Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-21
WHAT OUR NElGHBORS SAY

Only the Sentimental side Formerly
Heard by Legislators Regarding
Capital Punishment.
(From the Mortified Ncws)
1t Is we'll that the discussion of capital
punishment Is renewed at this time, when
the Legislature is only few months IN
the future. Tho fact that there Is n gen
eral feeling that the Rogers woman, VINO
has recently been convicted ana sentenced
TO be hung for a most brutal MURDER VIII
escape the gallows, Is awakening tho pco-
pie to the unwarranted interference OF
Vermont's Legislatures in capital punish
ment cases, during tho past decade. ~
Is possible that all this discussion may
awaken the people who believe that the
death penalty for deliberate murder Is
essential for the best protection OF society.
IL 1t really does there will be change
In the action Of future Legislatures. In
the past the members of the General As.
sembly have heard only the sentimental
side OF the matter when a commutation
OF the death penalty was before tnem lot
consideration. n the advocates OF capi.
tai punishment assert themselves ana
ask that the present law be given fair
enforcement It is more than probable that
the pardoning business will cease IL Is
quite possible too, that this Rogers wo-
man made a fatal mistake In trusting her
case TO a future Legislatures: perhaps she
would have done better to have put up
the insanity dodge at tho start.
ASSEMBLY APPEAL A TRAvEsTY.
(From the Randolph Hcrald)
1t has always seemed to us travesty
to allow an appeal to the Assembly Tnere
Is no reason for taking judicial matters
out OF the hands Of the court and settiin8
them In an rN5udicial way. The courts
are not supposed to be swayed by pity
or compassion In the discharge OF their
duty. and they are not. The Assembly
is. II cannot try the question OF fact,
az the court docs. and It's investigation ut
best can be only superficial. The prose
cutting officers and attorneys end thcir
professional connection with the case
after conviction and the state i. often
indffcrently represented before the AS
sembly. The degree Of guilt OF the ac-
cused and the measure OF punishment de-
served should he finally and irrevocably
determined by the court and jury before
whom all the facts are brought out.
There is no more logic in m appeal later
to the Legislature than there would he TO
town meeting However 1t has come
to be regular step in the course Juries
convict because they depend on the Lcgls-
lature to commute, and often they JON
In the petitions to that end. A court trial
body. But 30 long as this question or
communication Is allowed 20 be carried TO
| the Assembly Just so long will 1t respond
to the passing waves Of sentiment and
the penalties Of the statute hook will he
softened by the touch or human pity. 1t
may be cause for lament in some quar-
tcrs. Of congratulation in others. but it's
| fact, nevertheless.
A DESERVED TRIBUTE.
(From the Mortified News)
The name of Editor L. r. Johnson Of
| Randolph has frequently been mentioned
of late as a desirable candidate. for one
Of the senator's from Orange county this
| year. While il IL not understood that he
is in any sense a candidate in the usually
accepted term. it seems to us tho matter
| is worthy Of serious consideration. Mr.
| Johnson has in his newspaper career
| proved himself careful, conservative and
progressive citizen, fully alive to the
needs and the advancement of Vermont
| The further fact that he has taken ur
| the question of double taxation in hi:
newspaper in n strong and practical way
ought to Re Of especial consideration to
the agricultural interests which suffer the
greatest burden from the present anti
Quated system. Again Mr.. Johnsons ok
pcrience as n legislative reporter. would
make him a far more valuable man than
the average first term senator. II Orange
| county wishes to give the state a. good
a service a. possible In the next Senate
| the voters will do we'll to unite on Mr..
Johnson.
THE NEW VERMONT.
Vermont has been running the scala Of
revolving cruelty rather rapidly Of late,
| but a now note was struck Monday when
a Rutland woman turned two little tots.
poorly clad, out into the zero weather be
cause their board money was due. Yer
| mont women should awaken to the IA ct
| that many Of the horrors OF the past year
have Indicated gross depravity among
those of their own sex Women every
where nowadays are eager for work and
| influence outside the home circle--oppor-
tunlty 10 use their present day g!tts Of
! education and freedom. Here is work
mont women Of the class that have bee n
ng,rirs of late IN murder. intrigue and
brutal cruelty
Il SOMETHING ABOUT SAVING.
(Frpm the Waterbury Rccord)
An old saying but one everlasting true
which goes 1t Is not how much you carr
but the amount you save" 1t is not otter
that Vermont has so good an example as
was shown at the Burlington saving
bank one day last week on Scpternb.l
n. Y, and deposited in the bank $3.50 and
ne has never deposited any since MOI
made any withndra walls. On January /
the book was sent in to the bank by the
executor, the party who deposited thf
money having died during the past year
and the bank paid the estate s., (Ss.5l.
The account was among the first open
ed at this well known financial institution
It's number being 2l5. The bank book va,
somewhat a novel. The cover contained
the following directions: Deposits re
ceived every Wednesday afternoon II
sums from one dollar and upwards. NJ
money can be Withdraw n except on tn,
. FIRST Wednesday OF January. April, July
and October. The treasurer. however ma,
pay any depositor who applies on an,
Wednesday, II the money on hand tina
day be SUFFICIENT"
/, This example OF how little saved
amounts to much In time. should teach
, good Lesson to those who have not formed
the habit of saving Every young mar
, ard we might ada lady should have
bank deposit even II it Ia only started with
800 Once start a bank account and 70,
will b anxious ia see 1t grow. Once star
, to save part of your earnings and i
, chances to one you will always save.
A glance al the successful business me,
Of Waterbury and In our neighborinl
, towns reveals the fact that they first go
their atari nv making small SayinHY