The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-18
APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES.
Montpelier Journal Thinks 1t Should Be
Left to Gov. Fletcher.

| Two views expressed by Vermont
newspapers recently concerning that
much discussed matter of an extra ses-
sion of the legislature challenge the par
| ticular attention of thinking citizens.
The esteemed st. Adams Messenger is
now and has been the most insistent of
the state press in the demand that the
governor shall convene the legislature in
ordinary session. 1t has declared that
there is every reason why the executive
should take such course and none why
he should not. The Journal has repeat
eddy requested its St. Adams Contem-
porary to reveal these imperative and
compelling reasons but thus far they
have not been Forthcoming. Reasons
have been presented, it is true, but to
this newspaper none has seemed to be
sufficient to warrant such an expense as
would be saddled on the state should an
extra session be called.
The fact that twice recently the Mes
senger has taken occasion to discuss this
question from the viewpoint that if no
extra session is called the appointment
OF judges of the supreme court, whose
term expire in December next, will de-
yolye upon the executive and that he
will appoint for full term of two
years, thus acting in violation of the
wishes and intentions of the people,
leads to the conclusion that perhaps
the controlling reason for the contem-
porary's oft repeated demand for such
a session has at last been revealed
And ii this conclusion is correct one
may well inquire why the Messenger is
bnG ratF "a 20,
permit the governor to exercise q eonsti-
tutional right and to appoint judges if
that duty deyolyes upon him. according
to his conscientious convictions of what
is best for Vermont and for it's people.
Can it claim the appointments 20 the
bench heretofore made by Gov Fletcher
have not been wise or that they have
not received the hearty endorsement of
the bar and the public generally? If it
makes such a claim it is not supported
in it by the predominating sentiment of
the people.
Can it be the Messenger wishes to
force upon the state the heavy cost of
an extraordinary session in order that
the supreme court may be made over to
its own liking or to that OF the interests
for which it speaks These questions
are fully warranted by such assertions
by the Messenger as the following;
Not every governor would want to
have everything his own way, and act
as his own sweet desire might dictate.
To nullify the wishes of the people is
a serious matter. No man is empow-
cred to be a dictator. We still want
constitutional government in Yer
mont"
The inuendo that the executive con-
templates or could be induced to take
action not in full conformity with the
constitution and not for the best in
terests of the people indicates deep
seated prejudice and lack of fairness
that is surprising.
In striking contrast with the warped
views of the Messenger is the sane and
convincing statement of the Bellows
Falls Times. Discussing the question
of the possible appointment of judges
by the governor it says:
IF they cannot hold over until their
successors are elected and qualify, or
if the governor cannot appoint for a
short term until the legislature can
elect in January, 1915, this paper sees
no serious objection to the governors
appointing for the full term of two
years. His appointments so far have
been pretty generally approved, except
ing of course, by the candidates who
were not appointed and their friends.
If the election rather than appointment
OF the judges is the only argument in
favor Of calling special session of the
legislature and allowing it to make a
raid ON the state treasury. we saw by
all means let the governor appoint, if
he can do so constitutionaliy. Even if
one or two of the present judges were
superseded, the state would stand the
jar much more complacentIy than it
would an increase in the state tax"
As between these two views there is
little doubt as to which the intelligent
of Vermont will give its en-
dorsement.- Montpelier journal