Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-26
WHAT OUR NElGHBORS SAY.
Mere Size Of the City Not the Chief
Consideration.
(Frum the Rutland Nows.)

In many cities and towns there is bitter
disappointment and something Of chagrn
over the population bulletins of the census,
which are being issued from Washington.
These cities and towns find that the Of
fetal count does not give them as many
PEOPLE as they thought they had and hence
there is fault finding and dissatisfaction.
But why should they complain? What dif-
ference does it make whether the place
enc lives in has a few thousands or even
tens Of thousands more or less thar some
other city? What Is there so cminently
Dc sirable in the mere accumulation of
numbers? Size alone does not conduca 10
CCntentment and we'll being.
While civic pride and enterprise are always
t. be commended. there is somewhat tc,
much stress laid upon the mc-- -drtrr of
population, without special regard for the
character of the population 1t may not
be the worst thing that could happen if
the late census puts a Quietus on tho craze
for Zig populations in cities and turns the
attention of public spirited citizens to the
Improvement CT the conditions of the peo-
pie, rather than strairirg every point to
crowd moro people within certain city
limits.
1t is too ordinarily the case that people
are ambitious to see their town or city
grow without regard to the character of
the growth. Fake Rutland. for instance.
How much better off would this city be
IL 1t had 1000 more people If they we're
like hundreds of thouands of the scum OF
New York? Life here We uld he unendura-
bic To decent people Rutland and every
other city. welcomes. and should welcome,
new population if it is OF desirable class
y his city is growing now, more rapidly
than most Of us appreciate, but the growth
is a healthy substantial growth. Tho best
/ class Of people are coming here, people
| who will easily amalgamate with those
| here before them. Rutland wants new
ropulati IN just so long they prove 10
be industrious, good citizens and Just SO
long as the city's industries can give them
employ men..
1t would be we'll If the builders and
promoters of cities were tc turn their At
tention to quality rather than Guantity
and instead of merely accommodating num-
bers to swell the census reports MAXI IT
their ambition to have their municipality
the enc wherein dwell The most happy
Virtuous, healthy, enlightened and con
tented people. What an emulation that
would be, a unique rivalry--the contest
among the cities of this country for In,
test and nobest population,
The Proposed Repeal'of the Bankruptcy
Law.
Urom the st. bloomsbury Republican,
One of the first bills introduced in Con
gress this session provided for the Iepea
OF the bankruptcy law If it never get.
beyond the pigeon hole stage, the sugges
ton Is worth something.
LET COMMON SENSE RULE
Q'rom the Waterbury Record)
Admiral schley is guilty, so says the
Court, but Admiral Dewey does not asre,
with all the findings and now comes tn,
point when admirals disagree, what mex
to be done.
COMMISSIONER ROUTYS ATTITUDE
(From the st. Johnsbury Caledonian)
The president has re-appointed Hon
Charles A. Prouty interstate commcrc
commissioner. Mr. Prouty is one of tn
brainest men in Vermont and his atttud
against railway consolidation and POOLING
Is refreshing.
DETECTIVE VS.. "SPOTTER."
4 (From the St. Adams Messenger)
= The law provides that states attorney
may employ special detectives to aid II
: bringing criminals to justice and it i
doubtless the authority of this statut
that the states attorney of Windso
county will invoke as sarcticn for his EN-
: ployment of 'spotter" to secure evidenc
of the violation of the prohibitory law.
It is we'll to bear In mind that there
vast difference between detective an
liquor "spotter," The first undertake
TO bring to justice a man who has alread
committed a crime and to bring him
answer for that particular crime. liquo
"spotter" Is a degenerate made to flourls
1 in prohibition states whose object 1t is, nc
to secure evidence OF any sale of Liquor al
. ready made because that is well nigh i'm
possible but te either induce LIQUOR sell
er to commit the crime of selling liouo
= to linn or In his presence or to witness tn
{ houor sellers violations Of the law at tn
behest OF somebody else, The liquo
"spotter," unlike the detective, must caus
fresh crimes to be committed TO make
, success CT his business.