Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-20
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might very we'll establish such courts rs |
still retain all the elements OF Justice
we should restrict this right of appeal |
We ought not to do anything which VIII |
prevent every man from receiving full |
justice. but | am of the opinion that we
/ have suggested. giving them concurren, |
jurisdiction up to an amount of say 300
with the right of appeal directly to the
supreme court on points of law. thus re-
tanning all the safeguards necessary to in
sure exact justice and doing away with |
part of the great expense connected
with our present superior court. be- /
lieve this is matter of great Importance
and that 1t should receive the very best
attention of the Legislature at the COM
ing session. In this same connection we
should also strive to carry out another
declaration of our platform which is that
we recommend to the Legislature an
equitable employers liability law drawn
en- the lines of our national law. thus in
surfing the working men OF Vermont the
same measure of protection now given by
federal law to mon engaged in Interstate
commerce. This Is simply matter of
Justice and we should see to It that such
law is placed on our statute books
without further delay. A law which will
place the burden for negligence equally
on tho employer and the employee AS
the law stands to-day II an employe of
a railroal Is injured even If the railroad
is guilty of the grosscst negligence, he
he canrot recover damages II he was III
the slightest negligent himself. We
should have a law that would apportion
the negligence as between the two par
ties with damages assessed accordingly.
This Is simple matter of justice and
VIC should delay no longer in providing
such q law.
At the present time the only public
service corporations which are under di-
rect control of the state are the railroads
and | believe that the law which was
passed during the last session, rcSul1t-
ing railroads and providing for rail-
road commission was one of the wisest
acts passed during hat session. We can
already see results obtained by this lceis-
lation in the abolishiug of grade cross
ings. and in the general Improvement of
the service rendered the public by the
railroads. statistics that have been COM
piled show that there We're 9A grade
crossings IN the state on January I, 1907,
but that under the new law 80 of them
have either been abolished or an order
has been issued that they shall be. Such
results Indicate what may be accomplish
ed by proper supervision, and We should
not delay longer but should place such
other public service corporations as it
may seem best. under such supervision.
All telephone and telegraph companies
should be placed under such supervision
at once, because by so doing We may
avoid such evils as are brought on by
present methods of consultations The
telegraph companies have practically no
opposition in the State and with no SUI
pervision they make such rates as they
see fit and give such service as is most
convenient. We should pass such laws
as will provide for better service If not
at more reasona bic rates. The telephone
business is in somewhat different condi-
ton inasmuch as small companies have
sprung up all over the State and these
have in measure regulated rates so
that in many localities they are reason
able. In other places where there is no
competition. rates are much higher and
tho service is not as good. Within a
short time many consultations of these
COMPANIES must take place and when this
is accomplished it will prove OF great
benefit to the public by giving better ser
vice as less cost than al present. ! say
this because in many towns there arc
two telephone companies and many peo-
pie are forced to pay for two Instruments
where one would answer the purpose just
as we'll If the companies We're console
dated. hut In order to soc that interests
of tho public are properly safeEuarded,
II ,y., CT,
with power to prevent any unjust raise
in rates when such a consolidation takes
place: also to order better service when
ever II may seem just that they should
do so. I believe that this duty might
well be placed on the railroad commits
sion by giving them the necessary power
and authority.
The question Of good roads is one OF
vital importance and should be carefully
considered. In the past our laws have
been wise and progressive and In conse'
,uence We are improving our roads as
last as possible with the amount o.
money available. but We should If pos
sible. make larger appropriations for this
purpose we should also make provision
for better maintenance of the permanent
roads I am aware Of the provision fol
does not seem adequate. We should moi
allow these roads which we have
spent so much money 10 go n whole sea
son without repair but should in case o.
necessity provide for immediate repair.
We live in a beautiful State and ono
provided with many natural advantage:
for manufa curing but We have not mad,
this sufficiently known to the OUTSIDE
public. We should provide In some wal
for tho advertising OF our State. not onl,
for the purpose OF having the summe
tourist come within our borders but als
talist come TO rs to develop our waite
powcrs our quarries and our forests. w
cannot expect the outside world to nm
these matters out for themselves, but W
must use some effort to give them tn
necessary Information. A reasonable ap
preparation properly expended would. /
my Judgment. prove wise and profitable
These are some Of the things which tn
Republican party In its platform promise
to try to carry out and the are such priy
c.ples as | believe entitle this party I
your votes at the coming election. w
have heard great deal about apathy /
this ca mpaign; they say that there is n
interest taken IN 1t. The reason for tn
is that there are no questions as betwee
the two parties for discussion. The pres
ent administration has been given II
compliment of receiving the approval {
I,tA r,,1