The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-16
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

at Is to be hoped that the reckless ex-
penditure OF money for the amusement OF
State officials will not result In the Legis-
lature cutting down appropriations to
commissions that make q proper use OF
their allowance. There. is opposition man
ifest in some quarters to the fish commits
sion and to the cattle commission. We
should not think any sane man would
question the advisability Of keeping the
State fish industry. To Investigate and as
certain II the fish commissioners are per-
forming their duties in an economical man.
ner Is perfectly proper, but to abolish the
fish hatcheries would be to take long step
back yards. And this will also apply to
the cattle commission. While this commits
sion is more or less ex psDsve it would seem
that it Is being conducted economically, as
the expense when compared to that OF other
States is very much less. In M Assachu-
sets in 1897 there were nearly 10000 cattle
tested at a cost OF a little over So ahead,
while in Vermont for the season of 81 and
'98 there were 81 900 cattle tested at cost
of twenty -four cents head. This Is a com.
parison very favorable to our cattle CON-
mission and would not lead one to believe
that they were wasting the States money.
Who ever knew session before without
its perpetual and everlasting orator, one or
more? The talking members are not
spec Chi making members, and as rule they
only speak when they say something.
with possibly one exception early in the
session, and that was nipped in the bud
has exhausted the patience of the House,
or brought on himself the desk cover pro-
cess. 1t is the wonder of the generation, a
House without orators or self-coI stituted
leaders.
Senator Blodgett's prison reform bills,
the bill establishing board of prison COM
missioners of the State officials and the bill
permitting indeterminate sentences, were
ordered Saturday to a third reading.
There should be no question as to their
passage. The habitual criminal bill was
strangely killed by the House.
f. e. Briggs of Jonesville writes the
DAILY JOURNAL to correct an erroneous inn
preston, more OF less prevalent, that young
trout placed in the streams from the hatch
cry at Roxbury to great extent perish
Mr. Briggs says he has placed great many
OF these trout in the streams of Richmond,
Bolton, Huntington and Hinesburg and they
have alway done finely, From streams in
which there ad been no trout before he
stocked them thousands have since been
caught. He is of tn opinion that great
mistake will be made If the work of stock
ing the streams OF the State with fish is
stopped or interrupted, and to that end the
State hatchery should be maintained.
Senator Smiths bill TO prevent the desc
Grafton of the national flag by preventing
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thereon passed the House in concurrence
Monday afternoon. That's right; keep
Old Glory clean.
The bill allowing States attorneys to en-
ploy stenographer in the grand jury room
was passed Monday, after amending it 30
that the State would have to pay for the
stenographer, and allowing that official TO
read the minutes taken to the q aud jury.
The amendment compelling the State to pay
the freight barely went through, The re-
trenchment wave hit it, but on the bias,
and the amendment did not receive the full
force of the wave.
1t comes from high authority that many
of the bills introduced in the House at this
session indit ate a lamentable ignorance OF
disregard OF the rules of grammatical con-
structon, and in many instances the writ
ing is practically illegible. This fact ac-
counts for much trouble and loss of time in
disposing OF them.
Mr.. Swasey's holiday bill provides that
Vermont's eIal holidays be the first day OF
January, the twelfth day OF February, the
tweni y-second day of February, the Thrift.
sixteenth day Of August, the first Monday
in ptember, and the twenty fifth day q
December. The bill provides that the
twelfth day of February shall be- known as
Union Defenders Day" the sixteenth day
of August as Bennington Battle Day.
Labor Day throughout the State. The bill
came up Monday afternoon on what was
thought to be a favorable report, but was
recommitted on motion of Col. Emery
The bill allowing seine fishing at certain
times of year in Lake Champlain by author
ity Of permits from the fish commissioners
gave rise to a lively and somewhat pro-
tracted discussion Monday afternoon, there
being a desire on the part of many to en-
tirely stop seine fishing. The bill was
finally amended to prevent all seine fish
ing, and passed.
With only six more working days the
House has PIT bills yet to be acted on and
125 Senate bills are as yet in the distance
The most important bills OF the session are
not yet reached, those which require most
careful consideration and the fullest discus.
sion, and if the General Assembly adjourns
next week Wednesday 1t must necessarily
leave much undone and all in chaos
and confusion. This is generally acknowl-
edged among the members. What are the
members going to do about II?
Speaker Haskins introduced resolution
Monday afternoon, Mr.. Hale in the chair
that the House hereafter convene at A. NJ,
which was adopted The speaker thought
this would avoid the necessity of night SEES
sions, and he was given much app ause
when he stated that if the Assembly could
not get though with the business and do it
well ana thoroughly before one week from
next Wednesday then he was in favor Of
coming back after Thanksgiving. This was
very evidently the sentiment of the House.
In regard to the bill suggested by Gov.
Smith regarding taxation, it is understood
that the committee has adopted an amend
ment to the proposed act to the effect that
the State shall not include taxes ON re al
estate in any contract 1t may make with
parties moving into the State under agree
ment of a specific annual tax for term of
years. In this form the bill is expected TO
pass.
The Joint committees on game and fisher
les evidently intends to make an effort to
compromise all interests in the matter of
deer hunting by recommending close sea-
son for four years. 1t will be easy enough
to extend it after that time.
The amended bill for the construction of
the Washington county Jail passed the
House Monday afternoon.
The House | as passed the bill making the
holding of government liquor license
prima facia evidence of keeping with intent
to sell, and the place OF selling may be
legally considered nuisance.
Prison Commissioner Hszen tells a story
Of young n an who three or four years ago
was convicted of serious crime and sent
to States prison for twenty five years. He
secured new trial and was sent TO the
workhouse for one year. On his release he
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