Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-10-20
THE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from first Page.

Next week is Ladies' week and most
eiything else. Monday, the Press
association meets, Tuesday and We'd
nesday the State Pharmaceutical asso-
citation, Wednesday evening the YER
mont Officers Reunion society has a
banquet, Thursday evening is COVER
nor's reception.
This is the week when divers and
sundry joint committees 'sdor the pen
al and reformatory institutions of the
state. The latter scrub up faithfully
in preparation, being duly warned and
notified, and If there were any "olts"
whatever the committees would be the
last to discover them. The thing is
one of the farces that alternated with
the comedy of the session.
Gov. Smith has announced his staff
appointments and happiness and sor-
row are lying around in big and about
equal chunks. The governor has cut
down the caudal appendage from six
teen-as named by Governor Grout-
TO ten and would have amputated the
member altogether if he had consulted
his own personal desires. The ten new
colonies are Frank l.. Greene OF st. AL
bans, Edward J. Booth of Burlington,
Farrand S. Stranahan of St. Adams,
George L. Chaffec of Rutland Henry
S. Bingham of Bennington, Joseph G.
Brown of Montpelier, Benjamin Hin
man of Derby, Curtis S. Emery of
Chelsea, Walter w. Brown of SPRING
field and Charles +. Nelson of Mont
gomery Center. He has also appoint
cd Oscar w. Peck of Burlington sur
geon general.
The legislature took its first jun
ket Thursday, having adjourned at
noon until Monday. The state officers
and members went by special train to
Burlington to attend the grand parade,
reception and ball given in honor of |
the Third Cavalry, heroes of the war |
As little was likely to be accomplished |
Thursday, adjournment over to Mon
day followed as matter of course.
This legislature is no more dilatory |
than its predecessors in getting down |
to work. 1t takes at least two weeks
TO get the wheels in motion. Commit
tees have to be appointed and organ
ize. The introduction of bills comes
slowly at first, as few are prepared |
when The curtain rises. All but a
dozen or so in the House are '.freshn
and do not get broken in for business
in a moment. The people have them
selves TO blame for the delay, which is
less than in many states.
The present assembly may seem easy
to work, but we predict that the at
tempt to create the office of insurance
at a salary of $4,000 a
year, clerk hire of 5000 and expenses
OF both, will fall short of fruition. The
duties that would naturally fall to this
officer, such as examining foreign in
surance companies and licensing them,
statistics as to origin of fires,
etc, are now performed by the secre-
tary of state and treasurer. Until now, I
it has not been limited that the work
could not be satisfactorily done by
them. The fees they have received
for licenses, 40 per cent of which are
turned over to the state. have in the
course of years come to be considered
a portion of the salaries of these offices
and justly so. Now it is proposed 10
cut them off in favor of still another
state officer, who, if the proposed bill
carries, would receive much larger
than would remain to
the secretary of state or the state treas
urer, who is responsible for the hand
ling of millions. The scheme is being
promoted most actively by one or two
who hope to rake in the fat salary.
The leading side issue this week has
been the big black 300-lb. bear
brouoht To town Monday nv ReDresent |
alive Durkee of Pittsfield. His bear
ship was caught in a trap in Pittsfield I
Friday. after lunching on u yearling
heifer, and shot after carrying the
heavy trap four miles. This was Mr..
Durkee's thirteenth bear, and as an ar
gument in favor of the renewal of the
bounty law he brought it to Montpelier,
displayed it in front of 4 local market
and caused real sensation. He dis
posed of it by rattle, selling 100 tickets
ut from one cent to one dollar. Mr..
Wall of Randolph coveted the hand