Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-01-12
SUPPORT GOV. GRAHAM.

be the scene of one of the hottest
fights in years at this session of the
| legislature. Gov. Horace +. Graham,
who undoubtedly knows more about
state affairs, conditions and needs than
any man in the state, has advocated a
so-called radical p program. AS matter
of fact he has simply outlined policy
for progress and efficiency in our state
government.
In handling TIM states business he
first calls for q system of personal
control and respo visibility by certain
heads of departnaents-just the kind
of a plan that is absolutely essential
for the success of any big business to.
day - and the state s affairs simply
constitute big business run for the ben
eft of the whole people. Thousands of
us have known for long time that
getting top heavy, with too numerous
commissions, some of them not fully
answerable to any higher head once
they were fairly seated in office. A
howl will 90 up from some of the men
who will be legislated out of office if
the governors program prevails, and
they and their friends will use all of
their influence to prevent the changes
which will take off some official heads
This fight, however, will not be the
most important one. We believe that
the legislature will see the soundness
and wisdom of the changes which the
Governor proposes and that they will
be ready by q large majority to en-.
dorse his scheme to run the state as a
big business proposition.
The fercest contest will come in the
plan to reorganizc the courts. Gov. Ora.
ham had hardly finished speaking when
log rolling was started in the state
house to block this part of the admin.
tration s program. Our lawyers deal
with presidents piled upon precedents
until they finally reach a point where
they fear anything like the Inaugural
ton of new progressive policy. Not
all thank heaven-are of this frame
of mind, but the great majority of our
lawyers are ultra conservative, and
from their training they naturally are
leaders in public affairs.
1t has been recognized in recent
years that there was something radi-
cally wrong with our Vermont courts
} We have heard prominent lawyers brag
of their ability to keep cases before
the courts for years. This is not jus,
tifable. The aim of our courts should
be to give the people justice with the
least possible delay. The Phoenix
within short time has pointed out
, that our courts are not on business
like basis, that what we need is short
err opinions. earlier trials and a time
} limit within which judge of any
court shall hand down an opinion. Our
observation has brought us the belief
! that lawyers as a class are far greater
Judges are taken from the ranks of the
lawyers. When lawyer is made a
judge his weaknesses, inherent or ac.
quired, do not change much. Some of
the lawyers occasionally get so bold
} as to whisper to us in confidence that
the trouble is not in our court system
but in the judges who are selected.
We have digressed n little from our
! main point, which is that many law
yers will fight Gov. Graham S attempt
: to change our courts. We have always
supposed that Gov. Graham himself
was u pretty good lawyer. The fact
, that he has been brought into close
} contact with the courts for years as an
important state officer has given him
, rare opportunity to see wherein oul
} courts are at fault. In making his rec
; concentrations we may rest assured
that Gov. Graham-a man of the
\ highest type of probity and honesty
D has reasons for the faith that is in
D him. We feel sure that he will be will
ing to tell the members of both
o branches of the legislature just wha'
e led him to devise his plan for reor
!, ganization of the courts. The county
|, delegations, in caucus assembled, nigh
ask the governor for an interview OF