The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-10-26
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

ballots Tor justices OF the peace was passed
yesterday by the House.
Gen. Butterfeld's bill TO make compulso-
ry the purchase Of flags for all public schools
was yesterday ordered to a third reading
although there were several noes.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Booth OF Mil
ton, taxing bicycles, was reported adversely
and on motion ordered to lie. Mr.. McGeary
OF Burlington gave some good reasons why
the bill should pass, and there may be some
oratory when 1t Is called up.
Mr.. Swasey's legal holiday bill adds the
twelfth day Of February, to be known as
Defenders day and the first Monday In
September to be known as labor day to the
present list of legal holidays
J The fancy shirt and luxuriant tie to match
sported by DR.. Webb yesterday were
revelation to the House, and were the won
statesman. Judging by the admiring re-
marks overheard, the outfit will long linger
in the minds OF the observers.
Representative and Mrs. Dickey of Brad
ford drove out yesterday with Mr.. Dickeys
fine team.
Many OF the members and officials return
ing yesterday were accompanied by their
wives, sisters, cousins or aunts, and the
ladies will evidently make their week
large success numerically.
Every citizen possessing flag should I'M
Judging by the bill introduced by Mr..
Strong OF Berlin yesterday, some residents
Of the town want to be enabled to legally tap
the aqueduct which supplies Montpelier
from Berlin pond. y
The attendance OF members and senators
when the two bodies were called to order
yesterday afternoon was nearly full and an
unusually large number of visitors arrived
during the day and evening in anticipation
Of the events Of the week. Many are COM
ing in on every train, and apparently the
attendance of visitors this week will be the
largest of any week for years.
And still they come, acts "to legslze the
quadrennial appraisal" and to pay some-
body "the sum therein named' for assist
ing in capturing horse thief.
All trees and bushes within eighty rods
OF any grade crossing must be kept cut by
the road commissioners, II the bill from the
gentleman from Pawlet prevails.
The expected bill annexing the town Of
Berlin to the city OF Montpelier was intro
duced yesterday by Representative Kemp,
and referred at his request to the special
committee OF seven members appointed by
the Chair. The bill was introduced in the
Senate at the same time by Senator Putnam.
Mr.. Hale of Lunenburgh occupied the
Chair most acceptably and ably as q matter
of course yesterday afternoon. This gave
Speaker Haskins the opportunity to intro
duce bill for the voluntary admission of
patients to asylums and hospitals.
Respecting the much mooted question of
the removal of the fence around the State
House grounds, gentleman, native of
Montpelier but now resident of distant
city, writes the DAILY JOURNAL:
at would be a mistake to remove the
fence around the State House grounds, yet
it would be better to do SO than have It re-
main in its present condition. The granite
work should be hammered, or dressed
anew, and the iron work repaired and
painted, and then, 1 venture to say, that all
parties would concede that it gives COM
pleteness, and additional character and at
Effectiveness to the house and grounds"
This gentleman is thoroughly competent
judge in the matter upon which he express
es an opinion. The fence and curbing
make a framing of pretty picture. 1t
should not be removed, but the repairs and
improvements suggested ought to be made.
Mrs. Lieut-Gov. Bates was the delighted
recipient lest evening of magnificent bo-
quet from Senator Griffith. The senator
has at least one Of the finest Conservatives
in the State. the benefit of which his many
friends are beautifully enjoying.
A petition of over three hundred names,
including nearly all the business and pro-
fessional residents of Northfeld, is ready
for presentation to the Legislature, asking
that the death penalty be suspended in the
case of Buzzell, who was convicted with
Mrs. Marsh of the murder of the latter's
husband Other petitions will also be pre-
sented, and strong showing made for miti-
CATION OF sentence.
Members who strolled along State street
and past the government building last
| evening allowed that they were vociferous-
ly and Immediately in favor of a bounty on
skunks. That section and the old village
hall is noted for these vermin.
Last nights Argus refers ito the Nc.
Greavey bill" To those who have heard oil
the McGreavey family of Burlington's large
suburb this will not appear exactly like a
lington.
With presidents Clement, Mccullough,
Webb and Smith present and anxiously
sought by newspaper men and dozens OF
| statesmen, large and small, the air was
blue with railroad talk last evening and
becoming cloudier every hour. What will
the harvest be?
Over Sunday in Montpelier What shall
we do? That's the first question that occurs
to members who are too far from home to
spend two days getting there and back
and they hang around their boarding places
and think and reflect and mediate. They
| think Of home but they are not there and
can't get there, and they kill time in the
| way that first suggests itself to them. In
ideas between now and Tuesday morning
Look out for the back town members next
| week.
The Brandon Union talks about the mem.
Der from that town in this language:
"a farmers League has been formed by
members OF the Vermont Legislature and
DR.. K. A. Smith Of Brandon has been elect.
ed president. Judged by the number OF
his acres DR.. Smith is well qualified to fill
so honorable a position and we doubt not
will fill it with distinction and with credit
| to the association"
The bill to charter "the Burlington and
Canadian railroad company was intro
duced by Mr. McGeary of Burlington yester-
| day forenoon. This he Immediately follow
! ed with the introduction of another bill by
| request chartering the "Champlain Con-
struction Company" of which Messrs.
| Webb, Clement and others are corporators
and by which the corporators are empower
ed to build railroads, canals, etc, ad libi-
tum. This is supplementary to the Burling-
| ton and Canadian railroad company legis.
lation, and enlarges the powers of the par
| ties named. The construction company
bill was introduced in the Senate simulta-
neously
In Chaplain Fuller's morning prayer yes.
terday was glowing and thoroughly-ap'
| nraciatad rafaranna tn ia nraaa tha Waa NON