Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-19
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The Proctor and West Rutland Biiis-
senator Valentines License Bill -
Montpelier Notes.-The Third
House Dialogues

Montpelier Notes.-The Third
House Dialogues.
MONTPELIER, Nov 15.-What promises
to be the most important week of the
session began to-day with the disposing of
a large number Of bills on subjects of
minor Importance. The question of the
division of Rutland comes up in the House
tomorrow afternoon, and will occupy the
attention of the House for several days
There seems to be disposition on the
part of the members not to hurry the mat
ter and strong desire is evnced by
many that when the matter comes up it
shall receive II full and fair discussion
and that the views of all the friends and
opponents of division may be heard. 1t is
safe to say that the discussions of the
present week over the Proctor and West
Rutland bills will be the most thorough
and the most interesting that will take
place this session. From all the literature
on the subject that has been sent the
members of the Legislature, few of them
have failed to have formed already some
pretty definite opinions as to the merits of
the question. What the result is to be is
almost as difficult to conjecture as 1t was
weeks ago. The reports of the legislative
committees III ldNOr Ol ulNlSlOH VIII, Oh
course, carry a great deal OF weight, but
are BIZ no means decisive. The agitation
of the question has been so thorough that
the report of the committee Will be only
one of the weights which are to enter into
a decision Of the question. These meas
ufeS, with the report, expected on We'd
nesday, Of the railroad committees on the
commission bills and the discussion of the
temperance question will make the pres
ent week Of the Legislature an interesting
one.
The House met at 9 O'Clock and passed
the following bills:
H. Al, authorizing the governor and
auditor to adjust all claims between this
state and the United States ;. G3, to ia
ciiitate the duties Of listers; in concur
renee; ). 26, relating to the manner of
conducting elections in concurrence :
20, constituting the words "rairoad' and
"road" of the acts of lSS2 so as to include
street and horse railroads in concur
renee; II. 45S to incorporate the home for
aged women in Burlington; II. AIS, to en-
large the powers of the Young Mems
Christian association of Burlington.
In the Senate the committee on elections
through Senator Judson, reported bill
providing that in unOrganized towns and
, cores any person can have his name placed
upon the lists in any town in the probate
district in which he resides
! The Senate passed = S. an act relating
to State printing H. 35s, an act laying "A
tax on the county of Orange.
\ third reading was ordered for an act
abolshing the office of highway surveyor
:. 1873, an act to amend sec. 1896 of the re-
2 Vised laws; II. $50, an act to prevent fraud
in the sale of butter.
FREIGHT CAR COUPLINGS.
Quite a discussion arose in the House
this afternoon over Mr.. Curriers' bill
compelling railroad corporations to place
automatic or safety couplings upon freight
cars Mr. Smith of Nershre moved that
the bill be dismissed which motion was
opposed by Mr.. Currier Mr.. Barney, Mr.
. Tinkham and others Mr.. Smith said that
he thought he ''smelled Il RAJ" and lnterro
gated the gentleman from Troy very
f closely as to the interests which Were
| pushing the bill. Mr. Smith then changed
| his motion to dismiss to Il motion to lie, III
order to get time to inquire into the mat
ter IA little. The motion was disagreed to
= however, and the bill was ordered to d
third reading
MIR. VALENTINES LICENSE BILL.
o 1t was not a surprise to temperance PEG
pie of the State that a license law SHOULD
, be urged at the present session of tn,
, Legislature, though it will be a surprise
, as well as a cause of alarm to many, tha
- a legislative committee should report il
favor of changing the policy of the Stat,
+ in regard to restriction of the liquo
l. traffic Without intending to cast any re
, Elections on the Senate special committe,
{ on Mr. Valentines bill it cannot b,
E, denied that probably no other committe,
:. could have been selected who would hav,
+ given any measure which proposes t
V legalize the sale of intoXicants as favor
n able a consideration as the committe,
: composed of Senators Valentine, Bate
: and Draper have done and altogether tn
q result thus far should not be a caus
q of apprehension on the part of TEN
e perance republicans for the records of re
cent legislatures show that the majort,
h of thinking legislators such as compose
t. Vermont assembly will do what the Sen
l. ate committee have not done. They viii
l. not regard the important question befor
d them as one purely of policy, either from
t Il financial or any other point of view
l. There is principle, and there is, and ough
7, to be, sentiment in law-making wheneve
r measures are discussed which touch upol
ii moral issues. The prOhibitOry law of GU
e State arose from the necessity of crushin!
It out a great moral evil ana cannot right.
V he treated like the tax laws and othe
&c measures of kindred sort. The prohibi
tory law is founded upon the same princi
pie which has put upon our statute book
e and theft. What is a crime against maj
n in these acts, the State has made a Grim
=, against itself, and has adopted a position
- which forbids the idea of license or com
ii promise in any form. 1t is this fact tina
n will prevent a Vermont Legislature from
IS adopting tine advice of any commilte
10 whose reasoning has not deeper founda
" ton than that which has been presente,
nc in the report of Senator Valentines con
II mttee on his license bull The argumen
u that. whatever the views of the presen
8 Legislature on the merits of the propose
d license law, it should be willing to sui
- mt the question to the people of tn
=, State and adopt the bill with proVisiO
~ ~ that the people should vote upon il, doe
u not hold good in this or in any subject {
~ Legislation. TO pass the bill, even in il
~ present form, is To do more than merel
'tt to submit the question to the people; it
-, to recommend it to them The repul
~ lican State convention unanimously III
> held the present policy of the State o
~ temperance matters, and the members {