Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-22
Arbitration

One of the best precepts Of the grange,
and one which is included in the initiatory
obligation of the council, is the principle of
arbitration, or settling all differences be-
tween members, wherever practicable, with
out having recourse to law. Could the cost
Of all the unnecessary law suits 10 the coun-
try be wiped out, the gain would go a long
way each year toward paying our national
Indebtedness. Thousands of lawyers, judg.
es, and other officials OF the courts, are sup
ported, on salaries that enable them to revel
in luxury, on the court business which is the
result Of little quarrels which might and
ought to be settled by arbitration. The re-
marks OF Judge Ross at the farmers festival
last summer were but too true, and it is on.
ly strange that the Patrons do not make
more account of this feature of the order.
As a class, there are no greater vampires,
living upon the products Of other mems la
Dor, than the lawyers. Here is a case in
point
Ellery Chamberlin, of this town, bought a
load of hay of Henry Hill, and, as the weigh
master CHANGED to be absent, weighed the
hay himself. When he reported the weight
to Hill it was not enough to suit Hill, and
he claimed about s. more than the hay
came to at Chanberlin's figures, as he said
he was confident the latter had given the
weight too low. Chamberlin refused to pay
the sun demanded, and Hill went to D. s.
Burke, the Railroad Street lawyer, who as
sured him that it could easily be collected.
Hill put the account into Burke's hands for
collection. After court Burke told him he
had overlooked this account aud it had not
been sued. Some time afterwards there
came a bill of a little over SIG for legal
services from G. q. Burke, who had dis
solved partnership with o. s. and gone
away. Hill came and saw o. s. Burke aud
explained that the case had not been pros
ecuted, and as he had received no benefit il
seemed a little tough that he should be called
upon to pay over three times the amount of
the original account. Mr.. Burke agreed
with him, and said this account had been
turned over to his brother when they dis.
solved partnership, SO he had nothing to do
with it, but he thought his brother would
make a reasonable reduction. Hill paid the
account, with the understanding that G. Q.
Burke would probably return him a part of
it when he learned the facts. He had un-
dertaken to collect So, had paid SIG costs,
and was not one step farther in the suit than
when he started, But he had not seen the
last of the job. A short time afterward he
received another bill from o.. 5. Burke for
his half of the costs, a little more than SIG
We give this only to illustrate the beau
ties Of going to law. As a general rule it
makes little difference which party judgment
is against, both parties are pretty sure to
get beaten, as far as dollars aud cents are
concerned. Let the people leave off going
into law with every little petty quarrel, and
settle all difficulties, so far as practicable, by
peaceful arbitration. Here is a chance to
save money to as great an extent as can be
done by cooperative purchasing.
Stone hasn't heard Of the report Of the