News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-11-15
Legi SIatiVe Notes.

DaccO 10 MINORS
The governor has approved the bill
incorporating the Mount MANSFIELD
railroad company.
Monday was the last day for tn
, introduction of bills, 439 having beef
introduced. In 1886 the numbe
7 was 475.
: The general committee of the Senat
2 has reported in favor of an act to in
! corporate the village of Morrisvill
and it was passed.
The Senate in executive session con
firmed the nominations of Senator II
G. Fisk of Lamoille, Senator F. 5
Stranahan of Franklin, and Mr.. Tux,
: bury of Windsor, as trustees of the
Reform School.
DR.. Hoiton's bill provides for the
appointment of medical examiner in
each county whose duty it shall be to
hold an autopsy in every case OF
death surrounded by suspicious Cir
cumstances. The examiner, if he
has reason to suspect foul play, to re-
port to a justice of the peace, who
shall hold an examination if deemed
advisable he shall bind up witness to
appear before grand jury.
The committees on education have
finished the first reading of the COM
mission bill, but the question of re-
porting upon the same seems to be
more undecided than ever. At least
one member, Mr.. Wheelock, of Mil
ton, is bitterly opposed to the cen
tralization future of the bill, and it is
surmised that he has two or more
sympathizers. Other members of the
committee find other Objectionable
features, and unless the second read
ing of the bill removes exciting doubts,
two reports will surely go to the
House, with question as to whether
the majority, or minority report, will
favor the passage of the bill.
Among the bills introduced in the
House are found Mr.. Phelps PROPOSE
ton to distribute to towns the taxes
from deposits in savings banks and
trust companies; Mr.. Freeman's to
provide relief for towns bonded to aid
railroads, when such towns are IN
duely taxed; Mr.. Holton's to raise a
State school tax instead of raising it
by towns; and Mr.. BroWnelPs, to
change the commissionership of insur-
ance from the Treasurer to the Sec
rotary of State, with salary of $500.
This would just cOunterbalance the
addition to the State Treasurer's sal !
a,y, if the duties of the tax commits |
sioner be imposed upon him.
The committee on elections has an
other contested seat to consider, as
Eli J. Tiffany and H. j. Potter, of
claim that Mr.. yelling |
holds his seat in the House by mis-
take or fraud in the count, and that |
ne did not receive majority of the |
votes cast. Tiffany was the Demo-
cratic candidate for representation,
and Potter the Prohibition candidate.
But few believe that the contest is
made with any expectation of success,
but rather for some possibly infinites-
imal advantage that may, or might ac-
crue in the dim futurity. In the Can
aan case the committee has decided |
that there was no election, because of
illegal voting. If the House coincide,
the gentleman from Canaan will be re-
lieved from further duties at this ses-
sion.
A bill introduced by Mr.. LeBarron,
of Morrisville, provides that an in
spector of alcoholic liquors shall be
appointed, whose duty it shall be to
examine and inspect all liquors
brought into the state for sale by
town agents. The inspector is to re-
ceiye an annual salary of $1,000 and |
have an Office at Burlington. A fee
of two dollars is to be charged for
each examination to be paid into the |
State treasury. The necessary appli-
ances to enable the inspector to test |
and analyze liquors to be furnished |
by the state, and eventually paid for
out of the revenue supplied by the
examination charges. The fee of two
dollars is to be charged up as part of
the cost of the liquor. The statute
the keeping of such
liquors mainly for use incidentally and
mechanically, and therefore the nee
essity of purity in the articles so kept
and sold. This is the main idea of
Mr.. LeBarron's bill-to secure an
absolutely pure article. If, on exam
nation, any liquor is found adulter-
ated and impure, the inspector is to
notify shippers that it is subject to
their order, after payment of examina-
lion fee as provided.
The joint special temperance com
mittee gave hearing Friday night on
he bill introduced by Mr.. Pitkin of
entitled, "An act author
zing licenses for the sale of intoxica-
ing liquors in towns voting to grant
HEM" The bill is supplementary to
he existing prohibitory law, a sort of
ocal option amendment. From the
Free Press of Monday, we take the
regarding the hearing:
THE gentleman who presented the bill
tated briefly the character of the measure
nd added that 1T had been prepared by
lessrs. Clarence II. Pitkin and ohm H Senter
If the Washington county bar, that those
gentlemen were present. and would eXpIain the |
provisions of the act Mr. Clarence Pitkin
tated that the bill embodied the best features
If laws of Connecticut and Massachusetts ! 7
IN the same subject. That it was not intend
d to do away with or take the place of the .
resent prOhibitOry law of Vermont, but TO =.
'e supplemental thereof The measure was |
lot a general high license law, but rather a !
peal option act to be applied as towns t
night vote to adopt IL. The provisions of '
he bill embraced among other features a i
Ond of $4,000 to be given by the Iieensee I
laking him responsible under the civil dam +
ge act. Mr.. Senter considered that the pas-l :
age Of such a measure would diminish the :
ale of Intoxicating liquors, and regulate in q
roper channels the sales of the same that Z
ere made 1t would restrain the indiscrimi- L
ate dealing in it. The present law was not p
lfOrced, nor could it be TO the extent desired T.
his measure was not one in the interest of e
rum " or rumsellers, but was in the line Of r
importance. 1t would restrain where the
resent law was Ineffective; where the law
as enforced this lag would not make it less
fectiVe. Public sentiment would enforce the a
'ovisiOns of this law, and the result would k
that less liquor would be sold, and that u
Ould be of better quality. ItwOuld take the IL
affic out of the hands of the irresponsible II
en- now engaged in it, and place it in the !
lnds of a reputable and responsible class of IL
en-. The shortcomings of the present sys- Is
m yVara raforrod tn and ba 70 If INC | ~