St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-05-27
The Department of Justice

The Department OF JuSIACe
The department of justice in the
government of Vermont is in the
unusual and quite humiliating po-
sition of being out of money and un-
able to pay bills as they become
due. 1t seems that the sum of $780,
600 was appropriated for this de-
partment up to July 1 of this year
and it was supposed the legisla-
ture had made ample provision for
the support of the department but on
June 1 the fund will be more than
exhausted Only one item has re-
ceived much attention as yet, nearly
$4,000 for detective services spent
between July 1, 1913 and April 80,
1914, but apparently this unusual
expense does not equal the shortage
in the department. OF this item At
torney General Brown has promised
a full statement and, as he requests,
we refrain from further comment I'M
til both sides have been heard
But the enormous cost of this de-
partment, especially the rapid in
crease shown during the past decade,
will attract attention and discussion
from now on. Here are some things
the department must show: that the
Office of attorney general is a ne
cessity and that the attorney general
has accomplished enough to warrant
the continuance of that office; that
the expense of maintaining a supreme
court of five members and county
courts with seven superior judges is
necessary to secure quick and accur
ate justice in Vermont: that munich
pal courts with judges under salary
and increased expenses are perform
ing better service than could be given
by local judges working on a per diem
basis; and that the legal technicali-
ties attached to present methods of
court procedure are necessary re-
quirements in securing justice.
II may not be fair to comment on
the above suggestions until the de-
partment of justice has made answer
to these questions, but some sug-
gestions already occur to our mind.
We believe that nine judges of the
Supreme Court of Vermont, five of
whom may sit as Judges of the
of that Court and one of whom shall
preside at each term of county court,
would be sufficient to handle all
business necessary to come before
the Supreme and county courts of
Vermont.
We believe that minor crimes and
minor civil cases should be handled
as they are now by court of lower
jurisdiction. The presiding officer
may be called a municipal judge or
a justice of the peace, but should not
be paid a stated salary. He should
be allowed compensation for time
actually spent in hearing cases and
fees for the issuance of necessary
papers and all bills approved by the
state auditor. In all minor civil cases
the parties in dispute should be al
lowed to present their case without
the employment of an attorney and
the case decided upon questions of
fact rather. than law. No appeal
should be allowed where the sum in
dispute is below specified sum.
We have outlined an extensive re-
organization of the department of
justice. In our ignorance we may
have made unwise suggestions but
we have had only one purpose in view
and that is quicker and cheaper just
ice in Vermont. If any of our sug-
gestions are shown to be inimical to
that purpose we will withdraw them
but they are offered at this time for
thought and discussion in the hope
the people will be ready to act wise
ly on the issues they present when
the next legislature meets.