St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-11-06
OUR MONTPELIER LETTER.
Lots of Bills, SunmeryiIIe Annexation,
Weekly Payments, The Agricultural
College Bill, The School Question.


CFrom Regular Correspondent
MONTPELIER, Nov. ..
An avalanche of bills last Thurs
day and Friday signalized the expira-
ton of the time allowed by resolu-
ton for their introduction. Forty
nine bills in the House and twenty
six in the Senate sprang into exist
ence last Friday. Even then the
House wasn't satisfied and extended
the time till Tuesday noon. Now
bills can be introduced only by
two-thirds vote of the members.
Among the
WouId-be Laws
are bill to reduce the salaries of
state officers as follows: Governor,
$1,000, with $500 for expenses; SUI
preme court judges, $500; secretary
of state, $17OO. 1t abolishes the
office of tax commissioner and makes
the treasurer perform its duties
makes the state treasurer's salary
$4,000; adjutant and Inspector
eral, $500; auditor, $4,000; state
superintendent of education, $4,000;
commissioner of immigra ton and
agricultural interests, $4,000. A bill
establishing a state board of medical
examiners, consisting of eight mem
bers, appointed by the governor, to
examine all persons commencing the
practice Of medicine. Fine for not
obtaining certificate, $50 to 5000
for first offence, and 5000 to $500
thereafter A bill to establish a
home for friendless women at a cost
of $4,000. A bill to appropriate the
sum of $4,000 for the new insane
asylum at Waterbury, as recon-
mended by the retiring governor.
Passed the House-A bill giving all
druggists the same power to sell in
tOxicating liquors as town agents,
and for the same purpose. A bill
granting to each town two scholar
ships in any one of the three normal
schools, the supervisor to appoint
the persons to receive the scholar
ships
Mr.. Perry of Barre, the member
whose seat is contested, introduced
bill to protect and facilitate the
purity of elections The names Of
voters on the check list are to be
numbered consecutively, and each
ballot presented, before being depos-
tied, is to have its proper number
written on the back by the person
having charge of the ballot box.
Any ballot without it's proper num-
Der shall be thrown out, and if the
number of votes in the ballot box
and the number on the roll so kept
do not agree the whole ballot is to
be null and void. A bill to repeal
the act creating a board of railroad
commissioners. A bill constituting
nine hours a legal days work for
laborers working by the day in all
mechanical trades, arts and employ
ments. \ bill to exempt hotels, to
be erected costing not less than
$4,000, from taxation for period of
five years. A bill to create the office
of insurance commissioner, the duties
of which office are now performed by
the secretary of state and treasurer.
A bill relating to the dedication Of
the Bennington monument and the
celebration of the centennial of Yer
mont's admission into the union.
,SummerviLIe Annexation.
Mr.. Walker some time ago intro
duced a bill .legalizing the annexa-
alton of certain territory to the in
corporated village of st. Johnsbury.
The bill was referred to the judiciary
committee who considered the mat
ter last Wednesday and Thursday.
Mr.. L. B. Heald appeared in opposi
ton. He argued that the steps
taken in the matter had been illegal.
The bill in itself was Objectionable
ton it would entail. Messrs Hazen,
Turner, Harry Blodgett and Judge
Ross spoke in favor of the bill, relat-
ing the history of the proceedings,
and showing the desirability of an
nexation. Judge Ross said that both
parties are now placed in an ex-
tremely embarrassing position. They
could neither go forward nor back,
and their business relations are I'M
settled. The easiest way out of the
dilemma was for the Legislature to
ratify the action already taken. If it
did not a protracted and costly liti-
cation would follow. He thought
the spirit of the law had been carried
out with sufficient accuracy. 1t is
understood the committee will report
the bill favorably, which action will
practically end the controversy. The
House will sustain their findings,
and the Senate will not make much
of an investigate into the affair.
Lawyer Smith of Wells River is coun-
IL e., he &c
The Agricultural College
still occupies it's place as the leading
subject of agitation. What the out
come will be is still as great matter
of uncertainty as ever. When the
matter is brought before the House,
the real and significant struggle will
begin. What the committees report
will not be of paramount conse-
quence as the House will take the
question into their own hands to
settle. Last Thursday evening,
Pres. Buckham made what was pur-
ported to be the grand exposition of
the university people. 1t was GER
tainly carefully prepared argument
as is every utterance proceeding from
that eminent scholar. He gave a de-
IaIeu account OF the history ana cir
cumstances concerning the founding
of the agricultural college and its
association with the University of
Vermont He contended that by the
terms of the compact the union was
to be perpetual. The only real point
he made was that the trustees had
formulated plans for the expenditure
of the new appropriation to be re-
ceived, whereas the projectors pre-
sented no definite plans for consider
alton. The other phases of the sub