Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-05-07
Extra Session,

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The extra session of the legislature. the
first such session for ~ years, convened Al
the state house Thursday to provide fo,
the sending out of the state troops against
a foreign foe. F'1Io
Hon. Kittredge Haskins of Brattleborc
was chosen speaker OF the house to sue.
ceed the former speaker, w. A. Lord o
Montpelier, who is prevented from holding
the office as he is now bank examiner for
the state. Hon. George M. Powers o1
Morristown was also nominated for the
speakership but was defeated by vote Of
129 to "a.
The governors message rehearsed the
difficulties existing between this govern
ment and Spain and stated that Vermont's
quota tor immediate service is a regiment
zoos enlisted men and officers, for which
the state is asked to provide equipment.
lie recommended that state compensa-
ton of So month extra be granted to
each soldier, the same as during the civil
war, and said: 1.-The regiment requested
by the secretary of war is about $50 in ex-
cess OF our quota under the presidents call,
out 1T is necessary to furnish it or allow
Vermonters to serve in other state organ
lzstlons, and it was taken for granted that
the pride of this distinctive little common
wealth would be correctly anticipated by
obJectlng to any such mixed service; be-
sides this overplus stands to our credit in
case OF future calls, and places Vermont in
this respect also at the head"
A resolution referring to Admiral
Dewey's services and thanking him was
adopted by unanin Gus standing vote.
The first bill inS- oduced was railroad
measure, from Mr.. Childs of St. Albans
providing. that no alien railway company
shall be directly or indirectly interested in
any OF the stock Of any railroad company
hereafter organized under the laws of this
state, without leave of the legislature This
bill was reported favorably and passed
without discussion.
The next bill came from McGinn of Fair
field and provided that non n-commissioned
officers and privates in the army be paid
$12 month, with $500 to their families in
case of death. This bill was killed.
Smith OF Burlington introduced bill ap-
propriating $4,000 for the expenses of the
session and authorizing the treasurer to
borrow 100000 for war expenses. The
bill was Immediately reported and sum-
marlly passed..
Clark of Glover introduced bill giving
volunteers the same pay as United States
soldiers until they are mustered in and 81
month thereafter and the bill was or
dered to lie and be printed and was finally
passed.
The house in the evening passed the
Rutland free library bill and the bill author
izing the governor to meet future calls for
troops, adopted the joint resolution from
the senate fixing Friday noon as the time
for final adjournment. A few senate bills
were passed, but they were duplicated, in
troduced in each house at same time, and
the work was merely formal.
The legislature adjourned yesterday noon
after the shortest session in the history of
the state. Seven bills originating In the
house have become laws. They are
Amending the charter of the White River
Valley Electric R. R. Co. providing for
the returns of list of members of the COM
panies to the adjutant general; providing
tor the expenses of the session; amending
the quadrennial appraisal law; the alien
railway corporation law; to provide state
pay for Vermont soldiers. The last named,
and the most important, was the last to be
signed.
Of the bills originating in the senate four
are now laws. They are: Providing for
the re-enlistment of the National Guard
after the war; ). to fill further quotas of
troops; to provide pay for enlisted sailors
and marines; to enable St. Albans to own
and operate an electric plant.