Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-09-27

prOuucU, III lJOO, DelnS ONeI po,VOO,OVV'
The zone of activities for granite lies in
Washington, Caledonia, Orange, Wind
sor and Windham counties; and, al
though first quarried in 1872, it was not
produced in large volume until within
the past 20 years. All known colors
exist excepting red), and, recently, at
Bethel pure white deposit has been
discovered. At Windsor there is a
quarry of green syenite, Windsor
green granite" The income reported
for 1902 was 81 100000, and must have
nearly doubled in 1904. These deposits
of iron, slate, marble and granite, as
well as outcroppings elsewhere, prove
that Vermont possesses these natural
resources in practically illimitable
quantities. Limestone, soapstone, tale,
manganese, arbestos, mica, ocher, kao
lin, and copper deposits (the last named
centering in Orange County, and once
an extensive Industry, are among the
other mineral resources of the common
wealth.
STATE GOVERNMENT. The form of
government, adopted in 1777, succeed
ing that of town and associated com
mittees of safety, was very democratic
in character. The legislature consisted
of one house, with town representa-
ton therein, and these members were
elected by the "freemen" of the State.
The executive authority was vested in a
governor, acknowledgements, and IL
councillors, one duty of which was to
review all bills before the representa-
tive body, and suggest amendments,
prior to their final passage; but the
negative power did not inhere in the
governor and council" With the
notifications suggested by experience,
this was the Stste government until
1886, when the present General AS
sembly of two houses, Senate and
House of Representatives superseded
the original form. The town system of
government and representation in the
legislature has been continued under the
amended constitution. The senate is
the popular body, based upon popula-
ton by counties, and consists of sc
members; the house comprising PAS
representatives of cities and towns. In
1850 county officers were first elected by
the people; in 1870 the Legislature
changed to biennial terms. The IA
IN or
on the dates named: Bennington anc
Windham, II Feb. 1779; Orange, Rut
land and Windsor, % Feb. 1881; Add
son, II Oct. 1885; Chittenden, % Oct
1887; Caledonia, Essex, Franklin anC
Orleans, Nov. 1892; Grand Isle,
Nov 1892; Jefferson, Nov. 1910,
changed to Washington, 8 Nov 1914
Lamoille, &c Oct. 1885. The presen
constitution provides that State anC
County officers, members of the Genera
Assembly, justices of the peace, anC
Representatives in Congress, shall b'
elected. biennially, on the first Tuesda!
of September.
THE JUDICIARY. One chief judge ant
six associate justices are elected, bien
nially, by the Legislature. Thes
Judges constitute the supreme court
, three general terms of which are held
I annually, at the capital. The seminar
nual terms of county courts have eacl
, for presiding Judge, one of these 81
, preme justices, and associated with hin
f are two assistant judges, elected by tn
people of their respective counties. Tn
. Vermont judiciary has always bee
noted for itr high standard, the sound
, ness of its decisions, and clear-cut log
cal deductions from the premises pre-
o sented in pleadings; so much so, that
law library is not considered complet
q in the United States without full sc
4 of volumes of the vermont Reports.
At the Biennial Session of 1908 tn
q Governor, George H. Prouty, pursuar
n to joint resolution, appointed a con
= mission to propose amendments to tn
Constitution of Vermont. AT the se'
! sion of 1910 this Commission reporte
:, and recommended the adoption of se'
9 eral amendments. Some of these al
4 of vital Importance. Proposal Two is
NJ recommendation that Article ii. of til
Amendments be further amended by r.
e curing a thirds vote to pass a bi
g over the Governor veto, whereas tt
present Constitution provides that tn
can be done by majority vote. AS W
20 look at it this is simply move on tt
70 part of some to increase the power {
q those in office and take it away fro
Ia the people. If this proposal is adoptt
>. it will increase the power of the Cove
n nor and make it more easy for him
=, block legislation, and more difficult fl
N the people to secure the legislation the
~ desire.