The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-02
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

Another attempt is being made to cut
down the amount transferable from ten
dollars to five dollars. This bill takes con-
siderable Of the time OF each session, and is
invariably killed.
The bill sent up Wednesday by Mr. Ranney
providing for better supervision OF schools
IL q most meritoriOus one In many of it's
features, and would appear to materially
improve the present condition of the
schools. 1t surely deserves the most care
full consideration of the committee and
House.
Bills to commute the sentences OF Mrs
Marsh and W. G. Buzzell, under sentence OF
death, were introduced Wednesday morning
in the House and Senate, each accom-
panied by large petitions for favorable
consideration.
The gentleman from Albany would en-
able any town TO close its liquor agency by
vote at any legal meeting and notification
to the county commissioner. This bill
should pass to the governor without debate
The bill OF Mr.. Hunt OF Troy requires
wives of sufficient pecuniary ability to sup
port and maintain their husbands II the lat
ter are unable to take care of themselves,
and II they neglect and refuse 80 to do,
towns can recover in an action OF assump-
sit. Glory be to Mr.. Hunt and more power
to his elbOwl Somebody move to pass the
bill under suspension of the rules
The private water bill of the gentleman
from Chester is nearly as long as the public
liquor bill of the gentleman from Burling.
ton. Is this right?
Nearly every available permanent and
temporary seat in the House and Senate
was Occupied Wednesday by the ladies', and
the bright colors and faces seemed to prove
an incentive to the lively transaction of
business.
The bill OF the gentleman from Derby
making the Purchase of flags compulsory
by every school district aud that they shall
float over every school house while in ses-
sion, is most patriotic and estimable
measure but is obeCted to by many as
good patriots as the gentleman from Darby
himself on the excellent ground that 1t
would be a decided burden on many small
districts. 1t is altogether likely that every
district would do 40 when able without
pecuniary distress, but il might bs well to
have warm, comfortable and suitable
schoolhouses before indulging in any ex-
ubersnt outburst of patriotism. The flag
Will not be forgotten, nor will reverauce
for 1t be lost meanwhile.
Representative Bottum OF Shaftesbury
was taken to the Heston Hospital on
Wednesday whsre he is now very i'll.
Gov. Dillingham; il very much in earnest
NOT as attorney for the parties, but from
thorough and careful observation OF the
merits OF the case-in his opinion that Will
liam G. Buzzell is absolutely innocent of
the crime for which he was sentenced to
be executed, and states that in his opinion
as an entirely DISTINGUISHED lawyer the YER
dict was absolutely uniustifable from the
facts proven, The foreman of the jury,
even, makes some queer statements as to
the finding. Under all these circumstances
the Legislature should certainly give the
matter careful hearing.
mot tax dodger," in Wednesday g
Burlington Netos, contributes nugget of
hard sense, as follows: "While our law
makers are wrestling over the problems of
how to provide adequate sources of rev.
enue to defray the running expenses OF
the government, they evidently have over
looked one very fruitful source of wealth.
While there are hundreds of thousands of
dollars worth OF diamonds and precious
stones and pearls, set and unset, owned in
this city and State that pay nothing in
taxes our assessors are securing the by
ways and hedges 80 as TO be sure that il a
poor man has added dollar to his modest
home for his comfort or convenience, it is
in the list of taxes. Let the pearls and pre-
cious stones pay their just tax with the rest
of valuable property"
The experiences of some of the ladies of
the State officials in the course Of their 80
cial-official duties are OF nature to relieve
the monotony of official routine, and il they
could be made public would occasion a
very expansive smile all around the circle.
These little side events that never can find
their way into print are the object of many
an amusing anecdote and "Reminiscences.
The Woodstock Standard thinks this
aboutit 1.-THE movement to create the new
office of attorney general is designed as a
substitute provision for the supervision Of
States attorneys, and is accompanied by a
movement to abolish supervision by the
Supreme Court judges. The present ar
rangement necessarily mixes the judicial
and executive departments of our legal sys-
tenn to some extent, by compelling the judges
to nose around the business Of the States
attorneys, and this jumbling is wrong at
least in theory, and could easily degenerate
to wrong in practice. In as far as the work
OF an attorney general could obviate this
defect 1t would be valuable.
At last it appears that the Legislature will
be given an opportunity to honor Capt.
Clark Of the Oregon and express its appre-
citation OF his valuable services. These are
more highly considered, but not at all
beyond their merits, from the fact that
Capt. Clark is a Vermont boy, with all the
fact implies. A joint resolution compre-
bending the subject will very probably be
propriate source Immediately
The Washington county Jail committee
Is OF the opinion that the bill providing
for the Jail should be amended to allow
the commissioners power to condemn land
for that purpose. One of the county men,
bers says that q written legend in the
prisoners room reads in large characters
"God Bless our Home" but he don't think
the writer really meant it.
Representative Bottum Of SALISBURY,
who Is yet at the Heston hospital, is con-
siderably improved, and will probably be
convalescent in few days. The threat
ened attack of pneumonia is thought to be
averted.
1t is quite likely that with the passing of
ladies' week large number Of ladies will
yet remain with us and indicate by their
presence lively interest in the work Of each
days sessions. That's right. and II they
don't get what they want let them petition
for 1t.
The day off Thursday was largely con-
sumed by the members In visiting and re-
cuperating from the arduous duties of legis-
lation, and in preparing for the events of
last evening. Two or three committees
worked in desultory way, but very little
was accomplished except to get rested for
a new hold.
The electric road people, who have been
in town for day or two, assert that II the
bill amending the charter of the Mad river
valley electric road is successful the road
will certainly be built and begun soon.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Norton of Waits
fiald Thuradav nrnvidaa that towna NAV