News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-10-23
THE LEGISLATURE.
Especial to the News and Citizen

| tance. E1nally House Bill NO. l41
came up for consideration, and now
enjoys the distinction of being the
: first bill to die at the hands of the
} present Legislature. 1t provided for
; the suppression of all lotteries and
distribution of prizes by chance at
church fairs, etc.
The time having arrived for voting
7 for United States Senator the name
= of Justin S. Morrill, was placed in
nomination by Mr.. Darling OF Chel-
sea in very neatspeech, and second
ed by several. Mr. Billiard of Under
bill nominated E. j. Phelps of Bur-
} lington as man of brains, energy
and ability. The result of the vote
was as follows: Justin s. Morrill, 167,
E. j. Phelps Sc.
While q large number of bills are
being introduced, they are mostly of
, a local character, and not of wide
spread interest. The discussion of
the school law among members and
the interest taken therein continues
to increase. The committee desires
and is receiving the opinion of each
Representative in regard to the pres
ent law and the wishes of the people
of their towns. The vast majority
thus far express themselves as very
much dissatisfied with the present
law and strongly opposed to the
county supervisor system. The hear
ings before the committee are very
interesting and bring out some
strange conditions of affairs now ex-
listing under the present law The
much in earnest and are working
hard to unravel the task intrusted to
4 u1ruf. ---------------------
The highway law takes second
place in point of interest, and it is a
very close second at that. The eX-
preston among members is very pro-
nOunced against the present system,
this sentiment being quite unanimous
with the exception of Il few of the lar
ger towns, which claim to be salts
fed. A return to the old highway
system seems to be the earnest wish
and desire of many, [ may say the
majority. Either this or an optional
law allowing such towns as so desire
to return to that system will doubt
| less prevail.
The school-law bill introduced by
Mr.. Enright of Windsor contains 176 |
sections and covers 50 pages in its
printed form. But little is known in |
regard to its provisions as no one
has yet claimed to have mastered it. |
| The House and Senate met in Joint |
assembly at II noon Thursday, |
and ratified the election of the Hon. |
j. 5. Morrill, as United States Senator |
from and including the first day of
March, 1891.
The East Haven contested election |
case came before the House on report |
of committee Wednesday at 1915 |
a. Mr.. Maloney of Rutland imme-
diately took the floor and in some
what lengthy speech declared the
printed report of said committee to
be faulty and its citations not to the
point. There at once ensued one of
the liveliest and most spirited de-
bates we have yet experienced, par
ticipated in by Thompson, Mann,
Billiard and many others. With the
exception of the noon adjournment
the entire time of the House was
taken until p. IN. At this time a
call of the House sustained the COM
ny % NObt vi ItO W tO- |
house was well filled with visitors in
the afternoon, who seemed to be con-
siderably interested and entertained
by the lively discussion over this
case.
When the bill to make so lbs. STAN
dard weight for bushel of apples
came to its third reading it was with
drawn and dismissed. 1t was ascer-
tanned that the majority OF the varie-
ties of apples will not weigh even 46
lbs. to the measured bushel which the
law now calls for as standard.
The house was called to order Mon
day by Speaker Start promptly at
two O'Clock, and after the usual cere-
monies the introduction of bills was
quite brisk, although not over two
thirds of the members were present.
House bill No. 129 provides for the
establishment of the Vermont State
Agricultural and Mechanical College
The text of the bill is as follows:
Nine trustees shall be elected by the Legis-
lature, the Governor, Secretary of state
board of agriculture Secretary of state | I
dairymens association and Master of state
grange to be ex-officio members, the whole ;
number to be constituted a body polite
named as above. The trustees of the o. V.
NJ. and ). A. {. to transfer thereto all prop
erty etc. of the state experiment station. The ,
whole of VermOnt's share of the federal APP
preparation to go to the proposed institu-
ton. First meeting to be held in January {
next. So much of the act of 1865 establish :
ing the U. ". NJ. and ). A. e. as is inconsistent ,
with the proposed act to be repealed. The .
curriculum Is to include instruction in agri- |
culture, mechanic arts, English language. |
mathematics, physical. natural and economic
science and military tactics. College to be
located by the trustees at some suitable |
place, with an experiment farm of not less i
than 100 acres. Referred to committee on
education. :
House bill No. $50, by Mr.. Sayles
of Richmond, in amendment of Sec.
1924, Chapter 1872 of r. L. Provides
that when the insurance commissioner
has reason to believe that any COM
pany, or its officers or agents have |
violated any of the statutes relating ,
to insurance, or has not complied
with the requirements thereof, he
shall report the same to the states
attorney, giving such information as
he has. The states attorney shall
prosecute such offender or offenders.
If convicted, they shall be fined not
more than $4,000
Several bills of minor Importance ,
followed. I
The house was rather startled I
Tuesday morning by the introduc- I
ton of q petition by Mr. Maloney :
of Rutland, setting forth that one A.
H. Humphrey, an employee of the in
sane asylum at Brattleboro, had ,
mysteriously disappeared, and that :
diligent search, extending to and ,
through the army and navy, had !
failed to find even n clue to his
whereabouts. A resolution immedi-
ately followed, asking the appoint
ment OF one senator and two repre-
sentatives to investigate the matter I
and to find if any inmate or employee !
had ever been killed by any inmate
of the asylum. The petition sets ,
forth that the statement of the .
authorities in regard to this matter
is somewhat conflicting.
A few petitions asking for munich 7
pal suffrage for women come to the
surface daily and are received and re- 8
ferred.
House bill 80, providing for amend {
ments to the provisions of the liquor :
law at the discretion of the court, :
and at any time in it's proceedings,
came to its 3rd reading Tuesday ,
and met a lively reception. The ball !
was opened by Billiard of Underhill, :
and participated in by Robinson of :
Barton, Enright of Windsor, and