Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-05

he Chosen?
Editor NAM EclmoHtcr:
The suggestion is % specious one, that
the legislature can most safely be trusted
to elect commissioners, and that their Sc
lection is properly legislative function.
! In my JUDGMENT, this is Il dangerous mis-.
| take 1t would he as great mistake to
make up the commission of men in open
( hostility to the road system Of the State
as to compose it OF railroad attorneys.
The true Office of the commission is not
that of a whip Whcrcwth to lash our
corporations INTO discipline. Ii is rather
that OF a cushion interpDsed between the
companies and their patrons, by means
whereof grievances can be investigated,
eXtenuating circumstances shown, rea-
sons developed, universal fair play and
open and equal dealing introduced. The
best available talent and discretion
should without question he secured.
This cannot be done by an election in
joint assembly. The course pursued when
an Office Is thus to be filled Is something
like this: two, three, Or half dozen meu
from different "localities,' "hO want the
place, are SUGGESTED" by their friends
The usual arguments, appropriate to but
ton-hole Conversations and corner bro
keraee dealings, are emploYed; such a
man l. a friend OF mine and | know him
to be Il good fellow; besides you or your
town or country will find it ADVANTAGEOUS
III this way or that to support him; pres
Sently the affair degenera into Il race
between two or three competitors, neithee
OF them the best attanable, hut all of
them men who by their clamurOus pre-
emptiOn have excluded the choice of
others. Deliver lis from a scramble.
Not only is choice restricted by methods
Of L Il l,Inf e
ed for scrutiny of aptitude, education or
character. The matter is not referred to
committee Tor investigation and repOr:
that would be something: but it is decid
ed by a hasty ballot after few days of
hotel lOg-rolling followed by series of
euloglstlc speeches, in which criticism is
tabooed by universal custom as not we'll
bred, and the general commentator of
everybody Is more eXuberant than is per
mltted by good taste to even funeral eu-
lOgy. it is ridiculous to suppose that in
this manner the State can get the
best
Gubernatorial selection is better in
this; it is made by an honest man, labor
ing under a SENSE of official responsibility,
with the beSts interests of the people and
the State closely at heart. That is fair
description OF our governors for the last
vSj years and more. To such an one
cons the duty Of making these nominu-
tons. His ear is open to receive sueges-
lions from every side. His acquaintance
through the State is wide He soon has
before MN the names OF twenty, thirty, .
very likely fifty, citizens thought worthy
OF the place; lie can inquire and satisfy
himself on doubtful points through pri- |
vate channels. IIeca take such advice |
from member, OF the legislature aud 9th /
ers Il. Is iit yet ne is independent Of il All, .
and has his own conscience to satisfy in .
IN" end. TINS Is the true view of eXccu- |
tive esponsibility, toward which GOV
cruments nave of late been ADVANCING
with rapid strides | say nothing Of the
present executive beyond this, that am
sure hat i'll this matter he can be safely
trusted future governors, if the measure .
is adopted, Will have the nomination of
one only out of three. The confirmation
OF the Senate Is safeguard against the
selections clearly unfit, and mistakes
made through ignorance of confidential
matters OF which senators are sometimes
aware
Bat the argument is made use of that,
the election of our judges is by joint
assembly, that method j. surely good
commissioners, judicial though the
Office be, TO this it need only he
replied that tins method of elect
ing judges l. exceedingly unsatisfactory
10 all who have given the subject thought. |
In fact, II Is the worst possible method
so We pllt, bitl ny IJOIulitI ERECTION through
nominating conventions. Fortunately
for our welfare, judicial vacancies have
frequently occurred while the legislature
l. not in session; and the appointment
made by the governor has usually, in fact, |
universally, been ratified by the legisla-
ture at its next session. Practically our
Judges are more often selected by the
governor, 1t Is far the safest way.
Let us hope that our law makers Will
have the moral courage to reuOunCe the
cheap though glittering bait of this trille
OF patronage The making of Laws il a
separate matter from the appointment of
officers TO administer them one is leg
lslailYe, the other is executive So far AS
practicable, the distinction should be
maintained ALDACE +. WALKER.
Rutland, October %, 1856.
1t is hardly correct, we think, to say
that the judges are more often selected by
the governors than by the legislature
OR impression is that the legislature has
elected new judges, oftener than the gov
ernor has appointed; and that in most of
the recent cases of selection and election
by the legislature, the new Judge has
been member oil the legislature In
other respects Col. Walkers's views are
entirely in accord with our own oft eX-
pressed opinions.
The Woman's Board