The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-18
PUBLIC HEARING
ON COURT REFORM
Recommendations Of Special Commits
sion Subject of Discussion Before
Judiciary Committee.
Especial to The Reformer.)
MONTPELIER March

MONTPELIER, March Is
y public hearing was held before the
Judiciary committee in the house cham
Der last evening with reference 10
the report of the commission appoint
ed pursuant to the Joint resolution intro
duced by Mr. Ware of Townshend Is
recommend Il simplitied method of court
procedure and practice. Justice George
NJ. Powers chairman of the commission,
appeared and explained in detail the
various recommendations of the commits
sion. Justice Powers stated that he was
not here To advocate but merely to eN-
plain the report. He thought that While
lawyers stood in the front rank in other
attempts at reform when it came TO court
proceedings they Jagged far behind be
cause they were welded to precedent.
| When the commission started out they
| had come to believe that there were only
two ways to try a case, to make a case
on paper and to make it in court, but had
finally decided to recommend a system to
abolish the form OF pleading and retain
the substance and have but four forms
OF action.
Judge Powers said that the question OF
simplitied court procedure had been a2i
tated the country over and that the idea
was III no sense new one.
Among the minor points considered by
the commission was the subject OF court
reporting and rs To whether it was advi.
able to place this ON Il salary basis instead
of the present per diem compensation.
The present cost was $4,000 and it was
thought that a small saving to the state
might be accomplished by providing for a
salary OF $500 at which it was thought
competent service might be obtained
, Judge Frank L. Fish also explained the
, changes proposed by the report and EN-
iphaszed the necessity of d simpler and
. cheaper method Of obtaining Justice al
though he stated during the course OF his
/ remarks that too much weight should not
be given to mere clamor Tor such reform
I Harry Shurtlef OF Montpelier was ii
2 favor of speed in Justice, but thought thai
= il the legislature could not give the mat
T. ter due consideration it should 60 over &
70 another session.
il Clarke c. Fits of Brattlcboro espresso
Y himself as heartily in favor of the pro
1 posed reforms and said the session ough
q not 10 close until some steps were taSrI
: along these lines. In speaking of TN
Z. method Of court reporting ne said that ii
t. Nindham county there was feeling tina
d there should be d court reporter win
+ iwould contine his duties To that county
that he had once waited five months for
transcript because the reporter dutie
called him somewhere else He was ais
, in favor OF having assistant judges stJiu
- ionly m fact and not during Jury trials d
~ he did not consider them of service ]
u such trials
John G. Sargent said he was not Yer
familiar with the proposed change adv,
= Gated by the rcpor but thought that as
Z, lawyer looking for business he was
u favor OF them, but as a citizen should (
y against them. and that the legisIat,.r
- Should give time and consideration To Il
!, matter.
y Judge Ialland b. Howe DISCUSSED ii
" proposed change and behind that tn,
did not really 90 far enough and he hop,
- tie committee would at least adopt su,
as had been most strongly recommends