Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-05-26
JUDGE howell HoNoRED.
rendered Birthday Banquet at Mont
pelier with Judges Tyler and Powers.

rendered Birthday Banquet at Mont
peiier with Judges Tyler and Powers.
A notable event to the state at large
was the banquet given by the Vermont
Bar association at the Pavilion in Mont
pelier Tuesday night to Chief Judge Johr
4 w. Rowell in honor OF his 18th birthday
anniversary, and to Judge James NJ. Ty-
Ter OF Brattieboro and Judge H. Henry
Powers of Morrisyille, the former having
attained to as years on April 27, while
the latter will pass that milestone on ths
2ath inst. Both Judge Tyler and Judge
Powers have been associated with Judge
Rowell on the supreme bench, and Judge
Tyler stands second to him, among those
now living in length of service.
In 1882, Chief Judge Pierpont died
and, there being a vacancy in the Su-
preme court, Mr. RowelI was appointed
1 by Gov. Roswell Farnham sixth assistant
| Judge. At the following session OF the
general mbly he was elected to sue
ceed himself and has remained upon the
bench ever since, distinguished alike for
the elearness OF his mind and the lucid,
foreetul English in which his judgment
finds expression. He was appointed
chief Judge of the supreme court March
80, 1902, on the death of former Chief
Judge Russell s. Taft, and altogether has
to his credit the longest term OF service of
any member OF the court.
At the banquet covers were laid for go
guests who included all the supreme and
superior court judges and delegations of
attorneys from every county in the state.
c. g. Austin of st. Albans, president of
the Bar association, filed the post OF toast
master and made the opening speech in
part in these words:-
"Upon the converting OF the present
May term OF Supreme Court, many OF the
prominent attorneys OF the State came to-
gether and il seemed to be the unanimous
sentiment OF the attorneys present, that
the bar Of Vermont should give some ex.
preston OF their appreciation for the long
and efficient services OF our esteemed
Chief Judge John w. Rowell, and extend
our congratulations to him for the 18th
anniversary of his honorable and useful
life, and as a token OF respect for him
personally, as well as officially.
1T then occurred to us that there we're
two others, who had long been associated
with Judge Rowell in his great and good
work, whom the bar of Vermont had
learned to love and esteem; namely,
Judges H. Henry Powers and James NJ.
Tyler These three honorable gentlemen
were all born the same year, reared under
similar environments and aspired to and
achieved the same great goal of useful
ness. And it seemed to us to be fitting
that we should include in this token Of
respect Judge Powers and Judge Tyler,
and the board of managers of the State
Bar association OF Vermont, have ar
ranged this meeting for that purpose.
"The bar OF Vermont have long been
proud Of the bench Of the state and the
high character Of its personnel. Judge
Rowell has now served on the bench
longer than any OF bis predecessors, and
as we look back over those nearly 20
wears OF faithful services the bar OF rhe
State1ca again say that they are proud Of
the able decisions rendered by onr Su-
preme Court, and feel that, although our
state is small, we have had a great court
and that the decisions of our court do not
stand second to any State court in the
nation.n
Chief Judge Rowell was greeted by pro-
longed applause and "HRil to the Chief. y
and expressed his gratitude for the kind
treatment received from the bar. At the
time OF his appointment to the bench the
late Homer +. Royce was chief Judge,
and the first time Judge Rowel sat in su
preme court it was in session at St. Al
bans. In those days the court SAT- in
every county but Grand Isle, whose dock
ct was taken to st. Adams. Court used
10 sit seven hours instead of five, as at
present, and he suggested shortening OF
arguments as a means Of further shorten
ing the period Of court session and max
ing it more effective. He sketched the
unifcation OF court rules end the work Of
the committee which made up the present
code. This was not adopted until 1892,
wh hen the Supreme Court formulated rules
for all the courts OF the State. The other
changes in the courts were also sketched
to show the advances made. Judge Row
ell made several suggestions for further
urging greater study Of
cases and brevity Of pleadings and briefs.
There is, he thought, growing disposi-
tion to break away from the law, and Of
t his trend the income tax amendment is
an example. Some years ago the United /
States supreme court declared IL a direct /
tax and to evade this decision Congress |
has framed an amendment which will |
come before our Legislature next fall. |
J Judge RoweIl did not oppose an income |
tax but did not favor the amendment. To /
allow both national and state govern
ments to levy such a tax would be un-
wise.
Judge Powers thanked the Bar for their
good Offices and spoke Of the associates
-, th.. Eay.,h .~ftb I,1ssa Hnural TFn