Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-14
PARTING NJ ESSA GE
Of GOV. FLETCHER
HOLDS EARS Of ALL

- ~ - ~ ~ WILL ~ ~ W - - |
CONTINUED from page tcn)
had been presented to them and they did
not agree with him what do YOU suppose
the executive would have done? Would
he have accepted the then opinion of the
supreme court? Flc would have had to.
They were his legal advisers.
THE PARTRIDGE STATEMENT.
Now gentlemen I think it proper and
possible your due and certainly my right
under the circumstances to refer to a
public statement by Mr.. Partridge.
chairman Of the commission Of which /
was n member, which prepared these leg
islation amendments Now without any
desire to reflect for "a moment upon the
motive which lead that distinguished
gentleman To- take the public into his
confidcnco ut tho particular time that
lie did ! wish "a say 20 YOU that agree
with him entirely in somr Of the state
neuts that y" makes lie says IN TACT
that j, vas Tie intent Of that commits
sion to 10 ccrtai" HINGES but they did
not ahaiEe or attempt - change the time
q: office Tor certain reasons However
hat maE Doe. ! have this to- say they
'nd Cor him that respect and admiration
that # he hal seen III 10 further amend
by the very simple form Of saying the
tifnc of office Of these gentlemen the sill
creme court ana others should continue
until their SUCCESSORS We're elected and
qualified they had that respect for him
that they woulG rot have undertaken to
override his conclusion. Speaking rs ono
member ~ that commission, II the com
mission arc responsible am pcrfcrt,N
wiling to take my part uf tho rcs001-
s1bilitN and have no desire So place &c
upon any one else None whatever !
do, however. say this. tho commissions
report flnal and under the law went to
tho Senate. Tho initiative before any
step could ho taken by the state was in
'he Senate Of 1910 The House of 1919
could do nothing with this matter ana
nothing could come before them unless |
e Wa first sent To- item by the Senate !
of f9o. 1t was for them to- suggest. !
There were many eminent lawyers N !
nat Senate Of 1910 and gentlemen that
Senate Of 1910 had courage. had the !
strength OF their convictions and they Dc !
lioeratev killed Ia my mind the most
important one 90 all those legislation
amendments and that was thu time lock !
provision.
The Senate Of 1910 who took the mi
ttative in this matter 50 far as the stat" !
was CONCERNED deliberately said To tn" !
State OF Vermont. we nave not enough
confidence in you to allow you 10 vote
upon the question Whethor tn" time
lock provision shall he taken or not: nov
gentlemen I haV" cndcavorcd 10 place
the facts before YOU and facts alone.
The Responsibilities of this situation Is
with Won and not with the executive. 1t
is for YOU to determine whether you
desire and whether II is for the best In
terests Of the State to have two courts
or whether II is not IL my actions had
before me the advice of the court that
there was n vacancy that should be filled
and that could only he filed one way
and YOU know how that has been treated
by me.
As to tho personnel of the court |
have this to say. II IS absolutely true
that tn. primary consideration in my
mind was not ncCcssar ilv TO do that
which absolutely met tho wishes Of
tho bar association. The bar associa-
ton f. made up Of two hundred or
moro mon. but did have in view
primarily as one who had been in this
Legislature for ten years and who
was in touch with conditions both as
such and as executive. did have in
Wow primarily In the personnel Of
that court that which ! thought best
not for the bar association but for
tho $4,000 people in this State for
whom had taken the oath of office
to do the best ] could for those were
the people | had in view when / took
that action.
would suggest that you can hear
in the hall all sorts and kinds of
runors. Your supreme court is in
session and among its number are to
lc found two gentlemen who Joined in
this opinion to the executive. 1t is
possible for YOU to find out If you so
desire whether there was any such
opinion or not.
Spea king now for a moment relative to
the superior court. There was one
change made by the executive there and
il was made by reason of the fact tina
certain conditions had arisen which in thu
mind of the executive made Il absolutely
impossible for him to do any other :han
tnat whica n" did II Is easy il Won dc
t,rc To get ut the facts relative To- that
= 50 happenr that one of jh. member. /
Of this House. the gentleman from Rock !
tnsham vas present at the hearing with |
the Governor ana heard an that was
raid about it. /, g within your power
10 yet NV aad aN me facts relative to
that matter.
Finelly ".r experience leads me to the
conclusion that the State would ne hene-
ftcd not so much ny the passage OF TOO
many new laws but rather by the correc-