Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-08-20
GOVERNOR HAS NOT
YET DECIDED FOR
SPECIAL session
Problems Are Election of Judges,
Insurance Regulation and
Bonds, AttOrney-Gen-
eral, Primaries and
Senatorial
Laws.

Governor Fletcher concerning the pos
sibility of a special session of the Legis-
lature and matters which might come
10 it's attention. Governor Fletcher says
that the Legislature might properly con-
slider the election of Judges, stop an In
surance commissioner in effect from
passing on his own bond and solve the at
torney-gencral problem besides disposing
of the direct primary and senatorial cleo
ton questions. The Tribune will say:
The Tribune has been much Interested
in the newspaper agitation bearing upon
the special session idea, the advice so
freely offered the Executive by way of
assisting him to decide the question, and
the gue.sses INDUCED in as to the likeli-
hood of such calling together of the
lawmakers before the date Of the regular
session A representative Of this paper
interviewed Governor Fletcher on this
subject the other day, and found him not
dsnclined to take the public into his
confidence as touching several points OF
special interest
This question was pu:: Governor
have you decided not to call a special
session."
Governor Fletcher replied that he had
not so decided that in connection with
the changes IN the OTEdllC ldN-'ui
constitution-and tho consequent adjust
ment of the statutory law to the or
ganic, the material question involved is
can there be an election this fall with
out a special session of the legislature?
In the consideration of that question
thus far no material obstacle has pre-
scented Itself; but some obstacle might
present itself at any time, and a special
t,-. t1,,tpt. FORE n n
such decision should be made
We'll, Governor. If the necessity for
n special session should present itself.
what subjects are there, if any, that
might properly be brought to the at
tention of the Legislature and acted upon
at that time rather than go over to the
next regular session of the lcgslaturc?'
ELECTION OF JUDGES.
In reply to this question Governor
Fletcher said the Legislature might con-
slider the constitution as II now reads rcla e
tive to tho election of judges, and de-
termine whether, under existing condi-
tons the best interest Of the State would
be advanced by any action on its part
in special session. Upon being asked it,
as a member of the revision committee
which recommended the changes in the
constitution, he considered the words
and oftencr if need be-" to be proper
~ in the constitution at this time, he
said that he had decided views on that
subject; however, representing the eX-
ecutive branch of the government, whose
functions are entirely separate and apart
from the judicial, but carry with them
the broad power, under certain condi-
.ions, of appointing a court, ne did not
consider this question Il proper one for
aim to answer at this time.
He further said that the legislature
might with propriety for all time, put
an end to the possibility of condition.
arising similar to those which recently
surrounded the State treasurer's bond,
and make it impossible for "A treasurer,
as insurance commissioner, to first pass
upon the condition of an insurance com
pany whose bond he might later present
to the governor as surety for the faith
full performances of the duties of his Of
fee The Governor also further expressed
it as his opinion that there should ne no
divided authority or responsibility in any
administrative department OF the State
"A condition which does exist IN this
department at this time.
Governor Fletcher further said that
the Legislature might with propriety lay
down the necessary machinery for the
election OF a 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
IF the Legislature.
He further said that the legislature
might with propriety change the pres
ent law for the election of congressman.
making plurality elect rather than ma
jority Is now required
THE ATTORNEY GENERALSHIP
Governor Fletcher also said the lcgis-
ature might with propriety either ma
terialy limit the powers OF the attor-
ney general or abolish the office entire
" before there was an election of an
other one. AS member of the legis-
lature he voted for the creation of the
office of attorney-gencral, on the ground
of expediting the legal business of the
state, lessening the expense of the ju-
dietary department. and advancing the
interests of the State IN general But
as member of the legislature later
and az an executive, he has become con,
vinced that the action then taken or
the part of the State In creating thai
office was mistake; that this state
office. lie doubts whether the legal bust
ness of the state has been expedited
and he feels the division of responsible
iity between the encouragement ant
the States attorneys has proved a de
,riment to the State; but he is thorough
ly convinced that the expense OF tn
judiciary department In this connec
ton, has been materially increased
TREMENDOUS EXPENSES.
In the biennial period of 1901 1902 the Stat
had no expense in the way of salary 70
an encouragement; the expense for th
office In the biennial period Of 193-19l
Gf the Governor is correctly informed
exceeds s14,5U. The expense for detec
tive service for the biennial term of 1901
1902 was in excess OF sl.l00; the expens
for that sort of service in the biennia
Term of 193-l9l4 was In excess OF s6l,5ot
making a total expense in the attorney
generals office for 19l3-l9l4 of approx
mateiy $4,000; the rate of the cXpens
for detective service for the entire bien
NAL period, in the same proportion a
during the last nine months, would pro
duce a total expense for the attorney
generals office. and that which come
under his control. in the vicinity of 800,
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