The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-12-31
FAITH POORLY PLACED

senator Croft insists that the leg
stature Of 1912 knew exactly what II
was doing when il neglected 20 pro-
vide for the hiatus OF the courts, due
10 the constitutional amendments, but
declares that special session was
generally expected This is a very
easy way Of passing the buck, but
legislatures should not put their faith
in special sessions. Rutland Herald.
The Herald evidently is not init
mately acquainted with what was go
ing on in Vermont several months ago,
otherwise il would not accuse Senator
Croft Of attempting TO pass the
buck" whatever that elegant phrase
may mean, Supposing that it means
trying to switch the fault, what is
found
The Legislature of 1912 had every
reason TO believe that special session
Of the Legislature would be called.
Governor Fletcher himself expected
a special session would be called.
Steps were taken for the business
to be performed at that special SEES
sion and commission was appointed
TO bring the laws into conformity with
the changes in the constitution.
The legislature put its faith in a
special session, and so did the whole
state, for that matter. 1t was faith
unwisely placed, but the legislature
and the people are not to blame for
this. They had ample grounds for be-
lieving that they were acting wisely.
Senator Croft calls attention to the
affidavit filed by the governor with the
Supreme court of the United States
as signifying the expectation that a
special session would be called. There
are other grounds for such belief.
Surprising that Allen NJ. Fletcher
could be quoted exactly as to his inten-
ton in regard to a special session.
Surprising this quotation should come
from an official document, not from
an off-hand expression or from q
newspaper interview. What would
the Herald say if this were done?
Well, it can be done, and hereby is
done. Let the contemporary turn to
its files relative to the transmitting OF
the special telephone Investigators re-
port to the public service commission,
and it will find that Governor Fletcher
used these very words:
"If by reason of such action on your
part, questions of law or equity pre-
sent themselves which either the State
or the telephone company may elect
to appeal to the supreme court, the
State may properly ask for speedy
adjudication of the same and thus de-
termine whether additional legislation
NAV be required at the hands of the
special session of the legislature which
for other reasons | shall be compelled
to call"
No euuivocation there. Allen M.
Fletcher said in so many words that
he would be compelled to call special
session of the Legislature. Has ne
ever given any reason for changing his
mind? When Mr.. Fletcher used these
words he was not astonishing the
state; it was generally accepted that
the session would have to be called to
get the laws into shape.
But it wasn't called and the laws are
not in shape and Vermont is in the
condition in which it now finds itself.
Were not Senator Croft and the other
members of the legislature justified
in putting their faith in a special ses-
sion? How can the contemporary ex-
plain away the evidence that Governor
Fletcher himself furnishes ?-St. Al
bans Messenger.