The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-01-06


rectly IN at least eleven particulars;
nor can he ascertain what the true
sense Of Section . at present IS until
he has carefully studied the same in
connection with ten different amend
ments. The courts and the bar can Of
course determine what the constitu-
tional provision on given point may
be-, although some proyisions BY this
system Of amendments have been left
obscure; but 70 the average layman
Chapter Of the constitution and its
amendments abound IN inconsisten-
cies. and in parts are unintelligible
to those who are not trained IN de-
terminlng whether one provision TECH
nically supersedes another or is re-
pugnant thereto
The fundamental law Of the state,
which ought to be the simplest and
most easily understood Of all has by
the process Of years become the most
complicated As a handbook for stu
dents, and surely an acquaintance
with the constitution Of our state
ought to be a part Of the education Of
at least every high school student. 1t
is most unsatisfactory.
In the last fifty years we have been
compelled to rewrite our public STATE
utes four times, In 1882. 1880 1894
and 1905 simply for the purpose Of
conveniently and logically writing into
the statutes the amendments then
existing The same considefa-
lions which make that desirable
and necessary IN the case Of the
statutes make It even more desir-
able and necessary III the case Of the
constitution.
The draft submitted Is intended to
be a simple expression Of the chapter
with its amendments as It In fact now
is, preserving so far as possible its
archaic language, but rearranging the
order Of sections SO as to group to-
gether those which relate to one sub
1ect.
CONCLUSION
We recognize that the foregoing
proposals will undoubtedly seem to
some TO 90 too far and 10 others not
70 80 far enough; but we unanimous
~ recommend them to the careful
consideration Of the next legislature
and Of the people Of the state. There
Is ground for honest difference or
opinion as to some Of the details OF
the present plan Of government. There
are some incongrnltles which If the
constitution we're being generally re-
yised It would probably be thought
best TO remove: and there are other
safeguards than those we have recon-
mended being introduced into the
constitutions OF other states which
might perhaps probably be brought
into our own We have not. how
ever. thought it best to propose too
much.
In the FIRST place, although the
wording Of the resolution IL broad
enough to permit us to make any pro-
posals we choose, IN fact It's spirit
did not contemplate that we were to
attempt any general revision Of tho
consultation. A general revision
should be the work, II not OF a con-
stitutionai convention, at least Of
commission Of general ana very repre-
sentative character and embody the
result of full deliberate and open
public discussion
In the next place, we are not per-
suaded that there is IN fact at the
present time and under present con
ditions necessity FOR any such gem
erel revision If the time lock clause
Is eliminated (see Proposal One) and
the possibility exists of Initiating
amendments at any session Of The
legislature. the discussion Of consfi-
tutional questions will be encouraged,
and whenever the people desire a gem
eral revision or a radical change it viii
be manifested in some plain way.
10 shorten this report and for the
purpose of the report only the form
of me proposal Is ii some cases IN
dicated without actually reprintina in
full the section AZ proposed to he
amended IT the proposals Or any 0f
them are approved BY the Legislature
they should express the sections ia fun
as amended. III the way now most
accepted FOR The expression
Of any amendment either to eonstitu-
tons or statutes. IN that way any
adopted can &c inserted
in their proper place without being
left to be interpreted in, and the diff /
fealty in that regard with the present /
amendments win BE avoided.
If Proposal EIGHT should Be APP
proved and submitted, then the other
should be SO stated that
they would not only automatically fit /
Into the present Chapter and
Amendments, but also into the re-
vised Chapter 2 lit should BE- adopted
We recommend that all amendments
be submitted individually so that the
rejection of one may not necessarily I.
Involve the rejection Of the others.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank G. Partridge
Proctor
Frank IL Greene,
St. Adams
Allen M. Fletcher,
CaYendish
Willis N Cady,
Middlahury.