St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-11-11
FROM MONTPELIER.
Election of State Ohicers.

1
reclamation except the second super
visor of the insane. The following
were elected:
Sergeant-atArms-T. c. Phinney.
Brigade COmmander-COl. w. L..
Greenleaf of WinoOski.
Adjutant and Inspector General
Gen. Il. 5. Peck.
Quartermaster General-COl. w. H.
Gilmore of Fairlee.
Judge Advocate Generate Geo.
L. Childs.
State Superintendent of Education
Hon. Justus Dart of Springfield.
Trustees of the University of Yer
mont and State Agricultural College
Senator Justin S. Morrill,, Col. A. B.
Franklin of Newfane, Rev. H. F. Hill
of Montpelier.
Trustees of Reform School-H. r.
Start of Bakersfield, j. n. North OF
ShOreham, II. C. Fletcher of st. Johns
bury.
Supervisors of Insane-Hon. Homer
Goodhue of Westminster, DIR. l.. Z.
Butler of Essex, r. Il. Johnson of Con-
cord.
The governor sent in a message Fri
day relative to the U. s. claim against
the state. He thinks there is no cause
for alarm but urges legislation tending
to an adjustment of the claims. He
warns the legislature that Vermont
should not crawl behind any techni
cality or strict construction of the law
because of the credit of the state.
The railroad committees of the two
houses held joint hearing in the sen
ate chamber last week to consider the
subject of a railroad commission. Mr..
Withers of Milton, Col. A. B. Jewett OF
st. Johnsbury, Mr.. Noble of st. AL
bans, Mr.. Clement of Rutland and 9th
ers were present to represent the in
terest of the railroad.
Col. Jewett said that so far as he
knew the railroads did not object to a
commission, but that they did not
want one which would hamper them
and decrease the value of their secur-
tiles. The legislature should take
care and not enact such stringent laws
that it would be difficult to obtain
money from foreign investors to use
in railroads in Vermont. Vermont
railroads have been we'll conducted
under the old system. The needs OF
this state are peculiar and we should
not follow the stringent law of Illinois
and other states. A good commission
like that of Massachusetts he would
second. He favored "a purely advisory
commission.
Among the important bills passed in
the house are these: Granting of suf-
frage to women by vote of 135 to 80
bill appropriating $4,000 for the sol
diers' home, which passed the senate
some days since and now only awaits
the governors signature to become a
law, also the bill fixing the salary OF
Judges of the supreme court at $1,000
instead of $500.
The free text book bill also passed
the senate. On this subject Senator
Bunker said at has been shown that
books can be bought from one third to
two thirds cheaper under this bill and
that the average attendance would be
much increased. The poor scholar is
ashamed to take book and in many
cases would go to school if it were not
for using the books of the town."
The senate passed the act to author
ize the quartermaster-g general to ex-
change the arms of the national guard
of Vermont. This bill has already
passed the house.
The house has voted to appropriate
$4,000 for the purchase of lands al
Gettysburg and $4,000 for monument
on the grOunds.-Another bill passed
requires the forfeiture of $50 or six
months imprisonment for the man who
makes false statement of the distance
travelled in a hired team.-Mr. Smith
of Vershire puts in Il bill to prevent
treating in saloons and other public
places, $40 fine or 10 days imprisOn-
ment for each Offence.-The house has
passed bill authorizing the St. Johns
bury and Lake Champlain Railroad
company to build branch to connect
with the Southeastern railroad.
Among the other bills on this sub
,ject is a straightOut license bill. One
would hardly think under the circum-
stances that a license bill would be
regarded otherwise then as joke in
this state. But Representative Cur
rier, he who desired to cooper old
Edmunds," thinks license is the need
of the hour, and brings in a bill of %
sections with all the machinery of sim
liar laws in other states. The Mont
pelier daily Journal, an authority in
such matters, says, "the indications
are that the bill will have quite a
strong support in both house and SEN
ate," and further says that the objec-
tions thus far heard are that it is so
rigid and prohibitory in it's multitude
of provisions that it cannot be enfOrc-
ed and that it is too strict to be prac-
ticable!
Mr.. Smith of Vershire has proposed
an anti-treating measure. His bill
provides that any person treating or
accepting or offering to accept any
treat or gift of any Intoxicating drink
shall, on conviction, be fined $40. This
isn't so bad a scheme, but is good
deal like the recent movement in
Montpelier looking to the closing of
the saloons on Sundays. If liquor
cannot be had there will be no treat
ing. But there is law enough. Only
let it be enforced.