Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-27
In and About the state House.

cfNAIoh DANA mas introduced pToposh ior n
constitutional amendment looking to return to
the practice Of annual elections.
Mr.. DEMiNo OF Arlington wants to do away
with the state normal school system 1t has been
supposed to be doing good work.
JUDGE THOMPSON relieved the speaker in his
duties as presiding officer for short time Thurs
day forenoon. lie seemed to the manor born"
Ex-GovraNoR FAIRBANKS has presented to the
legislature memorial accompanied by protest
from the state convention Of Congregationalists,
held at Chester last summer, against the running
of railroad trains on Sunday.
SENATOR EDMuSDs looks as fresh as II presi-
dental campaigns were mere pastmes His
speech to the legislature, which will be found
In the proceedings was model Of its kind.
Its only fault was its brevty. Its merits were
transcendent.
SENATOR SAFFoRD's proposal Of constitutional
amendment that no member Of the legislature
shall be eligible to any executive OF judicial
office, II adopted will do away with a privilege
which has caused scandal in the past and has
been the provocaton Of good deal Of log-rolling.
IT is said that the house committee on the ju-
dietary will report bill which will be modi6-
cation Of the plurality bills referred to them pro-
viding that after two Intellectual ballots for town
representative on the third ballot the candidate
receiving plurality Of votes shall be elected.
THE lawyers on the Judiciary committee ought
to extend their thanks to the gentleman from
Painfeld for his timely remarks early in the ses-
sion. These remarks may have been the means
Of securing to that committee two honest men,
not lawyers, who can testify on important occa-
sons, like the Goth inst, to the integrity of such
lawyers.
THE GOVERNOR signed the first bill which has
been passed by the legislature, Wednesday. 1t is
the act repeating that part Of the court expenses
act OF 1878 which provides that any one wishing
to procure the authorization OF an Indifferent
person to serve process must make oath that an
officer cannot be seasonably had The bill origi-
| mated in the senate.
| THE house committee on elections, Judge Jude
vine of Hardwck, chairman, will begin the hearing
on the Clarendon election case this wednesday,
| evening at seven o'clock, when the remonstrants
will put in their testimony. Mr.. p. Redfeld Ken
dali OF Rutland is their counsel, and Messrs
| Clarence H. Pitkn and Hiram A. Huse of Mont
pelier appear for the remonstrants.
| MAKERS of oleomargarine are to be followed
up with sharp stick II the bill introduced into
| the house Monday afternoon should become a
law. The bill does not pretend to prevent its
manufacture and sale, but insures that it shall be
sold for what it is. Such provisions certainly
proper, but it is az far as law ought to 20 in the
matter.
THE committees on the state prison, consisting
! of Senators Dana of Addison, Paul Of Windsor,
and Weed of Chittenden and Representatives
Goodwin OF Hartland. Plat of Swanton, Hopkil rs
of Salem, Bemis of Lyndon, Cilley OF Tunbridge,
Ripley of Poultney, and Wheelock of Berlin, ac-
companied by Director W. II. H. Bingham and
Doorkeeper Hiram Skeels, visited that institution
last Friday.
JUDGE THOMPSON has introduced two most i'm
portant bills in the house, one to amend the in
solvency law in several important particulars,
and the other a general law to give the probate
| courts full power in regard to the changing of
names or the adoption of persons. Mr. Dart of
| Weathersfield introduced new bill in relation to
jury fees. Abstracts OF all these are given in the
report Of the proceedings.
BILL has been introduced into the house to
lay tax Of ten per cent on this county, in order
to raise money with which to pay the cost OF re-
building the court house in excess OF the insurance
money, $1,000. OF course there will be no oppo-
sition to the bill. Judge Riford has been as
economical rs it is possible for any man to be,
and he has given us model court house, prac
tically fire proof, which will last for many years.
| GOVERNOR PAGE won decided victory over
the committee on elections in the house on Fri
day, in securing the recommitment OF their re-
port in the Clarendon contested election case,
with instructions to investigate There can be
no doubt Of the correctness of this decision. The
maintenance of the purity of elections ia so i'm
portant that no technical objections should stand
In the way of hearing to the remonstrants and
all reasonable expenses should be assumed by
the state.
Ex-Governor TAFT's bill to simplify indict-
ments for murder and manslaughter was sharply
debated in the senate Thursday afternoon.
Judge Dunton spoke for it and Senator Henry
against it. 1t WAS finally passed in concurrence
by yea and nay vote Of fifteen to twelve. SEN
atjr Dillingham; voted in the negative. There
was also lively discussion upon the bill extend
ing the scope of the chattel mortgage law to all
personal property. Senator D@inel spoke strongly
against it, and Senators Geed and Bridgman in
favor Of it. 1t was passed in concurrence by a
yea and nay vote OF nineteen to eight
"WEDNESDAY, as the senators we're gravely leay-
ing the representatives hall after finishing the
work OF electng United States senator, young
man who holds clerkshp at the state house
hurriedly left the reporters table, and wedged
and elbowed himself In among them IL was
specimen oil gross rudeness which we do not re-
member to have seen before Does the Tel
lows mother know he's out? Has he no friends
TO tender him the proper feouke, and tell him
betterY Until he can do differently 1t Is at least
to be hoped that he will be more modest in pro
nouncing upon the manners OF the new mem
beers.
The committee of the members of the legisla
ture from Franklin county held a meeting OIL
Tuesday evening and heard the report of the
committee of investigation upon the affairs o.
the Franklin county court house. Senator Wood
worth and Representatives Dix and Sowle. tn,
committee. reported that there had already beer
in the neighborhood of $40. 900 spent upon tn,
building, and that the county was now abou
Sl3, 600 in debt The report was a surprise to tn,
members OF the committee who had supposed
that the county now owed only a few hundred
dollars, and that an expenditure OF two or three
thousand dollars would finish and re-furnish thu
court house in good style.
THURSDAY forenoon. in the house the bennia