislature
for their action at the next session, be
cause they involve almost startlin!
changes in our system Of government
The grand jury system is disgrac
and shame to our enlightened civili1a
ton. 1t is an eXcrescence,a blot, ina
chinery capable of rank injustice to III
rights Of the people. The action of til
Grand Jury Of Windsor County, n fey
Years ago, which made possible tina
disgracefUl attack upon one Of our Sen
ators elect, just before the election
ought 10 be ali ample illustration
The Grand Jurors were not TO blam,
but it was the system which was 4
fault An example has been furnishc
by the Addison County Court With
ten years. y gentleman % who la
left the State for the public good, cam
back during the session of court swoi
through an indictment against
worthy citizen of the county and lie
for parts unknown. That citizen
course had no suspicious of the pl,
against him, until he was arrested an
brought before the court, where it w,
found that his accuser dare not appea
and the indictment was dropped. !
this case also, the fault lay with the sy
tenn and not with the gentlemen con
posing the Grand Jury.
The Legislature would do good Sc
vice by defining the duties of liste
with regard 20 assessing railroad al
other property about which there
sufficient doubt to render litigation s
most certainty in the event of an
tempt 10 enforce the collection of ia
In Illinois and some other states the
Is statutory enactment requiril
judges to put their charges to juries
10 writing. Some who have experien
ed considerable inconvenience fro
defective memories and alleged incC
rect reports by those who attempt
10 give accurate versions, express
wish that some such law be enact
in this state, and there is certainly sol
force in the suggestion. But whatey
may commend itself to the good sen
of the combined wisdom of the sta
will of course be accepted by the peol
as has always been the case heretofol
and the world will 60 on as usual
State Far.
The State Fair held at Rutland Ii
week, commencing on Tuesday Il
closing Oh Friday was as usual an i
mense affair, which swallowed up