Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-11-30
THE LEGISLATURE.
OUR MONTPELIER LETTER.
Final Adjournment Reached on
Schedule Time.

The Decks Clenred Early Tuesday Eve
ning---Filibusterlng in the Rutland
Fight---a General View Of the Work
of the Last Three Days.
The Legislature of 1894 proved itself true
to the traditions of Vermont by finishing
its work and reaching final adjournment
at o'clock Wednesday morning-'the
day before Thanksgiving" The event
which made this possible was the action
of the house last Friday morning in pass
ing the bill embodying the revision of the
laws just as it came from the committee,
without amendment, discussion or oppos-
ton, followed by similar action by the SEN
ate. There had been general feeling that
this was what might happen, but there
was still a very good chance that some
over-wise or over-ambitiOus member might
open the flood-gates of debate by proposals
of amendment, and there was an evident
feeling of relief when the critical point
was safely passed. This was undoubtedly
a case where the unwitten law that our
legislature must adjourn before Thanks
giving had determining influence, and a
very wholesome one. Following this ac-
tion by the house came the first definite
movement toward final adjournment, and
it was taken, very appropriately, by Mr.
Read of Rockingham, whose able and un-
sparng work upon the revision had done so
much to make adjournment possible. Mr.
Read introduced a joint resolution provid-
ing for a joint committee of three repre-
sentatives and two senators on the ques-
ton of adjournment. The house adopted
it and so did the senate. The committee
appointed consisted of Senators Dale and
Barber, Mr.. Reed of Rockingham, Mr.
Lewis of Wells and Mr. Thompson of
Woodstock.
After an extended debate, of which the
members grew very tired, and finally began
to relieve its monotony by the familiar de-
vice of slamming desk covers the bill set
ting of certain lots from the town of Jay
to the town of Bichford was unceremo-
niously killed.
The senate killed its own bill, the first
one introduced and entered on its calendar,
to equalize taxation of savings banks and
trust companies by allowing them to de-
duct the amount Of the United States in
come tax from the tax paid the state. 1t
also killed the house bill to reduce the
amount liable to trustee process to So.
FilibustcrinG in the Rutland Division
Fight.
M, ,,,., n,oitivo, opJ zopsatinpo1 Iava1
opment of the session made its appearance
last Saturday afternoon when the oppo-
nents of the Rutland city division bill
blocked legislation in the senate by the
adoption of tlibustering tactics which
threatened to destroy the chance of com
pleting necessary legislation before the
time set for final adjournment. The facts
in this contest, briefly stated, are that the
house bill to annex portion OF the city 10
the town of Rutland was reported favor
ably from the special committee to which
ii was referred, and passed the house by a
vote of more than two to one. \ similar
bill introduced in the senate was also re-
ported favorably, and ordered to a third
reading by the close vote of - to IA. The
action of the committees was a disappOint
ment, and probably a surprise to the city
people. but it was the general impression
that the fight was settled, that the senat,
would accept the house bill as a substitut,
for its own, and it would be passed without
further opposition. The senate ordered
the house bill to lie on Friday, on motion
of Senator White of Rutland, who an
nounced that he wished to propose som,
amendments to the bill. After the join
resolution for final adjournment had passe,
both houses, Saturday afternoon, tn
house bill was called up and Senator White
moved that it be ordered to lie, and b
made special order for Monday afternoon
The reason given was that he wished Il
offer amendments which the committee
had refused to consider. This motion tn
supporters of the bill opposed, and to tn
surprise of everybody not in the secret gen
uine filibustering tactics were brought int
use. After several motions to adjourn
and calls for yeas and nays, with motion
to reconsider and roll calls on these, Sena
tor White began to talk on motion I
amend and adroitly held the floor unit
quarter of six, when motion to adjour
was finally carried. Mr.. White varied hi
speech with long list of interrogations t
the committee which made them uncon
Portable. Under the rules of the senate
which contain no provision for shutting o.
debate, it was evident that Senator Whit
and his IS supporters held absolute contrC
of the situation, with power, if they chose
to keep up the debate till after the time fC
final adjournment had arrived, thus pr
, venting the enactment of necessary legisli
tion, and compelling a special session to
held.
That there was much excitement at IL
| capitol over this situation will be easi
= understood. A special train was run fro
/ Rutland Sunday, containing about
prominent men of that city, who were e