Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-10-31

Debate in the Senate on the six Judges Bill
Which was Killed Debate in the House
ON the New Orleans Exposition APP
propriatiye Bill, which was Or
dered to "A Third Reading
Secretary of state Porter's
eception-Niscellane-
Gus Matters.

The feast of reason and the flow of
soul ut Secretary of State POrter's recep-
ton, on Thursday night seemed to stimuli
ate the Oratorcal powers of the members,
Friday and eloquenCe was as plenty H.
"the murmuring pines and the hemlocks''
in the forest primeval."
As soon rs prayers were ended AMI the
journal of Thursday read in the Senate
the debate upon senator Paul's bill to re
duCe the number of the judges of
the supreme court to six was resumed.
Senator Gibbs made an explanation of his
change of base, He said that he was one
of the three laymen on the judiciary com
mttee, and that the impression had gone
abroad that the work of the Supreme
court had been greatly diminished on ac-
count of the fewer number of cases en-
tered on our county court doCkets, and he
in common with others has understood
such to be the case, and he accordingly
voted for the passage of the bill in the
committee, but he was convinced from
the arguments of Mr. Ide and others that
such was not the case, and he should now
vote against the bill, He thought no
petty notions of economy should lead to
over burdened, in order to save some eX-
pense to the State; the State was made
for the people, not the people for the
State that in the progress of our CiviliZa-
ton more is expected from members of
every profession than formerly, and more
is expected from our Judges the lines of
law have to be drawn finer, the distnc-
| tiOnS made closer.
| Senator Carney gave about the same eX-
PLANTATION in regard to his vote in the com
mittee. He said that Senator Chapins
Scrptural quotation the other day mad
| him think of passage in the same great
source of all law and morals, requiring
more brick to be made from less straw, in
connection with this bill and it was hui
initiating enough to feel that an eminent
judge of our supreme bench should die 50
poor as to have Il monument erected 10
his memory by the hand OF charity, with
out feeling in addition that we were add
ing work to class of men already the
hardest worked of any in the State if il
was true that they sat in court one hun
dred and fifty days. And this too when
men of less ability were getting larger
salaries in manufacturing establishments
without the expense of a costly library
without having to pay large hotel bills
and travelling fees. This is the first time
that Senator Carney, who is one of the
finest speakers in either house, has taken
part i'll any debate.
Senator Holton thought ii was generally
understood that the work of the Supreme
court had been done practically by six
judges for thei last four or five years, on
account of the poor health of Judge Pier
point and Judge Redtield, and he did not
think the salary insufficient because all
professional men, doctors and clergymeu
in Vermont were paid less than in other
States.
Senator Hebard corrected Senator Hol
Holton in his erroneous impressions
about Judge Pierpoint, stating that the
Judge worked long after he was too fee
Bile, and up to his death, after which
Judge Rowell was appointed. The ques
ton of salary had been disposed of yester
doy and the only question before the Sen,
ate was whether six judges could do the
work, He thought not, and gave an &C
count OF work done by the judges and
stated that some Of them did not get more
than ten days vacation the whole year
and he should vote against the bill
Senator Field said he was the last of the
unfortunate laymen who had seen fit tc
change his vote upon the bill and he
should oppose the bill now.
Senator Paul reiterated the arguments
in favor of the bill, and stated
that he stood there in behalf of the
people of the State. He alluded in glow
term terms to the ability of the decisions OF
our courts in former times, and secuted the
idea that decisions in legal questions were
u"N uIdNl inner, anu aluucu 10 the WORK
done by Chief Justice Marshall. Senator,
Cristy and Day also spoke against the bill
Senator Idle closed the debate with one OF
his mastery arguments, summing up fOl
both sides and stating that Judge Steele
Judge Isaac Redheld, Judge Dunton
Judge Powers, Judge Pierpoint, ,Iudg,
Neazey, Judge and II. r. Redheld had all
impaired their health by overwork in the
Supreme court, and to talk of reducing the
number was foolish and against the true
interest of our courts and the State.
On the motion of Senator lde the yeas
and nays were called, and the third read
ing was refused by vote of twenty -foul
against and five for the bill Yeas, Sena
tors Baxter, Chaplin, Greene, Holton and