Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-08-19
TO THE CANDIDATES
Prospective Representatives in
Legislature Intercepted
Col. Hasklns Asks About Various Impor-
tant Matters Which viii be Considered
This Year.

Editor of The PhpniX;-
1t has been publicly announced that
Robert c. Bacon and ]. G. Stafford are
candidates Of the Republican party of
this town for representative to the next
General Assembly of this state. They
seem to be agreed upon several propo-
stions of a general character that are
liable to come before the legislature in
specific FORM
/. Both are in accord with the pledges
of the Republican party as set forth in
its platform at the last state convention.
So should all good Republicans be.
2. They both favor legislation that will
continue the present system of high
way building, and make 1t possible to
build more and better roads. All this is
proper, but how do they stand upon the
question of providing means, and how, for
the building of a line of state roads on
elmer side of the mountain from Massa-
chusetts to the Canadian border, and
several similar roads running east and
west for connecting links?
3. They will oppose any attempt to de-
prive the public service commission, Gre
ated in 1908, of the power it now has, and
would make it more effective. Is there
any good citizen who would not act like
wise?
4. Mr. Stafford it Is said, being a
farmer, will naturally favor legislation
for the promotion of the interests of ag-
riculture. l shall assume that Mr.. Ba-
con, although a lawyer, would do the
same, as any representative ought to do
in the interest of the greatest industry of
our state and the nation. Such state
ments are too general. What the voters
ought to know is: how will they do this?
viii they, or either of them, favor the
establishment by law of a course OF
study in agriculture in our public
schools? Would they establish a school
of agriculture to be separately maintain
OF
question of providing means, and how, for
through the generosity of Mr.. Vail of
Lyndon at Lyndon? What are they ready
to do by means of legislation for the con-
serVation of our forests and water powers?
VIII they favor the purchase of lands in
one or all of the counties, by the state
for experimental forestry and to serve as
an object lesson for landowners who
would reforest their own barren lands?
5. 1t is claimed that both favor a
square deal" which will place everyone
on the plane Of equality, as nearly as may
be- That is proper and right. But what
sort of legislation will they favor to ac-
complish such a meritorious object? Will
they amend the present grand list laws
which in their practical operation, not
withstanding the vigilance of the lis
ters bear most heavily upon the COM
paratively poor man and those who re-
turn an absolutely true and just inven-
tory? VIII they work for abOlishing off
sets for debts ewing as recommended by
the very able commission appointed by
the governor four years ago and who
made their report over two years ago?
6. Both candidates. without specifying
wherein, favor legislation that will work
for the interests of the laborng man as
opposed to corporations and capital. ANY
person can safely make such a declara-
ton in general terms, but how in refer
ence to details? Both candidates are
Snnn0Sp6 to
TO the wage-worker ten dollars from at
tachment by trustee process, because the
state platform declares for it. but neither
candidate have declared for it specifically
VIII both. or either, advocate and vote
for ii as against the protest of merchants
and business men? Have either ever con-
sidered the demand now being made by
both manufacturer and employee for an
authorized inspection and approval Of
machinery upon which the laborer is en-
ployed to work? If so, how shall such
legislation be accomplished and how the
expense Of the inspection be met? How
Will they vote upon proposed legislation
now being generally demanded by labor
unions, establishing an eight or nine hour
day for employees in all gainful occupa-
ions and penalizng an employer by fine
or Imprisonment, or both should he
require or permit" an employe to work
exceeding the limit of time provided for
by law? Have they considered whether
or not such law would be constitution
al? Gov. Draper of Massachusetts, has
twice vetoed similar measure, passed
by the Massachusetts legislature at the
demand of the labor unions, upon the
ground that it would be an unlawful in
terference with the contractural rights
OF parties and therefore unconstitutional
what do Mr.. Bacon and Mr.. Stafford saw
about this? Both favor the enactment of
what is known as an "employers' LA
r 20 10
would they extend the law as It now is?
would they do away entirely with the
law of contributory negligence, and hold
the employer responsible in damages for
injuries received through the gross care
lessness of the employe? Or would thev
base the amount of damages for injuries
received upon the degree of carelessness
shown?
I. The Republican state platform de-
clares in favor of all the several pro-
posed amendments to the state Consti-
tuition, and, therefore, it NAV he as
sumed that either candidate elected will
vote favorably upon them in order that
these proposed amendments may be put
IN way that the people, may, eventually
pass upon them. The people certainly
snould nave such an opportunity
s. Then there will come before the leg
stature the ratification or rejection or
the proposed amendment of the Constitu
ton OF the United States, which IL adopt-
ed by the required number of states
VIII confer upon the Congress power to
levy and collect taxes on incomes from
Whatever source derived without amor
tlonment among the several states and
without regard to any census or emu
meration." My judgment is that this
proposed amendment should be rejected.
put how stand Messrs. Bacon and Stat
ford on this proposition? In order that
one may act intelligently upon this uues-
ton he needs to be well informed as to
the power of Congress to levy and COL
lect taxes under the provisions of the fed
eral constitution as 1t now is, and the
debates in the first constitutional conyen-
ton together with the decisions of the
supreme Court of the United States de-
ming the power of Congress upon this
subject. Previous to the adoption of the
FEDERAL constitution in 1897. the states
levied and collected duties upon imports
and also upon goods brought from one
state into another. They gave up to the
FEDERAL government the right of levying
duties upon imports and also conferred
upon the Congress the power to collect
an internal revenue, consisting chiefly
OF licenses to carry on certain businesses.
together with the power, in case of great
emergency, to levy a direct tax upon
property, which, like representation in
Congress was to be apportioned to the
several states according to population,
upon the ground that representation and