St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-10-30
WHEELS OF LEGISLATION.
They Have Begun to RevoIve More
Rapidly at Montpelier.

[From our regular correspondent
The wheels of legislation have
begun to accelerate little in antici-
patton of the festive turkey all are
anxious to get home to partake of.
The usual number of bills have been
presented the past week, the commit
tees are hard at work and the more
important measures are under head
way and assuming definite shape
The scene here is one of unusual
activity this week.
A Heated Argument.
House bill No SO to allow justices
to amend indictments in liquor cases
came up for discussion last Thursday.
Its consideration provoked the best
arguments which have been heard
this session. Judge Thompson as
father of the bill ably defended it.
He argued that man charged with
selling liquor should not be dis
charged because of some legal tech
nicality or fault in the wording of an
Indictment Mr.. Darling of Chelsea
supported the bill Messrs. Moloney,
Billiard, Robinson and Enright were
the most prominent in opposing the
bill. They argued that the proposed
measure was unconstitutional, that
it was giving justices dangerous
and autocratic power by which they
could at will change the indictment
from one charge to another. They
wanted to know why justices should
not be given the right to change
indictments for other criminal offen-
ces as well as liquor cases. The dis
cussion of this bill occupied nearly
of III to 113. The Rutland Herald,
the great high license organ, had its
columns filled with the most absurd
trash, to the effect that prohibition
was overthrown. This is not the
case in any sense. Many of the
strongest prohibitionists opposed
the measure on constitutional and
other grounds.
Election of State Officers.
Thursday afternoon the two
houses met in joint session for the
CiSCllOIl vi SldlC OlICSIS. All liz oid
incumbents were elected without OPP
position after many supplementary
speeches for each name presented.
The list is as follows: TIC. Phinney,
sergeant-at-arms; T. S. Peck, adju
tant and Inspector general; w. l..
Greenleaf, brigade commander; w.
H. Gilmore, acknowledgement;
G. T. Childs, Observation-Disclosures
Immediately after the election a re-
cess was taken to extend greetings to
Senator Morrill,.
Speaker Start in presenting him
spoke of his long and honorable
career in public life Mr.. Morrill,
then read from manuscript his speech
accepting the election as senator,
(given in full on page p
It's reading commanded the closest
attention of a large audience and
was frequently greeted with gener-
Gus applause. The speech was pro-
nounced by many to be one of his
best efforts Afterward an informal
reception was rendered him when
members and visitors improved the
opportunity of shaking hands with
the distinguished guest.
The Fox Bounty.
The farmers took a hand in the
discussion to repeal the bounty on
foxes. The measure in itself was of
no great consequence but the spirited
talk it created made it the most in
teresting feature of one session last
week. Many interesting facts con-
corning the habits of the sly reynard
were cleaned. On the one hand was
urged the destruction to property
checking their depredations; on the
other it was said the bounty paid
was no inducement to hunters and it
cost the state annually $500. The
bill to repeal was lost, so the crafty
fox must continue to look out for his
bacon.
Agricultural College.
This subject is now the object of
the most spirited and bitter contro-
versy Of any question before the
Legislature. Last Friday Senator
Morrill,, either at his own request or
that of the University of Vermont,
addressed the committee on educa-
ton in opposition to the bill now be-
fore the Legislature. His remarks
were unexpected to the majority of
the members present. The univer-
sity folks were prepared for it and
were correspondingly jubilant.
Many censure the senator severely
for the attitude he has taken in the
matter. They say that as trustee
Of the U. V. M. he cannot be consid-
cred an impartial judge of the ques-
ton and it would have been in better
taste for him to have refrained from
taking part in the question which
was purely of state interest. Mon
day night an enthusiastic hearing
was conducted by those interested
in establishing a new institution.
Col. Hooker presented a carefully
prepared document which showed
the need of establishing a new col
lege. Senator Morrill's recent
remarks and his former speeches
were overhauled. Several sly and
witty thrusts were aimed at the
Burlington authorities. He was fol-
lowed by Messrs. Winslow of Bran
don, Messer of Rochester and Bell of
Walden. 1t is generally conceded
that the cause of the people was ably
presented.
Thursday afternoon the advocates
of new college complete the pre-
sentation of their side Of the case and
in the evening the university people
tell their story. The supporters of
the bill are sanguine of its passing
both houses Not much is said as
to the location of the new institu-
ton. Many admit the arguments
presented by St. Johnsbury are
strong ones. What financial induce
ments different towns will offer will