Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-16
THE LEGISLATURE
OUR MONTPELIER LETTER
The Wheels Getting Ready to
Go Round.

Important Bills Relating TO Caucuses
and ElectiOns---The Divorce Laws---
n Bill for n COnnectIcut River Bridge
Between Vernon and Hinsdale---In-
vestigatIOn of State Expenses---Im-
pOrtant Changes In the Probate Laws
Proposed Election of United states
Senator and State Omcers---"LadIes'
Week."
MONTPELIER, Oct. IA, 1896.
The flag hung at half-mast from the
state house Tuesday in honor of the men,
DRY of Ex-Governor Fuller. On every
hand were heard expressions of sorrow
that he had passed away, and tributes to
his faithfulness and efficiency in the ser
vice of the state. Those who were nearest
to him in official relations, the secretary of
state, the state treasurer, the auditor of &C.
counts and others, all speak of the persist
ence with which he studied every detail of
the different departments and the thorough
knowledge which he gained of state affairs
in every branch. Many who were con-
nected with the legislature of 1892 remem-
Der that while that body came and went
the executive chamber was always open
and that its head took no vacations. Gov
ernor Fuller's messages to the legislature
reflected in a strong degree his prominent
trait-the mastery of every subject that
he Sunderland were models of their kind.
The records show that in answering the
many calls that came to him to represent
the interests of Vermont in gatherings of
different kinds from Boston to San Fran
cisco-a duty that he performed so credit
ably to the state-he paid from his own
pocket considerable portion of what
might, by common custom, have been paid
by the state as official expenses. The gen.
eral verdict as expressed here is to the eff
feet that Governor Fuller's efforts to serve
the state were so earnest and sincere as to
disarm all unfriendly criticism, and were
so successful as to command the tribute of
all the people.
Speaker Lord announced his committees
this morning. AS was expected Mr.. Has
kins was assigned to the leading position
as chairman of the judiciary committee.
Several Windham county members ex-
pressed preference, it is understood, for a
place on the committee on education which
is destined this year to be full of labors,
but Mr.. Ward of Putney was the one Sc
lected. 1t is noticed that none of the three
counties containing the normal schools are
represented on this committee, an appar-
rently wise feature of the makeup in view
of the normal school contest. 1t was ex-
pected that either Mr.. Palmer of Water
bury, former state superintendent of edu-
cation, or Mr. Bunker of Peacham, another
prominent educator, would be chairman of
this committee, but the speaker decided
the contest between them by giving the ap-
pointment to Judge Darling of Benning-
ton, lawyer, but one of the strong men of
the house, it is said. Mr.. Adams of Marl-
boro, as chairman of the committee on the
grand list, has a responsible position in
view of the double taxation question which
it is proposed to have that committee solve
this year. Mr.. Boyd of Dover is well taken
care of as chairman on the part of the
house of the joint committee on the house
of correction. Having three of the i'm
portant chairmanships Windham county
certainly has no ground for complaint in
that line. Those who are acquainted with
the Windham county members, however,
feel that some of them are fitted for better
places than they receive-in fact Speaker
Lord himself said as much to the writer
but the fact must be recognized, of course
that with so places to be filled that are moi
desirable and only 200 that are, the speak
er is forced to put some good material
where he would prefer not to. The prin'
ciple that bushel cannot be crowded into
peck measure don't hold in the case Of
committee appointments. Every speaker
has to put a good many good men intC
places that won't hold them.
The first two bills to be introduced il
the house relate to caucuses and elections
subjects that have naturally not lost theil
interest to a good many members fresl
from fields of contest. House bill No. l
by Mr.. Palmer of Waterbury enters a fielC
new to Vermont legislation in attempting
to prevent undue influence, intimidation
threats and bribery as means of affecting
results in caucuses and conventions. 1
provides that any one guilty of such prac
tees shall be fined not more than 5000
The line is drawn little milder toward tn
man who, having fixed conviction as Il
what party he belongs to, votes in the eau
Gus of another party. Such man is to b
fined not more than 500. This provision
would seem to make it rather dangerou
for man to experience a sudden chang
in his political views and attempt to ente
at once into his reward. 1t is said tina
the bill embodies some of the provisions @
laws of other states Probably its chic
cause of death may be the feeling that con
dit As are such in Vermont that it is no
needed.
House bill No. 2, presented by MI
Clark of Glover, does away with the ma
jority met cd of electing town representa-
tives, and provides that ballot boxes shal
be turned at o'clock in the afternoo
and the person then receiving the creates
number of votes shall be declared elected
In event of the two leading candidates re
ceiving an equal number of votes furthe
ballot is provided for. Several favorabl
comments on this measure have appeare
in the state press, mainly on the groun
4 that state senators are elected by pluralit