The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-10-03
Nav Judiclal Appointments

The old lady whose Matching turn
ed out poorly remarked thai she
didn't get so many chickens rs she
eXpected--and she didn't expect she
would A similar remark would ex-
press the effect of the new court APP
pointments on the public mind of
Vermont. Governor Irletchec did
what those who of late are in closest
touch with him said he would, which
happened to be what most people
didn't believe he would. However,
they are getting used to anything
along that line, SO they were not
startled.
The new appointments cmpha.-
size the governors determination to
shake things NJ generally, and to
break precedent and The old oder.
With respect to the chief justceship
the natural selection was Justice
Munson next in line to the retiring
member; = man OF unquestioned
ability for the place unless he is
open 20 the objection OF being too
advanced in years apd mot progress
sivo' enough to suit the official in
whose hands his future was placed
With due regard TO the high NEXT
OF the new chief justice--and every
one admits his fitness for the place
there IS still something 20 be said
for the man who has spent twenty
four years gradually working up TO
the place next TO the top; against
whom no word of cayii or reWoach
has exc been cast, and who sees
the ambition OF lifetime, about to
be realized snatcbed from him and
conferred on the newest member oil
the bench. a feeling. too. that must
be shared by the other two Justices
over whose heads the appointee is
jumped. Some very good reasons,
or motives, or combination OF both
must have actuated Governor Flet.
che, in taking the course he did
The bar Of Vermont was almost q
unit. so far as il expressed itself, in
favor Of Justice Muncoa, and earn
estly urged his choice upon the gov
emo However. there viii be no
resentment toward Chief Justice
Powers, who at the early age OF
htty-two attains an eminence in his
profession which it is not beyond
his Capacity 20 MI with entire
credit
Governor Fletcher IS open TO
congIalulation on his other appoint
ments-that of Judge William Il.
Taylor, advanced to the supreme
court, and of Hen. Leighton Z.
Slack, teiccted as the new pudgc OF
I've superior court. Judge TAYLOR is
regarded as not only the best law
yer en- the bower bench. bur being
younger in years than those over
whom he is promoted, he viii bring
10 The junior membo ship OF the up-
per court iiie Yigor of manhood in
its prime, with all The promise OF
the future TO The courf and To him
sell ihat il carries Judge Slack
nas The right qualifications and the
icH temperament for the lowe
bench and viii make good the LOSS
Of Judge Taylor. Hon. John ".
Redmond, though he stuiaped vail
aatly for s'lelcher last year (per-
haps because he did never had 4
'ock-in for this iudgeship
The future of The supreme cour,
Of Vermont. IS 10 its pe sonnet Is
up IN the air. BY slip on the part
Of the commissioner who prepared
the constitutional amendments rati-
dcI last March, the justices Of that
court are rot among the STATE oiilci-
ais whose present terms continue un
III the legislature. which will meet
next in January, 1915, instead Of Dc
,obe ,l9l4, elcc,s. Hence their
terms expire az the close OF Novem
Der, 1914, and from then until the
second Tuesday OF The following
January, at least, there will be no
supreme court uaiess Governor
Fletcher. who himself holds over.
appoints for the interim, which he
y obably has authority to do. But
here IS grave question whether the
legislature, IN January. may elect.
under the wording Of Tie cOnsti,u-
ton as it is lci,, so tina, the supreme
ccuri, if named by Governor Flet-
cher year from this fall, may be
constituted as he Fame sit and SO
continue until the next governor
Hcar the close or his term, himself
appoints. This may continue until
TIC constitution can be amended
again. which cannot be untii 1925.
Another beautiful feature OF The
| timclock system. Randolph Herald
and News