Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-17
When Shall the Legislature Be Called In Extra Session

When Shall the Legislature BE CaIed IN Extra Session
An important and possibly bothersome question
fronting Fletcher is when to call extra session OF
the Legislature Even he had discretion in the matter
before the amendment of the constitution OF the United States
direct election of United States senator's by
the people would render special session of the Vermont gs
lature absolute necessity.
Senator William P. Dillingham; of six years will
pre March B. 1915 and law stands at the present time
there would be election by the Legislature October 1914
This impossible have amended constitution
that cannot elect the next Legislature until November 1914
and the regular session will begin in January 1915
the present Legislature had passed pro-
vdng for preferential vote by the people nomination of
dae for the United States held connection
with every biennial election preceding
nstrucng the secretary of State provide ballots such
preferential nomination be reported later the Legislature
election by the people
for no other therefore, the Governor would have
no alternative except to call the Legislature
binary session.
Changes in fundamental of the State require no less
adjustment of the statutory law affected thereby than moifca
ton of the fundamental law of the nation, AMI amendments
to the State constitution finally adopted by people last month
mont.
AS laws stand at the time would elect State
and county officers well Legislature in September next
October as usual
provides that the General Assembly shall bennay on the
first Wednesday after the first Monday January beginning in
1872 and that the State and county officers
s wen as senators ana representatives and Justices of the
peace shall be elected on the first Tuesday after the first Mon
day of November beginning 1914 election thus CO.
NEEDING with the date of presidential elections.
Moreover changes will be necessary between two and
Of
interests in order make the to and work in har
mony with the constitution of our State amended
owing to the magnitude of this Legislature a1opt-
eu JOINT resolution authorizing the Governor appoint
mission consisting of three persons investigate and report TO
nm "hat amendments to existing necessary
III ther estimation in order to make the conform TO any
OF 'ne constitutional amendments that might be adopted
This work will require considerable period of time and
as consequence extra session would not called
until this commission ready report order that the law
makers might have the benefit of this report basis of leg
saon. US
So far appears interest will suffer even if the
Legislature is not called in session before necessary
to make provision for the State election that the Gov
eror might select date time between this
the next although would be fitting fundamental
and statutory laws put in harmony convenient
Various factors will enter into the selection date for
an extra session While the Legislature would convened to
harmonic constitution and public statutes there is no
limit to the matters which the lawmakers may may not con-
s1der They law unto Themselves The governor has no
power to restrict legislation.
The Governor might not call special of the Leg
stature until the educational commission appointed investi
gate and in respect educational conditions and
needs of the State has submitted the results of its work
" the Governor was not in favor of all the
H new TAX Ia" enacted by the Legislature he might deem it
advisable to give the ample time and fair chance
TO snow ITS merits before calling together Legislature that
were afforded before the people had been able 70 at M
1ull effects of the present system yum ~
These and other considerations might combine to lead tbc
governor 10 put OF the date of crisa
tur while of the eternal things wouli call
possible " on 'S
All things considered the executive to prac
hcaly forced to- choose between the coming next
spring as period of extra legislation although he might be
tempted to let lawmakers by actual experience
tuition would operate ~
1t would be terrible temptation however, TO give law
makers chance to spend the winter gay Mont
ing regular law fest and the Governor do well to strength
weak human nature by selecting for opening the special
session some date when personal interest like making or
seed time taking of mercantile or hayng will lead
our lawmakers to return to their business possible
Let the executive lead not the awmaker special SEES
difficult to resist. ~ "