Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-10-25
SENATE


Bills introduced and referred By Senator
Ballard, an act in addition to the charter of
the farmers and mechanics savings insti-
tntinn and trust company. approved Nov.
IL, 1870; TO Committee on Banks.
By Senator Belden, an act relating to ap-
peal5 from justices OF the peace; to Judi
ciaIy Committee.
Ii 81, an act allowing exceptions in be-
half of the Stats in the trial of certain
cases; to committee on Judiciary.
Road the third times. 81, an act IN
amendment of aud in addition to ch 81 of
., entitled =" TO authorizs the business Of
banking" On motion of Senator Sowles,
the bill was ordered to lie.
Reports of committees-FrOm committee
on education in favor OF Ii SO. an act to en-
large the Milton graded school district
passed 10 concurrence.
From Committee on Judiciary, in favor
of II 68, an act To enable school district No.
2, in Brandon. to issue it bonds; passed in
concurrence.
From the samesiu favor of 5 10, an act
relating to the appointment OF guardians,
with proposals Of amendment providing for
the appointment OF guardians in cases where
the father Of the minor shall have resided
out OF the State for three years and the
children shall have resided in the State
for three years; amendments adopted and
third reading ordered for tomorrow.
From the same, in favor of III l04, an act
authorship the village of Rutland to Dor
row money to extent its water supply;
passed in concurrence.
From tho same, against Ii 81, ian act
relating to the supreme Court"
Senator Mead Intercepted the committee
and was replied to by Senator Belden, who
said that, in his judgment, the judges of the
Supreme Corit were now sufficiently bur
dened with work. and gave some statistics
a. to the number Ut judges in other States in
proportion to the population OF those States
The Senator also from data respecting the
amount of business done in the Caledonia
county court showed an increase of chan
Gerry and criminal business since the change
from the number of judges from six to the
present number. stven.
Senator Mead stated that he had CORES
ponded with several attorneys to ascertain
if six judges couli properly do the work
now done by seven, and had received replies
from those we'll qualified to know, that six
Judges were all that were needed. The
Senator said that complaints had been made
that courts adj burned from time to time for
apparently insufficient reasons. lie did not
wish to strike at any class or profession of
men, but simply to do his duty in the line
OF economy for tho interest of the people.
Senator Ormsbee thought it was bad
policy to diminish the number of judges at
time when it was confessed that there was
more litigation than ever before IN the
history of the State. This is particularly
true in regard to criminal business, and
certainly it is the duty of the Legislature to
see to it that men charged with criminal
offences should have prompt and speedy
trial.
Senator King inquired of the committee
if the Judges had much leisure time in the
way of vacations, and had beyond their
salaries other means ofsupport arising from
references, etc. He made these inquiries
that the Senate might vote intelligently on
the bill.
Senator Ballard said that in Chittenden
county the terms were growing longer and
longer and tho business was accumulatIng,
and that as for the Judge of the county
court before whom he practised, the amount
of work which he was compelled to do
should make VermOnter blush for shame.
There are some seyenty-fve cases on the
docket of the general term of the Supreme
Court, which was unprecedented in this
State The courts in other States no larger
than ours performed less labor and were
paid more than our courts. This bill ought
not to pass
Senator Dwinell said that ne did not dis
pute that the Judges were overworked, but
who were the people who paid the salary of
tho seventh Judge but men who worked
early and late? We ought to hesitate be-
fore voting any unnecessary taxes. lie
urged the passage OF the bill.
Senator Dillingham; opposed the passage
of tho bill. In reply to the suggestions that
the Judges were occupying q part OF their
time in references. he stated SO far as Judge
Redield was concerned, upon inquiries
made, the Judge could only remember ons
or two instances IN which he had out of
cases referred to him made more than
enough to cover his travelling expenses.
The disputable chancery cases had very
largely increased in Washington county in
recent years. As to the argument tina.
diminution in the membership OF the bench
tended to diminish litigation, he would re-
ply that, under the law, any man with
wrong to redress should have his remedy.
On the question, shall the bill be read the
third time Senator Belden called for the
yeas and nays The vote was as follows:
Yeas Senator'S Dlnlorth, Dwinell, Gay
and Mead. Nays-SenstOrs Arnold. Bal
lard, Batte. Beardsley, Beiden, Cushman,
Deane, Dillingham;. Dunshee, Dyer, Frank
lin, KING, Leach, Munson, Ormsbee, Paine.
Parker, Peck, Powell Ram. Rice, S0wles.
Stearns. Thompson and Webster. 81 the
third reading was refused.
Afternoon.