The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-04-19
The Senate.
Rutland ierald.l

The senate defeated the district
court bill on the most specious pre-
texts, following arguments which were
actually aimed at the present system
of municipal courts.
1t refused to perfect the present sys-
tenn, and ii refused to reduce il to
strictly municipal courts. 1t left all
existing defects, refused all remedies
and placed itself in the position of re-
action.
On the Stearns court BILL after n
tentative agreement to the compromise |
measure, it refused absolutely 10 meet |
the house on aay essential provision, |
and not only insisted on six superior
/ judges but actually had the assurance
! to propose an amendment that would
practically give the county courts eX
/ elusive jurisdiction of all civil cases,
/ thus paving the way to abolishing
the "people'S courts entirely.
Senator Fairchild of Franklin eoun-
~ led in this attempt, and the result
was a complete failure OF court reform.
1t is perhaps fair to say that this sen
ator stood for some fair and progress
sive legislation, but as 4 rule he was
found squareiy opposed to the admin
istration proposals.
Senators Peek and Villas of Chitten-
den county led the attack on the dis
trict court bill. and Lieutenant Cover
nor Roger w Hulburd was at all times
opposed to court reform and generally
to the administration program.
Senators Chalmers and Proctor of
. Rutland county were generally found
> on the governor 5 side, and Senator
y Aldrich consistently stood for common
L sense legislation He also adhered
o strictly to the mandate of his constit-
uents: LET the local option law
q alone, IN which he was ably support
9 ed by Senator Chalmers.
d Senator Dumton's chict service to
j. the county was in repclling an attack
3. on Fair Haven probate district, IN
. which he ably supported Senator Chal
mers. Otherwise, he was consistently
found on the side of prohibition ano
= reaction.
il The death Of Senator Kendall OF
H. Windsor county resulted III the ap
m pointment Of John L. Mcclellan Of
40 Plymouth. representative IN the hous'
of 1912. Senator Mcclellan took mucl
IL intelligent interest in highway legis
lation, but failed to give the governo
o, whose appointee ne was, much assist
e. ancc.
.,.t Wmdham county lost q most prom
ising senator in the death of Hermo
+. Eddy. and his successor, Sanford \
rs Daniels. developed into rabid pre-
te hibitionist, q womaa suffragist, and
yo said TO have organized the rejection o
nj Governor Graham 5 appointee, Park /
Pollard, for the board Of control ]
ea other matters, he was with the admin
am stration.
en- Senator Melvin G.. Morse of Cal,
at donia county was the governor : main
... stay in the senate. He represented til
nearest thing to leadership that II
senate developed, but he wasted energ
at on some worthless matters, the Hun
ill fvc-mile bill and the Morse yearl,
MS referendum bill for instance. For
man of reasonable views on mo
e'' things. it was surprising to find Sen
tN. tor Morse such a violent prohibitio
ed list.
,cd Linus Leavels of Lamoille count
gave loyal support to the administr
ton program and devoted a great de
wv of time to the investigation of Il
g Brattleboro Retreat. but one looks
the tinctiOn in the senate, unless the Gee
9TH siona sensible speeches of Senat
Bigclow of Orange county, Senat
w Hawley Of Chittenden county and Sc
w ator Steele of Washington county a
md excepted.
tee Senator Demerritt Of Washingt
i've county was almost always "agin t
a.. government, gave Legislature no p;
ticular onward boost, speaking,
"' fact, : nearly as often and at as gre
and length as either Peck or Villas
nts, Practically nothing raises the L,
es- Of the senate above the dead level
v;u mcdiocrity unless it might be the
. casional 'piain- folks talks of Sci
ION tor Foote Of Addison county and SCI
Ian tor TAYLOR Of Windsor county. usua
to on opposite sides of public questio
sub Both voted for suffrage and for ST.
,.o. measures as would tend to nullifv t
local option law
e Personally, there never was M
AN likeable lot of men assembled in [
With senate chamber, from President H
ned burd down, but the Herald would h;
= to have the job of explaining tn
public record.