The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-26
FOR CIVIL JUSTICE
Report of Committee Presented at
Recent Congregational Conference

committee on civic justice presented
at the Vermont Congregational con-
ference held in ST. Johnsbury last
month:
/. During the last session of the
Legislature as chairman of this
Committee, l tried to get some of
the recommendations embodied in
our last report enacted into laws
with only very limited degree OF
success.
l. H. B. 495, introduced by Mr..
Watson, relating to the restriction
of the spread of venereal diseases
was passed. This law as enacted,
however, does not go as far as we
| could wish, not as far as our recon-
mendation of last year asked, but
| perhaps as far as we had any right
to expect along this new line of leg
islation.
We commend the General Assem-
bly, for the beginning thus made in
| this important matter that means
so much in the protection of the
| life of this and of coming genera
tions; and we pray the next Legisa-
ture to enact still more stringent
measure requiring among other
things that all persons contemplat-
ing marriage shall furnish medical
proof of freedom from these loath-
some diseases.
2. S. B. rs, introduced by MI.
| Johnson, and relating to "the ster-
| ilization of imbeciles, feeble-mind-
| ed and insane persons, rapists, con-
| firmed criminals and other defec-
| tives," was passed by both the Sen
ate and the House, but was yetoe-
| by the Governor. This action ON the
| part of the Governor we regret, and
we do most respectfully recommend
| to the next Legislature the careful
consideration of this exceedingly
| important matter, and that they en-
act some measure that will protect
society by the prevention of these
| defective classes from propagating
their kind.
3. s. b. 1879, relating to the le
| CALLING of traffic in Notwithstanding
drinks, fruits, tobacco and cigars
on Sunday, was defeated in the
House by an overwhelming majority
after 1t had passed the Senate.
While the matter embodied in this
Bill was not a part of your recon-
mendations of last year, the Chair
man of this Committee took the
| liberty of using his influence against
the passage of this Bill, believing
that such action would be in har-
mony with the wishes of this Con-
ference.
IL. In addition we respectfully
recommend the following:
/. Believing in the necessity of
more vital application of the
teachings of Jesus Christ as the
only solution of the great prob
lens of modern life, we urge a
more diligent study of those teach
ings in the light OF present day
needs. The doctrines OF unselfish-
ness, brotherly kindness and service
should be something more than
pous generalities and abstract prin-
ciples. How to make them more
truly part of the daily task, in our
home life, in our business life and
in our national life, is duty tina,
may well demand greater attention
on the part of both clergy and laity.
2. Recognizing the value oil
thrift and individual initiative and
enterprise, we urge the Importance
of raising still higher the standards
of business morality that will be
| manifest in a more just distribution
of the products of labor.
3. Believing that there Is need
of a more profound respect for law
and greater vigilance in the enforce
ment of law; that violations of
| liquor laws, and statutes designed TO
prevent the needless commerciatiz-
| ing of the Sabbath are altogether
too frequent, we urge that Christian
men and women endeavor to use
their influence toward a more dill
| gent law enforcement.
4. We recognize the need of a
more faithful performance of Civic
duties and a sense of responsibility
| that shall send the voter to the
polls and to the caucus or the pri-
mary regularly. rather than spas
medically in times of unusual ex-
element.
We urge the adoption of higher
ideals of public office-holding that
shall recognize duty to be perform
ed and a service to be rendered rath-
err than a salary to be received, or
an honor TO be enjoyed and passed
around.
| We deplore the undue emphasis
which has been placed upon politics
in this State in past years to the
neglect of more important matters,
and urge the enactment OF legisla-
ton that shall prohibit the expendi-
ture of large sums of money in Office
seeking, so that worth shall not suf-
fer a severe handicap when it is not
the possessor of great wealth.
5. Once more we commend the
cause of international arbitration as
the policy representing the highest
type of patriotism and statesman
ship, and hope that the day is not
far distant when a general plan may
be inaugurated for a reduction in
the size of armies and navies.
6. We commend the tendency
shown by our educational institu-
tons toward the adoption of courses
of greater practical usefulness with
out neglecting true culture.
Z. We believe that in the inter
ests of morality greater attention
should be given to the SUPPRESSION of