St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-10

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the Legislature assemblies, fixing the
salary of members at 81 per day, and
directing the governor to appoint i've
commissioners to purchase an eligible
site and build state insane asylum
not to cost more than $500, 900 and to
accommodate 300 patients. A large
amount of local business was transact
ed, and if business continues to progress
at the same rate an early adjournment
NAV be expected. The bill changing
the name of Norwich university at
Mortified to Lewis college, in honor of
C. Fl. Lewis, liberal benefactor, has
passed the House. The committee on
revision of the laws are said to have
agreed upon all but one of the sub-di-
visions submitted to them. They will
make no amendments to the revision
but have stricken out few changes in
the laws made in it.
Bills have been introduced in the
Legislature fixing the tax on railroads
at $50 per mile, except those exempt,
Incorporating the BrattleborO and
Whitehall railroad company, and pro-
viding for the joint election of judges
the second Tuesday of every session,
with no adjournment for more than "a
hours. The committee on federal rela-
tions has reported a resolution request
ing the members of Congress from the
state to use their influence to procure a
law prohibiting the sale and manufac-
ture of intoxicating liquors in the Unit
ed States.
The law against running trains on
Sunday passes the Legislature in its
present form, clearing the track from
snow will be secular labor not to be
performed on the Sabbath, and there
will result often great delay to Monday
trains. Any thing for an excuse.
Two bills introduced by Senator Hem
ry fixing the day for the election of
judges and for the election of state of
ficers at the beginning of sessions ought
to pass. 1t was the custom formerfyIi
for the general assembly to elect state
officers early in the session as we said a
few days ago it saved the state great
expense arising from delay and distrac-
ton of business besides the scandals
which have been Occasioned by the
lOg-rOlling of members to secure
these offices. A return to this custom
as proposed by Senator Henry's bill
ought to be secured.-[St. Adams Mes
senger.
There were 81 bills introduced into
the house Tuesday forenoon during the
morning hour, and more are waiting
and will be introduced to-day.
A hearing was had, Wednesday, be-
fore the special committee on the bill
to commute the death sentence of Ed
win c. Hayden. Hon. Henry Ballard,
Of Burlington, and Gilbert A. Davis, of
Windsor, appear in behalf of Hayden.
Tho pages of the house and senate
held mock session in the house one
morning recently, which was very
amusing to the few spectators that
witnessed it. The ones that initiated
Speaker Martin, Doorkeeper -Skeels,
clerks, reporters, members, etc, proved
they were apt pupils.
During the session a prayer meeting
is daily held in the general committee
room. The chaplain of the house or
senate has charge, and many members
attend. The Estey organ that ''played"
so important part under the hands of
Major Clarke on the WoOdford tour
during the campaign is used. Arthur
l.. jameson, of Irashurgh, clerk in the
sergeant-at-arms office, is the efficient
organist.
1t is thought that the name of Ely
will not he changed back to Vershirc.
Mr. and Mrs. T. o. Bailey gave re-
ception to members of the legislature
Friday evening. A fine entertainment
was provided which was greatly enjoy
ed.
The most important business left is
the taxation question, the adoption or
rejection by the house of the proposals
of constitutional amendments passed
by the senate, and the acceptance of
the revision of the laws.
The house and senate both meet Fri
day evening for the introduction of bus
mess. The whole number of bills in
the house is 442, and in the senate 1872.
No more bills will be introduced, ex-
cept by unanimous consent.
There was hearing before the rail
road committee Monday evening on
bill to charter a new railroad from
BrattleborO to South Vernon to be built
by the Connecticut River road, parallel
with the Vermont & Massachusetts,
now operated by the Central Vermont.
There is some talk at Montpelier
about making the election of Judge
Taft doubly sure by having the govern
or appoint him as well as commission
him as elected by the legislature.
Gov. Page succeeded finally in get
ting the printing of court dOckets in
cluded in the state printing which is to
be done by the lowest bidder. There
is no improvement on the old law, and
the delay in getting the reports of state
officers at this session-they were not
printed until the third week.-Mrs. cost
the state more than the printing at
reasonable price of these reports would
have cost.
The house spent nearly the whole
forenoon Saturday in making buncom-
be speeches on temperance. A bill
was introduced to amend the nuisance
law by Incorporating in the cOnstruc-
tions that have been put upon it by the
supreme court, making nuisances of
places of public resort where liquor Is
sold whether public or not, and making
landlords or lessons of buildings who
let or knowingly permit buildings to be
occupied for selling liquor liable to fine
and imprisonment, and only changing
by including gambling as one of the
evils to be suppressed. Mr.. Brown, of
Grand Isle, the leader of the democrats,
moved to amend by making the first
offence under the nuisance law punish
able by imprisonment for life and the
second by death and the third by drown
ing and quartering after death, etc.
After making a speech he asked leave
to withdraw, but Gov. Page objected,
saving that he wanted to nut the dam,