The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-11-14
MATTERS AT MONTPELIER.
Artist John Sentiments Proposed
Legislation--The Barb-Wire CUES
tion--Various Notes
MONTPELIER, Nov. II, 1884.

The past week has been one of excite
ment and suspense. The expression of
opinions is very bitter against st. John
men, and. if the members would vote as
bravelv as they talk, the license bill
would go through with great enthusiasm,
but when it gets to the sticking point
their courage will ooze. At least two
of the members from Addison county
would vote for the bill. because they
believe that good license law would
produce better results than the present
law and give a revenue to the State. But
so many men are either afraid of their
constituents, or differ in opinion as to
the benefit of such a law, that they will
not vote for license. and the present
law will stand.
The talk is also fierce against Senator
Edmunds. on account of his apathy
towards Blaine. and there is little doubt
but that he would fail of a reelection if
he were a candidate now. But two years
will place things in different light and
Justify his course as being all that a con-
sistent and conscientious man could do
for his party, after having given his
opinion that the candidate was unfit for
the position. A man like Geo. f. Ed
munds cannot be spared from the service
of the people of Vermont, and pique and
partizan prejudice cannot long blind
people to the fact that he is the most in
defatigable and level-headed man in Cor
gress. There is some idle talk against
some of our Judges on the same grounds;
but it will fall flat, as it ought. Vermont
cannot afford to manifest the same spirit
of political intolerance that she has so
long condemned in the South; and she
will not.
The resolutions limiting the introduce
ton of new bills to Nov. - are evident
ly hurrying up matters. for thirtynine
new bills of all sorts and sizes were in
troduced in the House and Senate on
Tuesday. One, by Mr.. Pilling of Ben
nington. is sample of the laws which
are to correct some of the crying evils of
our times. 1t requires the erection of a
railing eighteen inches high around bear
traps, and the posting of a sign Bear
Trap within twelve feet of the same.
1t is designed to give poor bI uin chance.
unless he lives in an illiterate commune
ty. where the town system of schools has
not yet been heard of.
Goshen and Randolph have sent in
bills to release them from that system.
but the hearing before the joint commit
tee on education did not show any good
reason who they should. Mr.. StorrS of
Randolph was sent to the legislature
because he had expressed no opinion in
regard to the town system, and he has
been eminently successful in pleasing
both factions in his town. He introduce
ed the bill asking for the release of the
town from the system which they voted
to adopt with their eyes wide open. and
he has championed the bill in manner
to insure its defeat. His testimony
/ shnwnl a nIaar institisat inn of bis ra-
ticence at home. for after living under
the system for two years he shows as
complete an ignorance of its workings
as it is possible for a man to possess.
The committee will leave the towns to
work out their own salvation, as all that
appeared showed a marked benefit deriv-
ed
The barb-wire question will undoubt-
edly be left to settle itself. Mr. Douglas
of Whiting drew up long bill regulat-
ing the whole matter. but the majority
of the committee think that common
sense and the fence viewers will best de-
eide what shall be considered a legal
fence. None of the committee will vote
for bill which will abolish its use. or
make any impracticable restrictions as to
the method of building it.
Legislation against the manufacture
and sale of oleOmargarine is making pro-
gress slowly. The bills proposed thus
far have imposed such heavy penalties
and licenses as to practically nullify
their enforcement. 1t apparently has
not occurred to any draughtsman to pat
tern after the law recently passed in
New York.
NOTES.
The Senate on Tuesday, by vote of
% to 4, passed the bill appropriating
$4,000 for the erection of library
building.
/ The House judiciary committee has re-
ported in favor of the bill reducing the
number of Supreme judges to six and
raising the salary to $4,000.
Judge Walker of Ludlow has intro
duced bill appropriating $500 for the
erection of monument on the battle
field at Gettysburg to the Vermont troops.
to be expended under the direction of
commissioners appointed by the gov
ernor.
The bill to abolish the State board of
agriculture has been killed.
Numerous petitions are being sent in
asking the establishment of a soldiers
home and of agricultural experiment sta
tions.
Legislation is asked prohibiting the
running of Sunday trains.
The Williston man. Smith Wright,
| elected member of the House, has been
sent home, the committee deciding that
he was postmaster at the time of his cleo
, ton.
The Senate on Monday passed a bill
making the highway tax 10 cents on tn,
dollar of the grand list, and payable il
= money.
A bill has been introduced filming
person $40 for disappearing to
livery stable keeper, before leaving OF
after returning, in regard to the length
of the drive, etc.
The Senate has passed bills prohibit
ing the aduteration of maple sugar ant
bees honey and incorporating the Yer
, mont Cattle company.
t Among those visiting the capital from
Addison county the past week were Hon
= &. l.. Harrington, Geo. Cobb and NJ. Il