St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-12-07

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popularity of attitude indeed; and
yet after this, in its prejudiced an
tagonism to the board and its rage
over the senate's insistence on the
cutting off of the rider from the ap.
preparation bill, the house forgot
that it had agreed to the appoint.
ment OF the board and held to its
cry for virtual abolition.
The principal feature of the last
nights session was the fight over
this one point, and the lobby was
filled with an excited crowd up to
nearly midnight. Unwilling to yield
to what it regarded as unwarranted
action by the house. the senate called
for a committee of conference, and
this committee of six sat for five
hours and then failed to agree.
Then, at midnight, the sober, think
ing ones of the house were listened
to as they urged recession, and that
erratic body came to its senses and
voted to recede from its position as
to the rider and concur in the senate
amendment. 1t really looked at one
time during Wednesday night as if
the foolishness would be carried so
far as to compel Gov. Smith to call
an extra session for the making of
the necessary appropriations.
During mock session F. W. Hast
ings, the gentleman from Water
ford" was called to the chair, and
entertained the house by reading a
list of standing committees he had
appointed, bringing out very aptly
the characteristics of members as
the experiences of the session had re.
vealed them.
At one of the recesses the last
night, the senator's manifested their
appreciation OF the manner in which
Lieutenant.Governor Bates had pre-.
sided over their deliberations by pre-
senting him with handsome dia-
mond stud. He was completely
taken by surprise, but, as soon as he
could get control of his voice re-
sponded very feelingly. The lieuten.
ant-governor made many friends in
the legislature and at the capital,
and the performance of his official
dut. in the senate proved that the
state made no mistake when he was
given second place on the ticket.
Speaker Haskins was presented
with loving cup by members of the
house, and the senate chaplain, Rev.
Andrew Glllies, was made happy by
the gift of a gold watch and a coon
coat.
What has the legislature done for
the state? Well, nothing of any
startling Importance. 1t began by
appropriating too big sum for the
running Of psychological station.
But it was young in the appropria-
ton business then, and learned to be
even little too cautious later on.
1t did little something worth while
in passing Senator Blodgett's prison
reform bills; it neglected to do a
good thing for the educational sys-
tenn of the state when it killed Mr..
Rapney's bill making better super
vision OF schools possible by the
uniting of three or four towns to
secure superintendent that could
superintend; the fisheries interests
were looked after to fairly reason
able extent; quite a number of new
, savings banks were authorized to
handle the peoples money, if they
could get it; telephone and trolley
lines were given right to start If
business in certain promising fields
the usual amount OF private legisla
ton was INDUCED in; villages ant
towns were told that they could us,
a little money for library purposes
three more graves were dug in tn
high license cemetery-two releren
dums and license bill being inferred
therein; protection was accorded
the farmers and dairymen by way o
shutting out frauds in garden seeds
in milk and cream tests, and in tn
sale of commercial fee ding stuffs-t
say nothing of a note Of warnin,
against the worms that destro
shade, ornamental and forest trees
the railroad interests claimed and re
ceived good deal of attention, q
least one new road being made pos
sible and some of the old ones give
the right to reorganize and rejuve
nate; the peoples demand for mile
age tickets was endorsed. These an
a few other things have been done