Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-01-07

legislation. Fhe provisions Of the
different constitutions may he grouped
under d few types. The type fol-
lowed by the most states is that Of
the Illinois constitution, which is
substantially Tie proposal recon-
mended.
In fourteen on more states munich
pal corporations can only obtain char
ters under general laws. The grant
ing Of varying charters to the numer-
Il small villages in this state. though
not so Objectionable as private cor
poratc legislation. is subject to much
of the same criticism. Some general
municipal law broad enough to meet
the requirements at least OF all viii
lagos would be very desirable; but it
has not seemed to rs best to include
in the above proposal any constitute
tional limitation upon municipal legis-
lation.
PROPOSAL EIGHT
That the annexed draft Of a new
Chapter 2 of the Constitution marked
Exhibit I Tor such modification of it
as may be decided To most correctly
express the existing provisionsJ be
adopted to take the place of present
Chapter 2 and the existing 20 articles
of amendment.
This proposal is not intended either
to add to or take from the present
constitution as now in force. but
simply to put it in convenient and
disable form.
The existing constitution of Yer
mont was established July 9. 1873. It
has beer amended five different times
in lS2S, 1886, 1850, 1870 and 1883.
These amendments cover twenty
eight articles. some of them contain
ing more than one section.
Article Is Of the amendments pro-
vides that such parts and provisions
only Of the constitution as are altered
or superseded ly any of the first
twelve articles of amendment or are
%repugnant thereto shall thereafter
cease to have effect. Although UNI
expressed. such is also the effect of
all later amendments. The amend
meuts have never been written into
the constitution lut the constitution
entire and the amendments entire are
printed together and what has been
altered on superseded by any of the
amendments or j. "rcpugnant thereto
remains entirely a matter of intcrprc-
tation. except the l3rd section spcci-
fically abrosatcd by Amendment
Article .. Section +.
OF the %forty-threo sections of Chap
ter >. fourteen have been amended
one or more times, and of the twenty
eight articles of amendment six also
have been amended. There are
twenty sections or articles, there
fore, which no longer. stand as they
read.
Section . is an extreme example OF
the extent to which these changes.
uneXpressod in the text itself. havo
gone. This section relates to the
powers OF The house of representatives
and is still printed in the constitution
as originally adopted
l.. II provides that they shall meet
the second Thursday of October. The
date now is the first Wednesday of
October. amend. Art. 24.)
.. 1t provides that they shall be
styled the general assembly. The
correct name is the house of repre-
sentatives. amend. Art. p
3. 1t provides that they shall have
power to choose a secretary OF state.
Amendment Art. 10 provides that this
officer shall be chosen by the joint as
sembly. and Amendment Art. 2S pro-
yides that he shall be elected by the
people.
4. 1t gives the house authority to
sit on their own adjournment. Amend
ment Art. 3 limits their right to ad-
journ without the consent of the sen
ate to not nor than three days.
5. 1t provides that they may an
nually elect certain officers. That is
now biennially. CAmend, Art. u and
26.)
6. 1t provides that they shall elect
= these officers in conjunction with the
council. That is now in conjunction
with the senate in joint assembly.
CAmend. Art 49,
Z. 1t provides that they may elect
sherins. These officers must be elect
ed by the people. CAmend. Art. 49,
s. 1t provides that they may elect
judges of probate. These officers
must be elected by the people.
(Amend. Art. ~
8. 1t provides that they may elect
justices of the peace. These officers
are elected by the people. (Amend.
Art. 49,
10. 1t provides that they may elect
judges of the county court. The as