The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-05-13

vantage or disadvantage Oh Jne pcOple
for whose benefit the ediiice was de-
signed. A mistake or wrong at this
stage of the proceedings is irremediable.
Hence the necessity for elaboration.
In considering the essential things de-
manded in a site for this building
wise regard for the future must be had
and Just and adequate conception of
the full scope of the governments pur-
pose in ordering its construction at this
place obtained. The requirements
which have been uppermost in the
minds of the people of this community
have naturally been such as relate to con-
venient postal facilities and such as in
cidentally and benefcially affect the
general aspect of the town. There are
other considerations, the Importance of
which we believe is not so fully appre-
hended, but which, in fact, primarily
affect the question of location. The
act of congress provides for a substantial
and commodious building forthe use and
accommodation of the federal courts as
well as postoffice. There is no real an
tagonism between considerations affect
ing site for postoffice and site for
court house. A situation equally
well adapted to both uses can be found,
but locality to which no special objec
ton could be made as a site for post
office might not be desirable for court
rooms; it might even defeat the use of
the building for the courts. Cases
growing out of the customs laws come
from the northern part of the state
The witnesses are there, and the greater
number of those cases would naturally
be tried at Montpelier, if the facilities
for trial at that place should be as good
as, or better than, elsewhere. The
same reason, good or superior facilities
for the trial of causes, would bring 9TH
ers of general character to the same
place. If national bankrupt act should
be passed-and it is very probable that
COllSlCSS W III gain Clitttl Sutll a. lutttS-
ure-the new court house, under favor
ing circumstances of locality and facil-
tiles for trials might be the scene of a
very considerable portion of the federal
court business in this state. The ten
dency of things has been towards the
transaction of the business of the su-
preme court for the different counties
of the state at the general term held
at the capital in October. One great
reason for this is, there is the state
library-an indispensable requisite in
the trial of supreme court cases. Further
to facilitate the business of this court.
the state has provided for court rooms
in the library building for which an APP
preparation was made at the late ses-
sion of the legislature. The reasons
which have influenced the bench and
legislature in arranging the business of
the state supreme court apply also to
the business of the federal courts. In
ordering the secretary of the treasury
to purchase site suitable for court
house the presumption is that congress
has in view the possibility of the use OF
the building for court purposes, in the
interest both of litigants and the gov
eminent. There should be nothing in
the location chosen-such as a site hay.
ing unpleasant or noisy surroundings
or one too remote from the hotels, the
railway stations and, especially, the
state library-that may tend to defea
this purpose of the government. The
people need to understand this matte,
and enforce its importance upon tn,
commission. The requirements of {
postoffice and court house can be easily
united in a site. A situation that bes
accords with the purpose of congress
as well as the convenience of the com
munity should be sought. The advan
tages locally and the best interests o.
the government lie in the same direc
ton and these are safe in the hands o
the competent men who are commits
81;