Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-11-02
WILL DIE YOUNG.

Of course the McGeary bill is destined
to an early death. 1t will carry little if
any more than the straight democratic vote
Orleans and Addison have voted solidly
against it in caucus. The public hearing
on the bill is to be given tomorrow be-
lieve, but it is all pure matter of form
The committee on temperance to whom it
is referred will Of course vote soldly
against it. Good by, sweet McGeary Viii
liam! Death loves shining mark!
The bill OF the dem lcratlc member from
Castleton is practically the same thing as
the McGeary bill, but with the very i'm
portant addition of the referendum. The
bill is stringent license measure which,
however, can be improved by amendment.
But the most important part is the referen-
dnm. This provides that at the next an
nual March meeting the voters shall be
supplied with ballots on which they will
vote ''yes" or MOI on the adoption of the
act. If majority vote ''yes", then it is
law. Very simple, isn't i,P have good
reasons for believing that if secret ballot
could be taken such bill as this would
pass the house by two-thirds vote.
Barring the above two bills very little
or rum legislation has been
One bill provides that per-
son buying liquor at an agency must sign
his or her name and give the purpose for
which the liquor is wanted. The passage
of this bill would simply compel the sign
ing OF column after column of the word
medicine" and it takes only little longer
to lie ON paper than it does orally.
A tremendous effort is being made to ar
range things so that bill may be squeezed
through creating the office of insurance
but it is fact that there is
a mighty prejudice against the proposition
among the rank aud file of the members.
Their only argument and good one is
that the state sec etary and state treasurer
have heretofore done the work well and
may properly be allowed to- continue SO to
do. On the other hand Senator Wstson's
bill placing the salary Of the state treasurer
at S2500 and that OF the secretary of state
at $4,000 and compelling all tees to be paid
into the state treasury is said to allow
at salary OF $500 q year
and save the state at least $500 over pres
ent expenses. There is no question but
that very much can be said in favor of the
creation of this important office. The in
surance industry is mighty one and can
claim the entire time of a moder-
ately paid official. The bill viii be heavily
backed and possibly the ignorance of the
as to the necessities Of the case
can be overcome.
The question OF the creation OF an at
is also very much in doubt.
This and two other bills are in committee
relating to states attorneys. One of the
after removes them from the guardianship
Of the court and the other provides that
they may be overhauled by the county
grand jury. The bills largely depend on
he fate OF each other and the end OF it all
md the result to the poor states attorneys
S beyond human right. On the whole the
general bill is thought to stand an
wen chance.
Considerable pressure is being brought
o bear on the governor to reconstruct the
agricultural commission and reduce the |
from eight to SIX. Tbs Is
natter largely Of personal jealousies and
nimosities and dent believe the governor |
Iimself knows what It's harvest will be. A
aid is also being made on the cattle COM
Mission of immigration inspection and the