St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-04-01

MAN Lieut-Gov. George II. Prouty of
Newport formally announced last week
his candidacy for governor and issued at
the same time a statement of his views
on public questions. Following is Mr..
Prouty's platform:
As candidate for the office of gov.
( ernor OF Vermont let me say first. it has
always seemed to me that candidate
for that high Office should be very care
iul not to arregate to himself the right
to dictate the party policy. do not at
! this, or any other time wish to place my
self in any such position. believe that
the duty of formulating such policies
rests with the Republican convention
called for that purpose as we'll as to
nominate those to whom shall be in
trusted the carrying out OF such policies
as may be decided on by the representa-
tives of the people. While, therefore,
would not attempt to outline the plat
form to be adopted do feel that it is
proper that should state my position
regarding matters of vital interest to
the public.
The Republican party has been work
ing the past two years along lines similar
to those followed in larger way by the
Roosevelt administration in national
affairs, has instituted measures to pro-
tect the rights of the people against en-
croachlng corporate interests, has passed
laws preventing discrimination in rail.
road rates, has commenced the work of
abolishing grade crossings, and has given
the rallroadC commissioner real powers so
that its orders must be obeyed, has pass
ed laws opening the books of corpora.
tons TO inspection OF the courts, and in
stituted other measures to guard the
rights OF the people against law-break.
ing corporations, whether railroads or
otherwise. II elected governor should
favor continuing the policies which have
been so well begun and should favor
placing all public corporations including
telephone and telegraph companies under
the control and supervision of the state
to. such a degree as would insure and
safeguard the interests and rights of the
people.
We have passed schoolla which will
be OF the greatest benefit to the state.
believe that there should be no backward
step taken regarding these laws but
rather that we should strive to perfect
them.
The working of the new highway law
has proved that it was an eminently wise
one. believe we should not only return
all its best features but that we should
also endeavor to improve it, always hav-
ing in mind that the building of good
roads is a matter of education and that
only by expert supervision can we sue
coed in our efforts to make our highways
what they should be- The state should
continue the policy OF doing all it can
afford to assist in this work, always re-
membering that it is impossible for the
smaller communities to come up to the
highest standard except through the aid
of the larger communities.
Our penal institutions are today under
the control of men of great ability, ster-
ling integrity, and wise Judgment, and
great reforms have been brought about
during the past two years but much still
remains to be done and we must con.
tinue along the lines which we are now
following
The increased expense of our courts in.
cident to the adoption of the dual sys-
tenn shows that we have not vet solved
the problem involved in the attempt to
reach the economical yet efficient admin |
istration of justice. l believe that re-
forms in the matter of procedure in our
courts should be made along the lines of
preventing so much waste of time by the
lawyers in trying their cases or not try.
ing them as the case may be. | also be- |
lieve that change should be made in i
our court procedure which would pre-
vent the throwing out of court through |
technical errors of cases which but for
such errors could be tried. The admins
tration ofjustice should be made as sim
pie and inexpensive as possible and while
all necessary safeguards should be re-
tanned, cases should not be dismissed be.
cause of mere technicalities.
l believe too much time is wasted every
session OF the legislature in considering
loosely drawn and needless bills. be.
lieve it should be the endeavor of all
those connected with that body to pre-
vent such waste of time. Some improve
ment was made during the last session
but 1t was not sufficient to remedy the
evil. 1t should be our constant endeavor
to perfect such rules as will do away
with this difficulty and result in the
shortening OF the sessions of the legis-
allure, which are having a tendency to
become longer each year.