Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-04-22

is part of newspapers business to
express opinions. These opinions may
or may not be correct but they often
aid the public in coming to just conclu-
siens.
The further argument of the Journal
against an extra session is on the
ground of expense, and expediency:
It says. 1.-THE legislature is, as the tax
payers realize fully, costly body to
maintain. The recent regular session
involved an outlay of nearly $500. 600.
If convened in special session how
much additional expense would be laid
upon the taxpayers? Would it be
S25. 900. $4,000 or a larger sum?
Would such an outlay be warranted for
the purpose of passing a direct pri-
mary law. in view of the fact that ex-
listing statues provide means by which
candidates for public Offices can be
named by the people? Would it not
be the part of wisdom and economy to
make use of the means for direct nomi-
nations already available until the reg
liar session Of the luw-making body in
anuary next, rather than place upon
the taxpayers the heavy cost of a spe-
cial sesson?'
Taking up the question of expense
first. A committee of attorneys has
been at work drawing up the changes
in statutes made necessary by the
changes in the constitution. There are
some 400 of these changes and they
must be made by some legislature. Is
it better to put the work before the
experienced legislature of 1912 or the
new legislature of 1915? If you want
horse shod is it better to go to black
smith or to a young man who has start
ed IN this morning to learn the black
smiths trade? Which would be the
best economy?
The newly amended onstitution for
bids any more special charters and
cOmpels the enactment of a general in
corporation law. The legislature of
1912 proved rather more competent
than the ordinary run of legislatures in
handling corporation measures and par
ticularly in safeguarding the interes IS
the state. With this in mind wouldn' t
ii be wiser to tell the legislature of
1872 to enact a general incorporation
law rather than put the job up to the
new Legislature not yet elected?
Another thing that has not yet been
discussed so far as We have seen is the
danger of litigation with these 400 law
changes needed, with nominations to
make, hold an election and get the new
session under way. legal questions are
likely to arise that could easily be pre-
vented by making the changes first
Then there is the election of a Unit
ed States senator to be made There
seems to be good deal of question at
tached to this matter that could be
done away with by an enactment made
at special session.
Lastly there is the direct primary.
The state voted for it by five to one.
1t is not legally necessary that we have
it this year, but it is a moral Obliga
ton which should be needed. The
Journal is wrong in saying that the
people can express themselves now.
To say so is equivalent to saying that
there is no need Of a primary. and the
people have voted otherwise
The question before the governor is
not one of absolute legal necessity but
one of right, reason, justice and bust
ness judgment, and The Banner be
lieves that it is moral duty of Gov
ernor Fletcher to call it early enough
so that the enactments may be made
somewhat before the state tries tC
account for them. Not only is the
moral obligation compelling, but we
believe that it would be the best bust
ness judgment and that it would save
the state thousands of dollars anc
many years of litigation and trouble
Bennington Banner.