News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-01-13
FROM THE STATE CAPITOL
Interesting Letter Concerning
Opening Days of the Session
A Strong Body-Business Its
Main Object-A Short Session
Expected
MONTPELIER, W.T.,
Jan. IL, 1915.
Dear News and Citizen:-

This is not a bedbug and muskrat leg
stature. This fact is already established
| Whatever else it may turn out to be does
not yet appear, but thus far every symp.
tom, hint and indication goes to show
that the general assembly of 1915 is an
unusually level-he AIDED, sensible and able
body of men. / have seen several legisla-
lures in more or less action, and this one
impresses me as being in intelligent touch
with the real vital interests of the state
and also in being in dead earnest as to
| transacting the business of the session
promptly and with excellent judgment.
Very likely much that it will accomplish
will not meet with unanimous approval
but as body it is thoroughly qualified
to produce excellent results
| The first week of only three working
| days gave the business of the session a
big impetus, and today the work is
| further advanced than it was at the end
of the first fortnight of the session pre-
ceding it. This is certainly ''going some"
and they have not yet struck their best
road gait. Contrary TO all precedent the
committees of the senate and many of
the most important ones of the House
were announced Friday before adjourn
ment to Monday, and more bills were in
troduced Friday in both houses than
came in during the entire first three
weeks of the session of two years ago.
With such record as this there is GER
tainly no reason for criticism thus far.
None of the large bills are in sight yet,
but they are all incubating and on the
way. Then the wars of opinion before
the committees and on the floor will wax
furious.
procrastnation permitted by the leaders,
and every man who wants to say or do
anything must keep on the job with his
eyes open. One bill, even passed the
House Friday, that authorizing the Off
Gals of Franklin county to borrow 81 !
400 for the purpose of making certain
repairs on their county buildings. AL |
though he must have sized up the breth- |
rem as not being hedgehog bunch, |
nevertheless Mr. Perkins of Bridgewater |
threw a bill into the House increasing |
the bounty on these household pets to 80 |
cents, providing the decapit ated head as !
proof and the respectful interment of the |
remains. Mr. Perkins evidently will |
prove the game watchdog of the House.
as he also introduced bill to shorten
up the open deer season to six days. i
Well, somebody must attend to these
matters, but one of the kind is enough.
There is considerable speculation as to
the educational bill, or bills, and the
h ader-the one promoting the report of
the commission isexpected soon. How
opposition, and another some of its
matter and some new ideas may be given
strong support AS to the question of
the courts, it is now the intention of the
legislature to elect full benches of both
the supreme and superior courts when it
gets good and ready, and if any legal
point is afterwards raised the state will
fight it out on the lines laid down by the
legislature. Long before Gov Fletcher
suggested it there was a considerable
sentiment in favor of a drastic handling
of the various municipalcourts, some few
being in favor of abolishing them entirely,
while Others would largely extend their
jurisdiction and perhaps give them large
part of the jurisdiction and powers of the
present superior courts. Here are three
courts to be recognized and revised, and
all this will lead to considerable serious
thought. This triangle of courts presents
a very involved question. The principle
OF economy in court expenses may be
deciding factor, as there is a very deep
seated and pronounced sentiment that
our court expenses are altogether too
high, and many feel that the time has
arrived to use drastic treatment in deal
ing with the question.
Many predict that either the superior
or the municipal court system must go.
and in that case it will likely be the
latter. 1t is freely argued here that the
court scheme has proven a
failure, and that we might well go back
to the old trial justice idea in each town.
DRINKS and the like minor offences COM
prise largely the work of the municipal
Judges, and certainly we had as good re-
suits under the old trail justice system
And yet, there seems to benz present fear
of losing the municipal courts, as bills
are already in, establishing two more of
them--in Orange and Addison counties.
The idea of sixty days session and a
lump sum for the members is by no means
dead yet. Senator Powell proposes TO
make this hot issue, and will introduce
a bill or resolution to this effect and adj
vocate it strenuously in and out of sea-
son. The unexpected progress which the