Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-11-12
THE LEGISLATURE.

tigation into the expenses of state
Offices made little sensation at the
capitol, but the breeze may subside
without much result. 1t is said the
investigation is really directed at
Gov. Grout's trip to the Nashville
exposition in 1897. This trip cost
the state of Vermont $2S3o, for the
payment OF which there is said to be
no warrant of law. In addition to
this bill there are said to be two
hotel bills of good amount, one of
them tor something like $3.50 for
parlor at the Fifth Avenue hotel in
New York.
There is also disposition to look
into Adjutant General Peck's eX-
penSc account.
Senator Grihith's bill to allow
owners of fish hatchercs to sell trout
in February, March and April has
passed both houses and will I'M
doubleday become law.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Hewitt of Royalton presented
Il petition of 1897 citizens OF Royal
ton in favor of the prohihltory law.
On motion of Mr.. Simmons of
Woodstock, the bill relating to
school year and school tax, was re-
committed to the committee on cdu-
cation.
Mr.. Simmons of Woodstock pre-
scented / petition from residents of
Woodstock asking that they be per-
mltted to raise military company.
The bill providing that husband
is liable for the support of his wife,
and the wife for the husband when
he is unable to support HIMSELF. was
killed, as was also the bill 'grant-
ing municipal suffrage to taxpaying
females"
Mr.. Booth of Milton introduced a
bill, by consent, to relieve towns ex-
ccssively b,'rdened in building or
maintaining highways or bridges
and providing for the apportionment
of expenses between towns espcc-
tally benefited by such highways or
bridges. Towns SO bu, dcned, when
other towns are benefited, may have
commissioners named by the Coun-
ty court to determine what part of
expense should be borne by towns
benefited.
Matters went along quietly and
smoothly Tuesday, the only bill
arousing any discussion being House
bill No. So which was introduced by
MIR. Simmons of Woodstock and
which was really an attempt to take
away from the selectmcn the right
of lighting streets by electricity.
The bill was reported adversely and
its author made quite an extended
and eloquent speech against the ,c-
port. He was followed by Mcssrs.
Wallace of Hartford, Figh of West
Rutland and Emory of Chelsea.
When the vote was put Mr.. Sim
mons was the only one to vote aye
and a good chorus of noes respond
ed.
MCGEARY BILL KILLED
The McGeary local option bill
was taken up Wednesday morning.
The debate was interesting and the
galleries and all the seats on the
floor of the House were full. Mr..
Simmons of Woodstock was among
the opponents of the bill who took
part III the talk. He had good
word to say for the clergy. and he
thought that the attack on ministers
would prove a boomerang. He
made speech in favor of temper
ance, and stated that prohibition
furnished the best conditions for
temperance work. He had noticed
that a newspaper which advocated
license usually printed rum adver-
tisements, showing that they had a
financial interest in license.
The House refused to order a
third reading of the bill by a vote of
III yeas to 60 nays. OF the 90 who
voted for the bill "a were Democrats
and &c Republicans.
BICYCLE BILL PASSED.
The bill taxing bicycles was read
a third time, wnen Mr.. Emery of
Chelsea moved to amend by raising
the tax on wheels from IS to so
cents. The amendment was adopt
ed and the bill was passed.
A number of minor bills were set
tied Thursday in one branch or the
other, the House especially being in
a slaughtcring mood. The bill pro-
viding tor the continuation of the
state geologist in examining quarries
and mines was the first to be killed
and the Delehanty local option bill
had short shrift.