The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-27
Vermont Legislative Problems.
Boston Herald.

Vermont ; legislature meets bicn-
nially. and no general desire for more
frequent meetings exists, especially
- the average length of the sessions
has doubled in 80 wears.
50, while it had been expected that
an extra session would be necessary
next spring. satisfaction is general
over the prospect that il may be
avoided. There have been eight special
sessions in the history of the state
in 1857, 1861. 1868, 1867. 1875. 1891,
and 1898. the longest being / DAYS
and the average duration five DAYS
| Should an extra session be called this
| year it would without doubt continue
a month, and perhaps. longer, as there
would be several matters TO be disposed
of and legislative activity could not
be restricted TO the special matters for
which the session might be summoned
/ The change in the federal constita-
tion relating TO the election of United
States senators, the adoption by the
| people last March of certain amend
| ments TO the state constitution and
! the action TO be taken next March on
a direct or indirect primary law are
the principal things which seemed
likely to make special session neces-
sary.
| Senator Dillingham; has introduced a
bill providing that states that have not
made provision for the election of
United States senators by popular
vote may elect for once under fhe old
system. There is some doubt of the
constitutionalitv of such a law, but il
might serve to bridge the gap until the
legislature, in regular session, could
make the necessary provision.
The date of the state election is
changed from September and the meer-
inc OF the legislature from October to
January by the amended constitution,
and more than 100 changes in the
statutes will he necessary TO make them
conform TO the altered conditions. Good
lawyers hold. however, and cite the
|; precedent of other state in support OF
the claim. that. by the adoption of the
amendment 20 the constitution, the
; statutes are automatically changed ana
| the election can be held and the legis
, lature can meet on the new dates
| without any further action; that thg
! changes in the laws are only mattei
of form, and can just as well be made
at the next regular session.
At present the justices of the su
preme court and the superior judges
detective by the legislature, take theil
). seats Dec. /. There is no provision
! that they may continue in Office unit
. their Successors are elected; and
apparently, unless a special session
:. makes another provision, there will b'
! no courts in the state from Dee.
: 1914, till an election is made by TIL
:. Legislature that will assemble in Jan
;, uary, 1915.
: After long discussion, the Legislature
. Of 1923 submitted to the people tn
!. question whether they would have
:, direct or an indirect primary. Iha
:, question will be decided at the annua
town meetings next March, and tn
passage of n primary law in accord
V anee with the popular vote will b
IL necessary. But if nominating eonven
d tions are abolished by popular vote ]
: is held that nominations may be mad
n this year by petition, and that tn
& preparation of the necessary primar