The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-11-12
Legislative Notes.

THERE will be another hearing before the
railroad committees on Thursday evening.
A DELEGATION from Norwich University
at Northfield visited the capitol yesterday.
THE house did sensible thing in refusing
q third reading to the bill abolshing the
State Board Of Agriculture.
THERE were only one hundred out of two
hundred thrty-six members of the house
in their seats Wednesday afternoon The
senate had quorum.
ANONYMOUS circulars are being used as a
means of arguing in favor of the bill pro-
viding for a railroad commission and the So
called short-haul bill
THE Bennington shrievalty case still
hangs fire, the subcommittee on that mat
ter having failed to prepare their report to
be made to the canvassing committee.
THE decisive vote by which the senate
passed the bill appropriating $4,000 for a
state library building encourages the hope
that this Legislature has come to realize the
needs of the state in this respect.
AMONG the visitors at the state house yes
terday were Frank Plumley, Esq, the men,
ber from Northfeld in 1882, General w. w.
Grout of Barton Hon. Henry Ballard and
George w. Wales, Esq, of Burlington.
Mr.. WALLACE F. ROBINSON, of the firm OF
w. +. Robinson & Co., commission mer-
chants of Boston, and president of the Prod
uce Exchange, was on the floor of the house
yesterday. He is brother of E. G. Robin
son, the member from Weathersfeld.
The senate last Monday passed without
debate, Senator Chapin's highway bill, after
perfecting it by amendments. We have al
ready commented at length upon the pro-
visions of this act and hope it will receive
the favorable consideration of the house.
THE joint special committee on final ad-
journment, TO whom was referred the resolu-
ton relating to limiting the time for the
introduction of bills, have recommended that
Saturday, November 18th, be the last day on
which bills can be introduced, except by
committees, and the recommendation has
been adopted.
AN audible smile was noticed in the
house yesterday when Mr. Pilling's bill was
read providing for fence around bear
traps, and that a suitable sign be placed
near them. This must be intended as an
antidote for the bounty on bears, as any
well-regulated bear who would get into a
trap fenced in and labeled is not worthy of
the least consideration.
To any one conversant with the situation
in other counties, the discussion in the house
yesterday forenoon on the shire bill was not
without its significance. An effort will soon
be made to remove the Windham county
shire from Newfane and this present bill was
evidently treated by those interested as a
test case. As was remarked, nearly every
man has an AK to grind and sometimes the
handle sticks out very plainly.
The house Thursday forenoon refused to
pass the bill amending the present law so as
torequire applicants for marriage certificates
to make oath to their statements and al
though favorably reported by the committee,
the proposed measure was killed simply be-
cause it would necessitate some expense in
changing the record books. The present
law is much cumplained of, and it is very
poor policy TO refuse to make needed
change on the ground of a slight expense.
The necessary amount could be easily saved
by the legislature in other ways.
AMONG the subjects that necessarily come
before the legislature at every session is the
due care of the pauper insane. The state
has no ownership of any asylum, but it has
the supervision of one and a heavy financial
interest in it. The people are probably not
willing much longer to crowd two of their
demented brethren into room measuring
eight feet by ten, and are ready to take such
measures as may be necessary to prevent il
hereafter. Something can be done at Brat
tleboro, and more, and better yet, by an in
stitution exclusively the peoples own.
THE committee on elections met Saturday
forenoon, all the members being present eX-
cept Mr.. Farnham of West Fairlee demo
craft and Mr.. Covey of Sandgate (republi-
cam. In the Williston case they decided
unanimously that Judge Smith Wright at
the time of his election was postmaster at
Williston and therefore held an Office of
profit or trust under the authority of con-
gress," and they will so report. If the re-
port of the committee should be adopted,
and it probably will be, Williston has no
representative in the present legislature.
AT the hearing before the railway commit
tees, Monday evening the commission short
haul and Sunday train bills were considered.
Senator Holton spoke at length of the neces-
sity for the commission and short haul bills.
Mr. Ii. A. Hale of Arlington, chair manu-
facturer, spoke of the destructive discrim-
nations in rates by the Rutland and Ben
nington railway, and j. G. Martin appeared
for persons on that road having similar
grievances. Mr.. c. +. Thompson and Rev.
c. S. Smith appeared for the bill prohibiting
the running of Sunday passenger, news
paper and local freight trains. The hearing
was adjourned to Thursday evening, which
will be the final public hearing.
AN effort will be made at the present ses-
sion, we are informed, To procure the pas
sage OF an act establishing Vermont
Agricultural Station. Its purpose will be
the advancement of agriculture in the state
by practical tests and experiments and by
diifusing needed information. Provision
in the way of control, management, etc,
will be made for the effective accomplishment
of this purpose. When the measure shall
have been perfected and presented in the
form of bill we shall comment at length
upon its provisions A station, properly
constituted for practical efficiency, will be a
step in the right direction and will have the
earnest support of THE WATCHMAN. The
editor of its agricultural department. has for
years urged this matter upon the attention of
the legislature and we trust thoroughly
good measure will be matured and will be
passed.
The expectation that the election OF
Judges would occur last Thursday, together
with other events, brought large number
of visitors to the state house. Among
them were the following Ex-Governor Bars
tow, Ex-Governor Farnham, Ex-Governor
Proctor, Colonel Geo. w. Hooker, Colonel
l.. X. Fuller. Colonel j. j. Estey, Hon. w.
w Grout, Colonel w. G. Holbrook of New
York, Hon. George Nichols, General w.
w Henry, Hon. Daniel Roberts, Geo III.
Bigelow and Colonel Tutherly OF Bur-
lington, Hon. Justus Dartt of Spring
field, General 7. o. Seaver OF Woodstock,
General Manager Hobart of st. Albans,
Hon. John Young of Newport, Hon. Il. G.
Wilson of Troy, Hon. Crosby Miller of Pom
fret Hon w, q. Fairbank, General III. X.
Ide of st. Johnsbury Hon, Henry Ballard OF
Burlington, Colonel, n. f. Dunshee of Bris-
tol, Chas. NJ. Wild, Esq, of Middlebury,
and DR.. G.. B. Bullard of ST. Johnsbury.
THE governor has approved and signed
the following bills, since those last reported,
in the order given; III. 81, an act 10 provide
for general index of land records in the sew
eral counties in this state; IL. &, an act TO
pay julius Halbert the sum therein named /;
ii. Ill, an act TO legalize the quadrennial
appraisal OF real estate in the town of Som