Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-05-13
THE LEGISLATURE.
THE SPECIAL SESSION.
How Vermont Meets the War
Emergency.

Col. HnskIns's Graceful Speech---BIlls
Passed---thc state IIonOrs Her Son.
Commodore George Dewey.
From the Evening Phoenix, Friday, May 81
MoNrrEIIEB, Thursday Evening.
Up to last evening it was expected that
Mr.. Powers of Morristown would be elected
speaker to succeed Mr.. Lord, as Col. Has
kins had made no effort to secure the
office, and in fact had not fully consented
to the use of his name As the members
came together the feeling found general
expression that Col. Haskinss long and
prominent connection with public affairs,
coupled with the fact that he was an old
soldier, made him the most fitting mem
Der to preside over a war legislature. This
support came from all sections of the state,
and his vote of 10, to 81 for Mr.. Powers,
young man whom all recognized as al
most an ideal presiding officer was one
which was highly complimentary to Col.
IIaskins and gratifying to his friends.
After receiving the oath of Office Col.
Haskins addressed the house as follows:
tircS:-I sincerely thank you for this
generous manifestation of your confidence
| in my ability to preside over the delibera-
tions of this house during its present ses-
sion.
am made to feel more deeply my obli-
CATION to you for the distinguished honor
you have conferred, when | consider that
when | came here to attend this session
had no cherished aspiration, nor had ! en-
tertained the thought that | would be
chosen to occupy the chair so grandly
filled by the many distinguished and hon
orable gentlemen who compose the long
list of my predecessors. Your election,
therefore, brings to me the greater honor;
and an honor which no one, under the cir
cumstances, could afford to put aside. |
have some misgivings, to say the least, of
my ability to meet your full expectations
as a presiding officer: but pledgng myself
10 act with fairness and impartiality to-
wards all | do invoke, and shall hope to
receive your cordial support and coopera-
ton.
The occasion that has made necessary
to converting of the general assembly al
this time, is an extraordinary one, and |
trust we shall meet it as becomes represent
atives of this proud Old slate. In April,
1861, being called together on an occasion
somewhat similar to this, the legislature
wrote a chapter in the history of our state
that will endure forever. Let us, then, in
brief session, discharge faithfully the duty
which the people of Vermont have right
to expect of us to do, and we will thus add
another bright chapter to its history, and
one which neither we, the people whom
we represent, or those who shall come
g 4, Il,a,,
you again, now invite your attention to
the business of the session.
1t is needless to say that the session is
not to brief too bring out the fact that Col.
| Haskins is fine presiding officer.
While Governor CIRCUITS proclamation
only called for provision to be made for
state aid for Vermont soldiers, the records
will show to the credit of the brief session
quite a motley collection of new laws.
The first bill to be introduced in house and
senate and to be signed by the governor
was one which will have bearing, proba-
bly, not yet determined, on the connection
of the Grand Trunk railroad with the
Central Vermont system. 1t went through
without opposition. Following is the text
of the act:
An act in relation to the control Of rail
roads in this state.
1t is hereby enacted by the General AS
sembly of the State of Vermont:
SEC. /. No alien railway company shall
be directly or indirectly interested in an!
of the stock of any railroad company here
after organized under the laws of thii
state, without leave of the legislature.
SEC. ,. No alien rail way company shall
by itself or through others own or acquir
title to any railroad, or the use thereof, o
have anything to do with the Management
or control of any railroad in this stat
without leave of the legislature, provided
nothing in this section contained shall ap
ply to any railroad in this state now in tn
actual control and management of any sucl
alien railway company.
SEC. 3. The court of chancery, on in
formation of the states attorney of an
county through which the road runs, sha
have full power and authority to enforc
the provisions of this act, by writ q
sequestration, injunction, receivership, G
any other appropriate remedy.
SEC. /. This act shall take effect fror
its passage.
Bills have also been passed making som
changes in the act incorporating the Whit
River railroad company, relating to tn
Rutland Free library, relating to the S
Adams electric plant: also one or two bill
of private nature. a bill has also bee
passed giving an additional 80 days i
which to make quadriennial appraisals
towns having more than 10000 nhabi
ants.
OF legislation coming strictly within IL
limits of the governors call the most in
portant is the measure, not yet completed
providing for state aid, 1t reads as TO
lows:
SEC. l. The commissioned officers sha
receive from the date of their mobilizatio
in camp until they are mustered into til
service of the United States the same pa
and rations as are received by like officer
in the army of the United States. II
non-commissioned officers, musicians, al
tticers, wagoners and privates shall re
ceive from the date of their mobilzatio
in camp until they are mustered into tn
service of the United States the same pa
and rations as are provided for like moi
commissioned officers, musicians, artifcer
wagoners and privates in the army Cf tn
United States, and 81 per month each
addition thereto: and after they shall /