The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-03-02
The Attorney eeneraIahip.

The Attorney Generalship.
BY vote of 1872 to AZ, the house
on Thursday last passed the bill
abolishing the Office of attorney gen.
eral in Vermont. 1t is stated by
those well acquainted with the senti-
ment of the senate that the bill will
be refused passage in the senate by
even stronger vote. This creates
very interesting situation. 1t can
not be denied that the vote OF the
house represents popular sentiment
| on this matter The office OF attor'
| ney general was created on a plea
| that 1t would be a measure OF econ
| omy by doing away with the employ
ment of special counsel in cases 81
homicide. etc. That it has failed to
effect any economy is shown by the
| records of the Office from it's estab-
| lishment to date. II was also claimed
| that the state officials should have
such a legal authority to which they
| could apply for legal advice. The
attorney generals have given SUCH
| advice but il proves to be only
| lawyers opinion and such an opin-
| ion is seldom final. the courts prov
ing the only final authority on legal
opinions. To watch proposed legis-
lation and prevent the enactment OF
unconstitutional acts and avoid legal
| acknowledgements was another service
that was promised with the office.
| but. the enactment of law has not
been materially improved since the
state has had an attorney general
So 1t must be admitted that this
branch of legal service to the state
has not made good. ii has been
tried and the people believe it is
found wanting.
Looked at from political stand
point the question possesses interest.
In the house all political parties are
represented but its verdict was not
given on party lines. Members of
all parties of any Importance voted
for it's adjustment. The senate Is
composed entirely OF republicans and
il that body kills the bill the Tepuh
lican party will be held responsible
for action contrary to popular SEN
timent. Republicans who would serve
their party faithfully should not so
embarrass IT,
platform did not promise to abolish
this office. II did not do SO because
the committee which drafted the
platform realized that ii was an open
issue and felt II would be unwise
to attempt to bind the party to deli
mite action in the matter. Other po-
litical platforms. however. did call
for the adjustment Of the office
The republican party also called for
retrenchment in the judiciary de-
partment of the government and this
is the first, and so far the only, pro-
position before the senate for re-
trenchment in that department.
Therefore it would seem as though
solidly republican senate is under
obligations to its party to heed the
popular verdict that has been given
on this question.
The legal profession is practically
solid in favor OF the continuance o. |
the office of attorney general but
the rest of the people are not. Ii |
would seem unwise for that profess /!
sion to attempt to thwart the will |
OF the people at this time. 1t is |
true that the present occupant of |
this office is a man of unquestioned |
characte- and ability. Every one |
feels that he will do his utmost to |
protect the state from unreasonable |
expense in that office. These facts |
are entitled to consideration but |
should not outweigh the record of
the Office as whole. Nor should |
they blind the members of the senate
to the popular desi-e of the whole
state
Our confidence that good govern
ment would not be harmed by the
adjustment of the office, our belief
that republican senators will serve
their party best by needing the de-
sires of the people and our desire
TO see real economy effected in the
conduct of the state government,
prompts us to earnestly appeal TO
each member of the state senate to
vote for the bill abolishing the OF
flee of attorney general.-St Johns
bury Caledonian.