The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-02
A VERMONT DANGER

Few Vermonters realize that this
state is in danger of losing thousands
Of acres of its best farming land and
hundreds OF thousand of dollars worth
of its industries located along the
western banks CT the Connecticut
river. But it is. If New Hampshire
substantiates its claim that the ex-
treme high water mark on the west
ern side of the Connecticut river is
the western boundary of that state,
Vermont will lose a great amount OF
valuable territory and property. Not
Only VIII it lose valuable farming land
and Industrial plants but many miles
OF railroad that have always been tax
ed in Vermont.
The claim of New Hampshire is as
damaging as the claims OF New York
in the early history of this state and
should be contested as vigorously as
the Green Mountain Boys defended
their right and honor. New Hapm-
shire is levying taxes upon this Yer
mon. property today just as persistent
ly as the New Workers undertook to
levy tribute from the Vermont pion-
eers. Vermont is receiving taxes from
the same property and if the New
Hampshire claim is established the
sta-c Of Vermont and the towns where
the properly Is located win rave to
return many thousands OF dollars to all
interests taxable in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire is pushing its claim
in the supreme. court OF the United
States and the state of Vermont is
defendant in the case. The case has
been entered and commissioner ap-
pointed TO take the evidence and pre-.
pare it for submission to the court.
New Hampshire has had an attorney
for three years digging cut evidence
in its behalf and getting ready to pre-
sen. it to the court. There Is no
knowing how soon she may demand
hearings before the commissioners
and the presentation OF whatever evil
dence Vermont may have.
Vermont is represented in this cru
cial litigation by its attorney general
who happens at present to be per-
son entirely destitute of knowledge Of
this case, Furthermore, he is so busy
with other duties of his office he has
no opportunity to study and prepare
this case. 1t win be impossible for
him to comply with the law and rep.
resent the sta.e in all the homicide
cases coming before the courts, to
prosecute the other criminal cases
before tn courts and give the neces-
sary time to prepare this case before
the supreme court
The ablest attorney of Vermont
could net properly investigate the fed
eral, state, county and town records
touching upon this matter in less than
the two years term of an attorney
general, even if he should direct his
whole time to the work. The attorney
general certainly cannot do 1t and
meet all his other obligations.
This case is too important, involves
too great property interests and state
rights, to allow it to be lost be default.
The claims OF New Hampshire must
be proven fa.se in the highest court
of the land or Vermont will lose its
case. The governor of Vermont should
as quickly as possible secure the ser
vices of one of the states ablest at.
torney's, demand his full time to the
preparation of the evidnce in order
that the states interests may be ably
defended. Every days delay gives
New Hampshire increased advantage
and no governor can be justified in
neglecting the needs of Vermont in
this matter Brattleboro Reformer.