The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-12-05
Post Legislative Notes.


THAT Grand Isle bridge trade by which
the bill was reconsidered and finally passed
by only one majority was slim. An appro-
priation of such an amount obtained in such
a way is discredit to the state of Ver-
Barton Monitor.
No one anticipated the passage of a IL
cense bill by this Legislature but it seems
to us that the vote is significant, as
showing that license is growing in favor in
this state, or rather, that real temperance
sentiment is on the Decline Cdledontdn.
THE Cdledonian, after giving summary
of Senator Bates action and vote on the
:. tobacco to minors" bill and quoting the
WATCHMAN's comments thereon, says:
" Senator Bates remarks on this subject
ought to have some weight, for there isn't
a more inveterate smoker in Caledonia
county"
To prevent any misunderstanding our
readers are informed that the left-handed
compliments which the Sentry receives from
the Messenger are not paid for at regular adj
vertising rates. We not surprised that
the Messenger grows angry when we copy
from the Montpelier WATCHMAN the other
end of a controversy in which the former
paper is so badly vanquished.-St. Albdns
Sentry.
The usual acts making provision for the
support of Vermont state government fur
taxation reduced. There is considerable
talk about Vermont's decreasing popula-
ton, decaying industries, etc. but Vermont
keeps pace with any other New England
state in constantly increasing expenses,
whether she has anything to show for it or
not CdledoRidn.
Is this a state institution in the sense that
every citizen of the state should be taxed to
help support it, Has it any claim for state
aid more than Middlebury college or Nor
wich University or the Vermont Domestic
Missionary Society? We cannot discover
that it has. The simple fact that it bears
the name of the state does not, in our appre
hension, impose upon the state any obliga-
tion towards it more than it owes to any
other institution to which it grants char
ter.--Northfeid NelcS.
The people of Vermont can now reflect as
to how much honesty there was in the prom
Use of the republican platform to extend and
strengthen the work of railroad regulation.
Inasmuch as the party that formally pledged
itself in convention to the performance of
this duty and the stoppage of the free pass
abuse, had everything its own way in the
Legislature, no excuse can be made for the
impudent breaking of the promise, except
that the promise was a combined humbug
and accident, as it was.-RefOrmer.
THE Grand Isle bridge bill has passed the
legislature and been approved by the gov
ernor So far as this particular bridge is
concerned it may be a good thing for inter-
ested parties, but bridges are needed in all
parts of the state. Towns here and there
are compelled to build and maintain bridges
at great expense for the benefit of neighbor-
ing towns and through travel, that would
offer plausible preteXt for asking aid from
the state. Should all such ask for aid it
would bring the state to the verge of bank
ruptcy .-Herdld and NelcS.
IT is one of the most extravagant legis-
latures we have had for many year. 1t
has incubated and brought forth taxes. The
heavy state tax comes in very inoppor-
tunely. Heavy frosts in the early fall nearly
ruined the corn crop Hundreds of farmers
who have only just been able by close
economy to keep even with the world, are
confronted by an enormous state tax. Talk
about bureaus of immigration! This legis-
lature has damaged the farming interests of
the state more than dozen bureaus of I'M
migration can repair.-Herdld and NeWS.
The vote on the Pitkin bill showed 81
yeas and 149 nays. Two years ago the high
license bill received only 10 votes in the
house. 1t is not thought that there is
such change in public opinion toward
high license as this vote would seem to
indicate. The local option clause, allowing
prohibition in towns where public sentiment
demands and would enforce a prohibitory
law, was strong point in the Pitkin bill,
and gained the support of good number of
earnest temperance men who would not
have voted for the bill without such pro-
vision.-Rutldnd Herdld.
THE late legislature may fairly be crit-
cised for certain acts of commission, as well
! as omission. Among the latter is the fail
! ure to annex Greensboro to Caledonia
county. When Irasburgh was the shire
| town Greensboro was well enough accom-
modated, but now that Newport is the capi-
tai, hardly town in the state is more
poorly accommodated. The railway connec-
tion with Newport is a roundabout one,
while the railway to st. Johnsbury runs
through the town. In these days distance
from the county seat is not of so much inn
| portance as ease of reaching it by railway.
Greensboro, we understand, desired annex
alton. Naturally the other towns of Or
leans county opposed
THE capitol was filthy place on Wednes-
! day morning last Departing members con-
| tributed to this state of affairs by strewing
the floors with paper torn to smallest frag-
ments, and spectators and loafers of the
! previous night had done their part with the
aid of "plug" and " fine-cut." Mop-boards
and ratings were adorned with the imprints
! of dirty feet and hands, and cigar stubs,
apple-parings, grape-skins and pie-crust
were knee deep about the floor. All this is
! common at such times and seems to be an
essential feature of the closing hours of leg
islation, but it was, perhaps, worse this
! year than ever before. The cleaning -uD
| process has been going on ever since and
is still far short of completion.
A DESIRE to obige is leading character
istic of the legislatures of Vermont, They
sometimes pass bill because some popular
member asks for it, or because they have
| sympathy for man or town or cause. Some
times they refuse justice for the same rea-
son. The recommendations of two
| governors, however, TO impose imprison-
ment for the first offence of liquor selling
were not complied with except in the halt
ing way of leaving it to the discretion of the
court, which, in the places where most liquor
| is sold, will make the law a dead letter, or
nearly so. Vermont legislatures
are essentially representative. The men,
bers appear to think they must represent
the prejudices and mistaken ideas OF their
constituents no less than their interests,
although their oaths bind them to exercise
their Judgment, There is very little cour-
age and not much progress in such bodies.
The session just closed was fruitful in spe-
cial acts and small legislation. Not many
of the general acts are of general interest.
There was great industry in considering
matters which should never have been car
ried to the legislature at all.-Rutiand Her
aid.
THE legislatures performance over the
Grand Isle bridge, appropriating $4,000 to
| at1 th1a tnxx In, afrtt tfnu xuil haa