Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-07-02

SUPERVISOR tnan Ut present, uut "o
should make some changes in tho law.
One of which Is that after the roads are
built there should he provision for their
proper care and maintenance We should
not allow the roads on which we have
spent SO much time and money to
deterioratc but should see to it that they |
are kept in proper condition | am con- |
WINGED that the great need to-day In the
matter Of road building, is more expert |
knowledge. and believe that the state
extent practicable.
The new law reorganizlng our judicial
system and designed to expedite legal
business has, without doubt. been OF
great benefit The increased expense in
cident to the administration Of this law
Is probably due, In part at least to the
large number of cases that had accumu
lated In the various county courts be-
cause OF the inability of the Judges. un-
der the former law. scasonab!y to dis
pose Of the business The superior Judges
have taken the time to clean UP these
congested dockcts. with the result OF
heightened terms and more than the
average expense. Hereafter. 1t Is said
the current business will be performed
with less expense than attended the
work under the former law However
this may he, there is strong feeling
| that the cost OK orr courts is excessive:
| and we should carefully consider whcr,-
| In We may profitably reduce their ex
pensc. II mag be that investigation will
| reveal tho necessity of restoring masters
| In ch1ncery and referees We should
carefully consider The ndvsnbility OF
| doing away with our ancient system Of
justice courts. and substituting therefor
| either a system of town or district courts
with ii special Jurisdiction. and giving III,
| right of direct appeal to the supreme
court OH question of law. This. In the
judgment Of many competent men. would
| be a move In tho right direction. and
| would assist in the solution of this most
vexatous problem.
Wa ought also so far as is possible.
to abolish the pernicious fee system
and by so doing rid ourselves Of some
practices which. to say the least, come
near the line of petty grating.
The acts of tho LEGISLATURE rcgulit-
ing railroads, providing for the ulti
mate elimination Of all grade cross
ings. and increasing tho power and
efficiency ~ the railroad commission
!
and are of such manifest public hene-
fit, that we should see to 1t that moth
ing is done to impair their efficiency.
and that such further legislation he
enacted as experience has shown to
be necessary further to carry out the
policy outlined by those laws. In par
ticular the powers granted by the last
Legislature to the railroad commits
sion should remain inviolate. The
added powers of that board have on
abicd it already to accomplish much
for tho safety and convenience of tn"
public. and that public will Justly OK
act from us that we use every effort
to strengthen tho hands of tho COM
mission rather than to curtai; its pow
ers Such amendments and additions
To existing Legislation on this subject
az experience shows to be needed
should 10 made but nothing in any
way ahrdging or curtailng the pow
ers already invested In the board o,
railroad commissioners should be
adopted.
There are other corporations besides
railroads that need state supervision
and regulation. l refer more partic'
ularly to telegraph and telephone
companies. The telegraph companie!
have practically monopoly. as II
only a few Of the larger towns is there
any competition. and In many cases
SUFFICIENT attention Is not given to thu
rights Of the public. Arbitrary ratc'
and rules are made. and no one ear
question them under present condi
, tions. The state should exercise su
l pcrvsion and control over these com
, pan!es in order that better service n
more reasonable rates may he maintained
p In many parts of the State small in
- dependent telephone companies hav
= sprung up, and these smafe
o companies coming in competition
. with tho larger ones have Il
7 many cases been the means Of providin
better service at more reasonable rate
than before competition became effective
: In other cases there is no competition
o and whether the companies be large o
. small rates are high and service is no
q good. The tendency at the present tim
Is for consolidation. and without doub
before many years We shall see many q
these so-called independent compan!e
merged with the larger ones | heliev
= that under proper restrictions this wi
be of real benefit to the community a
. large. but only by State supervision an
> regulation can the rights of the publ
, +, properly guarded. Some method 70
u such supervision should be provided IL
at once. and | should strongly urge tina
ii be done at the coming session.
y Another of the important matters t
come before the next Legislature perha I
y the most important one, Is that Of taxa
: ton. We all know that the present sys
tenn is the cause Of double taxation
= some instances and unequal taxation
= others and some solution of this di
ficulty should be brought about Durin
I, tho last session of the Legislature
move was made towards the solution
:. this problem by the appointment OF
= commission to thoroughly investigate Il
a question and report its findings to Il
IS governor together with such recommends
Z" tons as 1t saw NJ to make That con
It mission was composed of men eminei
k for their ability and conservatism. The
= have thoroughly investigates the subJe'
Il and have reached their conclusions rcpo
r. having been made to the governor hl
< not yet made public. This report vi
come to us as from the hands OF exper
,e and should be given due consideration ar
N from it's findings a law should
n formulated which will relieve the burden
II by which we are now oppressed, We cal
Of not, however pass proper legislation aior
Is this line until we have carefully Studio
20 the report of the commission and the r
O. concentrations made by them. Until sue
De report has been made public. ] belize
we shoula retain an open mind prepar'