Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-05-20
An Important Duty.


few months the voters OF Vermont vii
read carefully and consider thOughtfulll
the report of the commission appointed
to formulate proposals of amendments
to the constitution of Vermont. The
amendments proposed have been pub.
lished ia the newspapers of the state
and the report of the commission has
been published in pamphlet form
Every effort possible TO disseminate in
formation has been made aud if citi
zens remain ignorant of the proposed
changes the fault is their own.
We elect state officers every two years,
but we change our constitution very
seldom, therefore we should not permit
political excitement-of which there is
little indication at present--to divert our
attention from the large duty OF weigh
ing judlcially the proposed changes III
the historic document framed by the
Fathers during the stirring period of
the American Revolution.
The journal believes that every one
of the changes proposed would be bene-
fetal and that the best interests of the
state imperatively demands the adoption
of most of them. 1t is difficult to see
how any person who believes in popular
government, aud recognizes the ne
cessity of occasional changes in govern.
mental methods growing out of new con-
ditiops, can oppose the releaI of the
time lock clause.
If we are to recognize the wisdom of
giving our governor veto-as otht r
states have recognized the fact-let us
no longer insult him by giving him the
shadow rather than the substance of
power. We are not accustomed to elect
governors who would abuse Al real veto
and we are not likely TO lower our stan
dard if larger responsibility is imposed.
The holding of two elections during
every year of a presidential election is
waste of time and money, when one
election would serve every purpose.
This would necessitate changing the
date of legislative sessions to the early
part of January when most legislatures
meet. This is better season for
farmers than the autumn, and as fewer
recesses would be necessary, more bust
ness should be accomplished in a given
time.
AS the legislature is in no sense a
| judicial body, it is not competent to
pass upon the proposal of committing
the sentence of convicted murderer
} and its time should not be devoted to
such purposes. The tendency on the
part of the general assembly to elect its
members to offices, either created by or
within the gift Of that body, has given
rise at times to severe criticism, and the
proposal to make such election illegal is
in the interest of good government
There is no reason why the time of
legislators should be devoted to incor-
porating cemetery or creamery associa-
tons, or any other corporate body, and
provisions looking to general laws gov
erning such cases will be a saving of
time and a sensible method of procedure
Our state constitution has not been
amended for many years. The need
has long been recognized, but through
neglect or procrastination no serious at
tempt has been made to deal with
changed conditions. Now the prelimi
nary steps have been taken, and unless
the proposed amendments are advanced
no changes can be made for another de-
cade. The whole subject has been con-
sidered carefully and periodically by
commission particularly well qualified
to deal with such an important matter
The press of the state is nearly unani.
nous in supporting the report of the
commission.
No Legitimate opportunity to advance.
these reforms should be neglected. One
of the methods by which aid can be
rendered is hearty endorsement in the
Republican platform. The endorsement
of county conventions would also be
helpful, tending to instruct members Of
the state senate to support the proposed
revision. But whether we approve or
disapprove we should know just what
we are asked to do. Then being pre-
pared to act intelligently, we can pro.
coed to deal with the subject according
to our best judgment. Ignorance and
prejudice are the foes most to be dread
ed.-Montpelier Journal.