The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-08-20
SOME PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
Governor Fletcher Interviewed as to
Special Session Prospects.
vermont Tribune of Aug 90 F.,

- N'AS hONSIdpt dGIldIlOH bearing
upon the special session idea, the al. |
wee so freely offered the executive BIZ |
way OF assisting him to decide tie
question, and the guesses INDUCED il
as to the likelihood of such a calling
together of the lawma kers before the |
date of the regular session. repre-
sentative of this paper interviewed
Governor Fletcher on this subject the
other day, and found him not disin-
cllned to take the public into his con
hdence rs touching several points of
special interest.
This question was put: 'GoverIor,
have you decided not to call spcclal
session.
Governor Fletcher replied that he
had not so decided; that in connection
with the changes in the organic law II
our constitution-and the consequent
adjustment of the statutory law to the
organic, the material question involved
IS: Can there be an election this fall
without a special session of the legis
lature? In the consideration of that
question thus far no material obstacle
has presented itself; but some obstacle
might present itself at any time, and
a special session become necessity;
therefore no such decision should be
made.
WEI, bONeTHOf, II the necessity
for a special session should present
| itself, what subjects are there, if any,
that might properly be brought to the
attention Of the legislature and acted
upon at that time rather than 90 over
to the next regular session of the legis
| lature?''
In reply to this question Governor
Fletcher said the legislature might
consider the constitution as it now
reads relative to the election of Judges,
and determine whether, under existing
conditions, the best interests Of the
| state would be advanced by any action
on its part in special session. Upon
| being asked if. as member OF the re
vision committee which recommended
the changes in the constitution, he
considered the words and oltener if
need be, - to be properly in the eonsti-
| tuition at this time, he said that while
| he had decided views on that subject,
! however, representing executive branch
of the government, whose functions
are entirely separate and apart from
| the judicial, but carry with them the
, broad power, under certain conditions.
of appointing court, he did not con-
slider this question a proper one for
him to answer at this time.
He further said that the legislature
! III WIN l'lU IiiCNA- tpl an Niilt, pun
| an end to the possibility of conditions
arising similar to those which recently
| surrounded the state treasurer 5 bond.
| and make it impossible for treasurer,
| as insurance commissioner, to first pass
upon the condition of an insurance
company whose bond he might later
present to the governor as surety for
that faithful performance of the duties
of his office. The governor also further
| expressed it as his opinion that there
should he no divided authority or re
sponsibility in any administrative de
partment of the state a condition
which does exist in this department
at this time.
Governor Fletcher further said that
the legislature might with propriety
Law down the necessary machinery for
the election of United States senator,
for which the state now had none other
than the general provision by congress
for such states as have yet had no
meeting of the Legislature.
lie further said that the legislature
might with propriety change the pres
emit law for the election of congress
men, making plurality elect, rather
than ma ioritv as is now required.
Governor Fletcher also said the legis-
lature might with propriety either ma
teriallv limit the powers of the attoT-
nev general or abolish the office entire
| lv before there was an election OF an
! other one. AS a member of the legls-
lature he voted for the creation of the
Office of attorncy-gcncral. on the ground
of expediting the legal business of the
state, lesscnng the expense of the III
: dietary department, and advancing the
interests of the state in general. But
as member of the legislature later,
10 I,pG hng aTnp
convinced that the action then taken
on the part of the state in creating
that office was a mistake ;that this
, state is not large enough to require
such an office. He doubts whether the
, legal business of the state has been eX
pedited, and he feels that the division
| of responsibility between the attorney
general and the state S attorneys has
proven n detriment to the state; but
t he is thoroughly convinced that the eN
pense of the judiciary department, II
, this connection, has been materially
increased. In the biennial period OF
l9Ol-l9O2 the state had no expense il
the way of salary for attorney
general; the expense for this office II
; the biennial period of l9l3-l9l4 (lf
the governor is correctly informed) eN
I eceds $4,000. The expense for detec
tive service for the biennial term OF
4 190I-1902 was in excess of SLIGO; the
V expense for that sort of service IN the
; biennial term of l9l3-19l4 was IN eX
cess of SCI 800, making a total eX
pense in the attorney general 5 Office
for 1913-1914 of approximately SO,
I 600; the rate of the expense for de
tective service for the entire biennia
period, in the same proportion as dur
| ing the last nine months, would produce
! total expense for the attorney-gen
eral s office, and that which comes IN
der MS control. in the vicinity of 800,
600. This office is statutory and no
constitutional, and is therefore sub
iect ia adjustment bv the legislature