St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-12-08
PRESS COMMENT


Let Us Not Forget.
i Who is not profoundly grateful
this week that this country has been
kept out of the maelstrom of war
Let US pray that we may so conduct
ourselves in all relations sustained to-
ward all other countries that there
need never be an occasion for our
sons and brothers to unsheath the
sword. "-Springfield Reporter.
Let US also pray that the time will
never come when we are SO loath to
draw the sword that we will submit
to indignities that deprive US of our
self-respect and the good opinion of
the nations of the earth. Let US pray
that the peace at any price idea will
find no comfort in the breasts of
Americans, for if it does then will the
glory that was ours depart. Let us
pray that the time will never come
when the lives of American citizens
will not be protected by the full might
of the nation, if need be. And in this
connection let US not forget that it has
i'been over half year since the Lusi-
tania murders were committed to the
horror of the civilized world. Let us
mot forget that in this case there was
no discredit to the United States from
the happening, but let us also be mind
Fful that the discredit will be ours if
1--WE fail to bring Germany to a recog-
milton of our position. How foolish
will this nation appear if the disavow-
Eal is not forthcoming and nothing
has happened to make us think that
1T is on the way. In brief, let us not
close our eyes to the situation as it
really exists.-St. Adams Messenger
New England Thrift.
SAVINGS hanIy dnn0CifS in Npxu
land total more than one and a half
billion dollars. The total number of
ldepositors exceeds three millions six
hundred thousand persons .(ffty-two
per cent. of the population) and the
average individual deposit is $422.
This is far ahead of any American
state or European nation. In the
words of an exchange, it is one of the
surest evidences of the habits of thrift
and steady living which for genera
tons have characterized New England
people. 1t is one of the most valuable
of New England resources responsible
to a very large degree for the CONNER
cial and industrial leadership of theI
Six States
And Vermont, considering its size,
makes an excellent showing, and one
which is growing better every year.
News.
VermOnts Supreme Court.
A very interesting article, accompa-
MED by table, on 1.-THE Output of the
Courts" appears in the current issue
of The Docket a publication designed
for lawyers. In the table accompany
ing the article proper are set forth the
number of opinions per year (1914 is |
taken as the standard) handed down
by the several appellate courts in the
United States, the number of judges
comprising each court, the average
number of opinions per judge, and the
average words per opinion. Notice is
taken of the average words per opinion
because, so it is set forth, judges are
becoming prolix, and it is argued that
t'the length of opinions which are
written must be reduced by providing
judges the opportunity to give more
careful consideration to the prepare
ton of each opinion which is written"
Too many opinions are ilI-considered |
and this shows up in their length, it
being argued that exact knowledge
tends to cOnciSeneSS. Undoubtedly |
there is considerable in this claim, al
though, so far as opinions are concern
ed, some states require that judgment |
be passed on every point raised, ire
spective of whether previous rulings
are a matter OF general knowledge |
among the legal profession or not.
The statistics presented in regard to
Vermont naturally are interesting to |
Vermonters, and may serve to promote |
some healthful discussion of court con-
ditions. The number of opinions han
ded down in 1914 by the five Vermont |
justices was "a. an average of 10 opin-
ions each for the year. The average
of words per opinion was |
3,462. These figures by themselves
mean nothing but they take on added
interest when brought into comparison |
with the figures presented by other
states. This comparison shows that |
only four appellate courts in the whole
country had fewer opinions per judge.
those in Ohio, New Hampshire, Della |
ware, and Wyoming. In other words, /
Vermont's justices are not pressed with |
work when compared with what JUS
tees in other states are expected to do.
1t is also interesting to read that the |
Vermont justices hand down lengthy |
decisions, which The Docket, rightly |
kknn NJ n 10