The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-11-14

must help me out and vote for this" 1t
looks as though the Tammany Hall system
of trading votes is obtaining hold among
our worthy legislators. An investigation
is in order.
THE senate chamber was crowded to over
flowing Thursday by a thrOng OF spec
tators eager to learn the fate of the famous
butter bill. Senator Bunker opposed the
bill in a sharp and energetic speech, and
was ably seconded by Senator Taft. SEN
ator Bunker said this was legislating i'm the
interest of class, and class legislation was
never right
The gentleman from Newport punched
big hole in the bill relating to mechanics
liens on personal property. The bill was
about to pass on recommendation of the
judiciary committee, when Mr. Prouty pro-
posed an important amendment which was
Immediately agreed to. Mr. BOyden of the
committee said that he was inclined to think
| the gentleman was right.
ONE of the most philanthropic as well as
the most impracticable bills of the session
is the measure to furnish children with suit
able raiment in which to attend school.
| The great trouble would be in deciding who
gent youngsters would reach enormous pro-
| portions if there was fair prospect af-
forded them of obtaining free suit.
A RAPIDLY-GRowING tendency toward the
| introduction of "wid cat " bills - bills
which can never become laws-has been
noticed in congress. There is the same ten
dency in our legislature. Restrain your
selves, gentlemen. Your names are more
! likely to resound through the corridors of
time" " linked with the wise measures you
enact than with the bills you introduce.
THE report of the railroad committee on
the bill to cut down the commissioners sal
aries was as follows 1--WE have examined
the Iutips of the m ia Siopars and find
that their duties require the best ability of
the state. We believe that the present COM
mssioners' duties have been arduous, that
| their work has been done faithfully and
well, and that the present provisions are
none too large for such services. We there
fore believe the bill ought not to pass"
WHEN the bill appropriating 81 600 for the
dairymen' S association came up in the house,
| there was some unexpected opposition to
allowing the bill a third reading and a count
was called for. The friends of the measure
quickly rallied to its support and under the
persuasive influence of the eloquence of DR..
Holton. Mr.. Howard, Mr.. Hazen and others,
the opposition quickly melted away.
When the bill had received its third read
ing this morning, the yeas and nays were
called for on the question of its passage and
resulted as follows, yeas, 1S9 nays, 26.
THE name of Governor Proctor is favor
ably mentioned in connection with posi-
ton in the cabinet of next President Har-
rison. The governor has always been a
staunch admirer of the president-elect. AS
the head of the Vermont delegation to the
Chicago convention he was, from the first
ballot to the last, firm supporter of Gen
eral Harrison as the best and most available
man who could be put in nomination for the
presidency. General Harrison would have
to go a long way to find an abler statesman
and a truer and more deserving citizen.
The bill recently introduced to make
an appropriation for the benefit OF the St.
Regis Indians in the town of Bombay, New
York, was backed up by memorial from
the band to which the marks of two of their
grand sachems were affixed. The memorial
sets forth the claims which the Indians have
to the title of certain lands in the state.
Their claims were presented to the last leg
isature and have also been brought to the
attention of nearly every legislature since
the revolutionary war. They wish to can
Gel their claims for proper financial con-
sideration.
ONE of the members of an inventive
turn of mind came up to the state house
Friday with hundred copies of a little
work of art executed on the back of a postal
card and did a thriving business in the sta
tiouery line long as his stock in trade
held out The work of art consisted of a
monument on which was inscribed tender
and touching epitaph to the late Free-Trade
Grover. The members are sending these
CdTuS TO Unelr uelnOcTdtlC lrltnuS all over
the state, as a gentle reminder of the days
that are past. All who desire copies can be
supplied by leaving their orders at the
WATCHMAN office.
THE educational committees met Tuesday
and finished the preparation of their report
on the school bill. The committee decided
to report to the house on this measure this
afternoon. DIR. Holton has an amendment
to increase the amount OF supervision, which
he will introduce tomorrow morning and
which will be supported by the rest of the
committee. The amendment provides that
a county may divide itself into two or more
districts, with supervisor over each, at a
salary of from eight hundred to twelve hun
dred dollars. The small districts may pay
their supervisors by the day, at from two
to three dollars per diem, to serve not less
than twice as many days as there are
schools.
Mr.. GEORGE SEVERANCE of South Royal
ton writes us that Mrs. Hannibal A. Hop
kins of Lansing, Michigan, has in her pos
session the military trappings of Ethan
Allen and will sell them for $1,000. He
properly suggests that they ought to be
bought by the state and preserved in the
state capitol. Among other articles are the
sword which he carried at Ticonderoga and
in many other engagements, a breastplate
and epaulets. He also thinks the colonel's
commission is in Mrs. Hopkins possession
Should not the state authorize the governor
or some other state official TO open negotia
tions with Mrs. Hopkins and authorize him
to purchase them if they can be bought foI
a not too eXorbitant price?
FROM the ashes of the butter bill which
was cremated in the senate Friday a
Phoenix has arisen. Mr.. Southworth intro
duced bill in the house Saturday morning
which contains almost the same provisions
as the original measure, except that hotel
keepers are permitted to sell the stuff y
under license from the selectmen. The
fee for obtaining such license is, however
fixed so high as to practically prohibit the
sale. The fee is not less than one hun
dred or more than five hundred dollars. y
Any person so obtaining a license must
post signs in his dining-hall inscribed with
the legend, Oleomargarine Licensed to be
Sold Here" No license is provided for the
manufacturer, and the man who buys il
must go out of the state to get it. Violation
of the law is made punishable by heavy
fine and Imprisonment.
THE Nicaragua canal bill passed the
house unanimously Friday morning, When
the bill came up for the third reading Mr..
Eldredge, chairman of the corporations
committee, said This company proposes
to construct ship transit from the Atlantic
To the Pacific ocean. Two of our most