Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-12-03

ton, including this, the state would be up
very large financial tree. This was q
bright thought on the part Of the opponents
OF the bill in the house, and had already
brought about deadlock. The passage
OF the senate reorganization bill was COM
promise, and at once relieved the conges-
ton.
The governors salary is finally fixed at
$500, and $1,000 for expenses for himself
and staff on occasions when the outfit take |
it into their heads that they must do some
thing for the honor, credit and glory of the
state. This seems to be fair sort of an |
arrangement, and appears to give general
satisfaction.
The referendum introduced in the senate
by DR.. Thomson of Rutland, and which |
passed that body, was killed by the house
Tuesday afternoon by large majority on
a yea and nay vote.
The oppents of the measure appealed to
the bigotry and fear of the members and
consequently the house is in the position of
refusing to allow the people either to re-
affirm their devotion to prohibition or to
say what changes they want. | am free to
say that l consider the result as an exhibi-
ton of rank and narrow cowardice of the
most shameful sort. When it comes to the
point that Vermont legislature refuses to
allow the people to say what they want and
what they don't want in the way of legisla-
ton. then a general assembly is worse than
useless, an obstruction to the popular will
Although Gov. Smiths taxation bill
what is known as 'the millionaire nom
resident taxation bill"-was killed by the
senate after passing the house. bill en-
bodyipg the idea in an unohjectionable
f ON was introduced in the house Tuesday
and passed Wednesday morning by vote
of 1874 to 81. An amended bill providing
| for state commissioner of highways is
apparently on its unobstructed way
| through.
Hereafter, when the occupant or owner
of land posts a brook running through it,
he must himself stock the brook with fish
from the hatchery in order to recover more
than actual damages from any trespasser
fishing regardless of the notices.
The bill to prevent ''tcket scalping" and
the traffic in railroad tickets and mileages
by other than the authorized agents OF
railroads was killed by the house Tuesday
so quickly that it didn't feel the shot that
went through it and breathed for an hour
after its head was cut off, and the house
never apologized word to anybody.
The house refused to concur in the SEN
ate's amendment to the fish hatchery ap-
Precipitation bill raising the appropriation to
$5000 and the senate receded from its
position. The appropriation is therefore
left at $500.
The bills making trading stamps and
coupons illegal and abolishing Fast day
have been signed by the governor. Good
bye to ticket with every purchase at the
store and also to the unchristian carousal
of the degenerate Fast day!
The total expenses of the general as
sembly for the session are 1868, 922 80.
Whether it is worth it or not is a very
grave and debatable question. ! fear a
great many 'noes" will be heard from the
back seats.
All bills intended to remedy the evil Of
what is known as double taxation have
been killed, for the simple reason that the
members didn't know what to do or how to
do it, and joint resolution was adopted
authorizing the governor to appoint COM
mission to investigate the whole subject
and report bill on what can be done at
the session of 1900.
The result OF the investigation into Of
fetal expenses is, after all, nothing. The
committee only reported what the papers
had already published and the only recon-
mendation it made was that something
ought to be done about providing fund
for the governors ''offcial expenses.
This the legislature would have done any
way, and so, with the retaining of Gen.
Peck and the militia, the whole business
falls fiat. ''Up like a rocket, down like a
stick I"
!, A resolution, however, was INTRODUCED
and adopted Wednesday afternoon re-
questing the state auditor to collect of the
parties in fault all moneys belonging to the
state which have been expended without
warrant of law during the past six years.
The resolution was offered by Mr.. Harris
OF Bennington, and went through the house
with rush.
The bill providing for state commits
sioner of highways was killed in the house
Wednesday afternoon by yea and nay
vote of 1903 to 121. All the prominent
and larger towns favored the bill, while
the back towns voted almost solidly against
it. Thus does timidity and misapprehen-
sion once more block the way of progress
The passage of the senate bill by the
house Tuesday evening constituting a
board of agriculture consisting of three
members did not at all settle the question,
as Is suggested in a paragraph above.
The house has to-day refused to take its
rider off the appropriation bills, and at 4
P. NJ. the fight was on with more head
strong obstinacy than ever.
The resignation of Gen. Peck was
secured by Gov Smith this afternoon, to
take effect as soon as he can settle up the
affairs of the adjutant generals office.
The agitation over the removal of the
shire town of Essex county from Guildhall
to Island Pond resulted in the death of the
bill to-day in the house by vote OF "a
to 70.
The senate killed the governors tax
alton bill to-day by vote Of 10 to 10.
The senate couldn't be made to believe
that it wasn't legislation in favor of the
rich and against the poor.
The house knocked out the appropria-
ton OF S35, 900 for the erection OF resi-
dence for nurses at the Waterbury asylum
for the insane. j. E. HARRIS.