The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-12-03
STATE JUDICIARY
IL REORG AIMED
Bi THE GOVERNOR

Governor Allen NJ. Fletcher and his
secretary Of civil and military affairs.
Warner A. Graham Of Bellows Falls,
returned to Burlington last evening
after a busy day at Montpelier. during
which commissions were issued to the
members Of the Supreme and Superior
Courts and to certain State officials
whose terms Of Office expired Deeem-
Der l.. Governor Fletcher furnished a
representative Of the Free press with
a list Of the appointments, which are
given below, II will be noted that
there are some changes in the makeup
of the courts.
In the supreme court are two new
members, Leighton p. Slack Of st.
Johnsbury and Robert f. Healy Of
Bennington, Justices Loveland Munson
and Seneca Haselton being retired.
There are also two changes in the list
of superior judges. The new judges
are Walter A. Dutton of Hardwick and
James b. Donoway of Middlebury, the
retiring members being Frank l.. Fish
of Vergennes, and Judge Slack, who
becomes justice of the supreme
court.
The new courts are commissioned as
follows, the terms of office dating
from and including December /, for
two years:
Supreme Court
George M. Powers Of Morrisville,
chief justice.
John H. Watson, of Montpelier, first
associate justice.
William H. Taylor of Hardwick, sec
ond associate justice.
Leighton p Slack of st. Johnsbury,
third associate justice.
Robert f. Healy of Bennington,
fourth associate justice.
Superior Judges
Willard w. Miles of Barton, first su-
perior judge.
Eleazer l.. Waterman of Brattle-
boro, second superior Judge.
Zed S. Stanton of Roxbury, third su-
oerior Judge.
Fred NJ. Butler of Rutland, fourth
Judge.
Walter A. Dutton of Hardiwck, fifth |
superior Judge.
James B. Donoway of Middebury,
'ixth superior Judge.
Other Commissions
Other commissions were issued by
he Governor as follows:
Robert c. Bacon of Brattleboro, as
member of the public service commits
ion for balance of the term ending De-
ember 81, 1918, and second commits
zion as chairman of the public service
commission for balance Of term ending
December 81, 1914.
Herbert G. Barber, Brattleboro, at
orney general for a term Of two years
rom December /.
William p. Dillingham;, Newman X.
Chaffee of Rutland, Warren R. Austin
Il st. Adams, trustees of the Univer-
ity Of Vermont and State Agricultur-
Il College for term of six years.
l.. c. Russell Of Middlebury, Judge of
he municipal court for the county Of
Addison to succeed James B. Dono-
way, resigned.
N. A. Norton of Lyndonville, States
'ttorney for Caledonia county to sue
eed W. A. Dutton, resigned
Collins M. Graves of Bennington,
eviser of bills.
Regarding the appointment of the
upreme and superior court judges,
Governor Fletcher made the following
tatement:
Gov. Fletcher's Statement
The constitution contemplates and
equires the existence of courts at all
ines. Therefore, it is my plain duty
0 obey the mandate. My action in
ppointing for two years is directly in
ne with advice from the supreme
curt itself to the effect that that was
he only appointment could make, for
either the Governor nor the Legisla-
lre could alter, extend or diminish
he constitutional provision and limi-
alton Of the term of two years.
The law of our sister States, New I
and Massachusetts, and
Their States, which provides for the
etirement of judges having reached
he age limit Of 10 under certain pro-
isions and conditions, is in the line
I conservative. advanced thought, and
hould result in active, virile, forceful ,
ourts in touch with existing condi- '
ions.
Any true or real betterment Of ex- {
sting conditions must commence not
o much in the amendment OF existing I
Avs or in the creation of new laws, !