The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-30
LEGISLATIVE POINTS.

LEGISLATIVE POINTS.
Now that Berlin has come in, we will ex.
pect to hear of IAN application for mem
bership" from "Putsvile" when the cleo
trio road shall have connected the capital
with that thriving suburb. There is room
enough, brethren; don't push
Many important measures yet remain to
be acted on, and the time from P. NJ Mon
day to day at 8 P. M, is none too long
Even with the extension, many speeches
will have to be cut short or suppressed en-
tirely.
The statement Of the committee OF inves-
tigation in regard to the accounts OF Rev
g. w. Perry, ex-State geologist, makes a
bad showing for that gentleman, but it is
quite possible that if Mr.. Perry had been
present before the committee he could and
would have satisfactorily explained every
detsil The committee reports that "the
examination of Mr.. Perry y vouchers were
so late that there was no time to call Mr..
Perry before yOur committee for any ex-
PLANTATION he might be able to make"
Disregarding the bad grammar of this
statement, it appears that Mr.. Perry had no
)tion OF the examination. and because Of
the committees haste did not appear,
Such a statement on an exparte hearing
| should not be allowed to iDjure Mr.. Perry's
character, and is not at all creditable to the
fairness and good faith Of the committee.
Several State papers and many of the
common people VINO pay taxes and say
nothing are wondering why the Senate
killed the bill taxing bicy cles. The reason
really would be interesting reading. Did
the honorable body assume that the listers
ought to assess wheels anyway? II so, they
will have to pass a bill compelling them to
do SO. In any event, large income has
been lost to the State which would have
been devoted to most important and very
worthy purpose, and the tax would have
been the most popular and least objection
able OF any ever levied in this State. But
very likely the Senate had reasons OF some
kind
1t appears that Senator Smith voted
against his own pet measure, the bill abol-
ishing Sunday excursions. and its prompt
resurrection and reconsideration by the
Senate Wednesday morning was owing to
the realiz alton Of this blunder. The bill is
OF course aimed at the Sunday excursions
from Burlington to Plattsburg and the
Islands, and in the event of its passage
which Is by no means certain-the company
will very likely nullify it by running the
boat on regular time table Sundays. Sena.
tor Smith says Burlington wants the law
badly, but-they also wanted the mileage
law.
The fish hatchery is not yet out OF the
woods, If the House refuses to concur with
the Senate in restoring the appropriation
figures to the original 81, 500. Very Likely
there will be head-on collision, and more
lurid oratory.
The newspaper boys, and very uapy of
the attaches and members who have formed
the acquaintance and acquired the valued
friendship Of Editor Howe of the Record
viii regret the fact that he starts or the
South next Monday, where he will remain
indefinitely. Mr.. Howe will go to the In.
dian river section of Florida, on the east
coast and has already secured pleasant
position in newspaper Office In the vicini-
ty. Frank is thoroughly good fellow and
an honorable gentleman and valued citizen.
and when next he visits old Vermont his
friends all hope his shadow will be foot
wider each way.
Thanks to opportunity and the honesty,
falrnt IS and courage OF Lieut-Gov. Bates,
who gave the dividing vote on a tie, the
referendum is through the Senate and will
come before the House. The DAILY jour
NAL has some curiosity to note the men,
bers who object to allowing the people their
right TO vote on the question of the contiI-
uation OF the present law and their reasons
for opposing it, There can be no good rea
son, and those who through fear or obsii-
macy put themselves in the way Of The peo
pies rights are not representatives OF their
constituency best interests. Vote for the
peoples referendum.
Representative Kinsley OF Lowell has not
out OF his seat moment when the House
has been in session. Besides that, he has
been one OF the hardest working members,
and has most excellent results to his credit.
Looking at the situation from the dis
lance OF Manchester, this State, the Journd
OF that town as arrived at this conclusion:
The Legislature has decided to adjourn
for Thanksgiving and meet again on Monday
afternoon. In the mixed condition of af-
fairs this was the best thing to do. The
Senate and House are not agreed on some
important matters and there seems to be
some Ill feeling which good Thanksgiving
dinner may dlsipate. Few OF the most i'm
portant bills have been finally disposed of
and further careful elaboration is needed.
The Vermont legislature does not often get
OH It's feet and we trust it may finish its
business in the utmost harmony and good
feeling"
In retrospective view OF "what might
have been" the Essex Record says of the
new mileage law;
IF the roads affected had made all their
books good to bearer, even at higher rate
than two cents, it is quite probable that the
bill would not have passed. This restriC-
ton, however, proved the source OF any
amount Of i'll feeling towards the roads, aud
invited hostile legislation. The new law
will not necessarily mean loss To the corpo-
rations, for it will doubtless result in large
volume OF travel, but IL will come rs "a well
come relief alike TO the conductors and the
public"
On the subject of holidays the Landmark
OF White River Junction thus Eliminates:
THE observance of the annual Fast Day
in this State practically ceased loug ago.
People read the proclamation, ate their
meals as usual, and either worked or went
10 ball game, providing there was one,
Its abolition by the House was sensible
measure in which the Senate will doubtless
hA Nh hal m ftnn of Tah nLau
may be well enough, but outside OF one or
two cities there are no labor unions to cele- |
brate the day. In fact nearly every man IN
Vermont has to labor unless he expects a |
charitable association to supply him with
his winters fuel III Labor Day will only