St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-11-27
SCENES OF DISORDER.
The Legislature of 1890 DissOIves in
BIue Fire TO Rapid Music.
Especial dispatch to the Caledonian.1

Especial dispatch to the CaledonianJ
MONTPELIER, Nov. &c.
The final agony is over Both
houses after long night of sleepless
vigil convened at eight O'Clock this
morning and the presiding officers
declared the respective bodies adj
journed without day and the Legis-
lature of 1890 is no more. The Sen
ate had some important bills to con-
slider which occupied the time all
through the night. The House had
more leisure and pandemonium
reigned supreme a larger part of the
time. The members acted like school
boys, throwing books and papers
promiscuously SO that the floor could
not be seen. Two mock sessions
were INDUCED in. Taylor of Corn
wall presided. Prouty Of Franklin
read a poem, Capt. Mimms sang a
song and altogether the time is long
to be remembered
The committees election bill passed
both houses safely. 1t is based on
the Australian ballot system and
applies only to towns of over 1000
inhabitants. Ballots are to be
printed and voting booths erected
at the expense of towns in which the
law is operative.
The Senate passed the house bill
appropriating $1,000 for a fish
hatchery, and killed the ten-hour bill
The bill appropriating $4,000 for the
worlds fair passed both houses, also
the corporation tax bill. The bill
providing for a bureau of immigra-
ton passed the Senate but was
killed i'll the House. 1t seemed to
stand a good chance until the spirit
was taken out of it by amendments
Supreme Court Judges.
The Senate sat down on the bill
over which the House had such
contest, reducing the number of su-
preme court Judges to six, with dull
and sickening thud. A casual obser-
yer, seeing the struggle in the House,
would have expressed great surprise
at the action taken in the Senate
The greater part of the legal frater-
nifty in the House urged the retention
of the present number with all the
eloquence of which they were mas
tiers. 1t was argued that the court
was an extremely hard-worked body
and if their number was lessened it
would be almost impossible to do the
work satisfactorily. Some one on the
other side observed there seemed to
be good many aspirants for such
an undesirable position. The third
reading was ordered by a vote of
three to one and the bill passed the
next day by a vote of four to one 1t
was therefore a surprise party when
the Senat e the next day refused unan-
imOusly third reading of the bill
An effort was made to reconsider but
proved unavailing. 1t is quite prob
able sense of independence and dig
nifty figured to a considerable extent
in the matter, as that body had twice
before acted on a similar bill. 1t was
not at all to their taste to have the
impression go out that they were
compelled to do so and so because
the House had taken certain action
The election of Judges was held at
$50 p. m. yesterday. The friends of
Judge Ross were unnecessarily ap-
prehensive, for no other name was
presented for the chief justiceship.
Senator Nichols nominated Judge
Ross in few we'll chosen words. He
said: I'VE all regret the retirement
of our eminent chief justice and as
another eminent member of the
supreme court steps out, it is of vital
Importance to retain experienced men
on the bench. 1t has been the uni
versal practice to promote the next
in order to be chief justice. iona than
Ross is a man beloved and honored,
who has had a long term and rem
dered eminent service"
The other 1ncumbents were unani-
mously elected. Speaker Start had a
walk-over, no other name being
offered against him and fourteen
speakers seconding him. Shurtleff
and Thompson were the candidates
for the last place and a ballot was
taken. The matter was in doubt till
the result was declared This was
Shurtlef, 119; Thompson, 1877, thus
electing the gentleman from Iras-
burg.
A erfcuIfuraI COLLEGE,
The farmers won a magnificent
victory in the House on the agricul-
tural college bill. 1t came up Thurs
day as special order, the question
being on the substitution of the COM
promise bill proposed by the COM