The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-01-21
.EA NINGToN COUNTY'S
REPRESENTATIVES, BUSY
he Journals Special Representative
a Montpelier Writes of Affairs as
lie secs hem.

! Montpelier. Jan. l9--Ihe wheels OF
| 'giS alton are now revolving merrily
tho state house, the governmental
machinery has been oiled, its various
parts adjusted TO properly meet the
stress and storm Of the demands upon
il and ii has been grinding out laws
for the better part Of two weeks. The
most important piece Of Legislation
enacted during the week, at least, as
your correspondent views it, was the
passage by both houses under suspen-
sion of rules Of Senate bill 81 which
provides for the term of Office Of JUS
tees Of the supreme court. 1t says
that their term of office shall begin on
the first day of February after cleo
ton. This bill, introduced into the
Senate by Senator Powell, was evil
IDENTIFY designed to pave the way for
the election of these justices by the
legislature. 1t would be beside the
mark to enter at this time into dis
cussion of the court tangle" as it has
been aptly called. 1t has been thor
oughly aired in the papers during the
past months and all sorts of opinions
have been expressed and all sorts of
solutions offered. Suffice it is to say
that the legislature showed pretty
conclusively, by its swift passage Of
this measure, that, whether justly or
unjustly, it considered that Governor
Fletcher's appointment of justices, not
merely to fill an interim occassioned
by a conflict between constitution and
statutory requirements, but for a full
term of two years infringed upon its
constitutional rights as the legislative
body. The members came to Mont
pelier with the evident intention OF
electing justices and unless all signs
fail they are going to do so next
Thursday. There has of course been
some opposition to this course but IN
results it has been almost negligible.
This opposition has been led by Chair
man Warner A. Graham of Rocking
ham who heads the judiciary commit
tee. and by Mr.. M. G. Morse of Hard
wick. also a member. These two mem
bers filed an adverse minority report
upon the bill mentioned above IN
which were given six reasons why the
bill ought not to pass, the most
weighty of which is perhaps reason
fourth" which maintains that the
election of justices by the general
assembly for the term contemplated
by this bill would cast serious doubt
upon the legality of our supreme
court and its decisions" The only OPP
position 10 the bill outside OF that
mentioned developed when Mr.. Morse
of Hardwiek, moved that the bill be
ordered to live and be made special
order for Wednesday, January goth, at
2:30 D. m. This motion was killed by
yea and nay vote Of 81 to III. The
yea vote, however, can hardly be con-
strued as in opposition to the bill, as
it was Immediately passed under sus-
pension of the rules with scarcely a
dissenting vote, but merely as an lndi-
cation that some members would per-
haps have preferred little more time
to consider the bill. An amusing IN
cident happened during the joint ses-
sion held on Thursday to hear the re-
port of the joint canvassing commit
ice to canvass votes for county and
probate officers. The town of Somer-
set being without the necessary quota
of justices of the peace, nominations
were called for. The member from
Somerset being absent it was sug-
pested by Ware of Townshend that
possibly some member from a nearby
town could suggest candidate. Mf.
Eddy of Strathford, said ne doubted
if there were voters enough IN the
town of Somerset to fill up the list OF
five justices. The name Of George
Harrington was presented whereupon
Mr.. Miller Of Bethel rose to inquire ii
the Mr.. harrington mentioned was the
man who represented Somerset IN the
last legislature, because if such were
the case he took occasion to regretfui-
" inform the assembly that he would
probably not be able to serve IN that
eapacity as he was authorativeiy IN
formed that the said gentleman was
dead The incident created much
amusement. One Of the numerous at
tempts at solution of the judgeship
question appeared in the joint reso.
luton offered by Mr.. Hapgood OF
Peru, which politely requested the SUI
preme and superior judges to resign
at an early date TO take effect when
their successors were elected. In pre-
senting this resolution Mr.. Hapgood
said that he did not wish it acted upon
without due deliberation and upon ms
motion il was ordered TO lie and be
made special order for Tuesday
morning at IL o'clock.
Bennington county members have
taken an active part in legislative ac-
ton 80 far. About seven bills nave
been introduced by them, besides q
number Of joint resolutions. Among
the important bills might be mention
ed three by Mr.. Hollister OF benning-
ton. The most important OF these are
H53. relating TO the conditions OF
liouor licenses and which among other
things provides for an inspection, oy
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