The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-01-07

Proposal s.-To Rearrange and Simplify
Chapter Of Present Constitution So
That " Will Be Convenient and
disable.
That the annexed draft OF new Chap
ter 2 OF the Constitution marked Exhibit
/ COR such modification OF II as may be
decided TO most correctly express the ex-
listing provislons) be adopted to take the
place OF present Chapter 2 and the ex-
listing Is articles OF amendment.
This proposal Is not intended either 10
add 10 or take from the present consti-
ton as now In force. but simply TO put
II In convenient and disable form.
The existing constitution of Vermont
was established July .. 1898. 1t has been
amended five different times-in 1898, 1896.
1850, 1870 and 1883. These amendments
cover twenty-eight articles. some Of them
containing more than one section.
Article 10 OF the amendments provides
that such parts and provisions only OF
the constitution as are altered or super
seeded by any of the first twelve articles
of amendment or are repugnant thereto
shall thereafter cease to have effect AL
though mexpressed such Is also the ef-
feet of all later amendments. The am
endments have never been written in
to the constitution; but the constitution
entire and the amendments entire are
printed together and what has been al
tered or superseded by any of the amend
ments or is repugnant thereto remains
entirely matter Of Interpretation. ex
cept the 43rd section specifically abro-
gated by Amendment Article Is, Sec
ton 4.
OF the forty-three sections of Chapter 2,
fourteen have been amended one or more
times, and of the twenty-eight articles
of amendment six also have been amend
ed. There are twenty sections or articles, |
therefore, which no longer stand as they
read
Section is an extreme example of
the extent to which these changes, UNI
expressed in the text itself, have gone |
This section relates to the powers of the |
House of Representatives and Is still |
printed in the constitution as originally |
adopted.
l. 1t provides that they shall meet the |
second Thursday of October. The date |
now is the first Wednesday of October |
(Amend. Art 24.)
2. 1t provides that they shall be styled |
the general assembly The correct name
is the house of representatives. (Amend.
Art. %
8. 1t provides that they shall have
power to choose secretary of state.
Amendment Art. 10 provides that this
officer shall be chosen by the joint as
sembly and Amendment Art. Is, pro-
vides that he shall be elected by the
people.
4. 1t gives the house authority to sit
on their own adjournment. Amendment
Art limits their right to adjourn with
out the consent of the senate to not
more than three days.
5. 1t provides that they may annually
elect certain officers. That is now BIZ
(Amend. Art "a and 26)
G. 1t provides that they shall elect
hese officers in conjunction with the r
council That is now in conjunction with
he senate in joint assembly. (Amend. /
Art. 10)
7. 1t provides that they may elect
heriffs. These officers must be elected 9
~ the people (Amend. Art. 15.)
8. 1t provides that they may elect .
Judges of probate. These officers must
e elected by the people. (Amend. Art.
~
g. 1t provides that they may elect
Justices of the peace. These officers are
lected by the people. (Amend Art 49,
H. IL provides that they may elect
ldges of the county court. The assistant
ldges of the county courts must be X
ected by the people. (Amend. Art. 14.) e.
IL. 1t provides in one part of the sec ~
on that they may prepare bills and -
nact them into laws, in another that :
ley may grant charters and in still an
ther that they shall have all other pow
s necessary for the legislature of
zee and sovereign state. They now can
D these things and have legislative
over only in concurrence with the SEN
.e. (Amend Art. 81
The result is that if one turns to Sec
on to see what the powers of the
ouse of representatives are he will find
lat it states them incorrectly in at least
even particulars; nor can he ascertain
hat the true sense of Section is at
'esent until he has carefully studied the
me in connection with ten different
nendments. The courts and the bar can
course determine what the constitu-
,nal provision on a given point may be-
though some provisions by this sys-
m of amendments have been left OBJ
ure; but to the average layman Chap
of the Constitution and its amend
ents abound in inconsistencies, and in
rts are unintelligible to those who are
t trained in determining whether one