News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-11-21
STATE LEGISLATURE.

however, VINO lnlHk II VIII DC LSSCS-
sary to come back for a few days
after Thanksgiving in order to give
the proper attention necessary to
important matters. Among the bust
ness transacted the past week was:
The Joint committee on temperance
met Tuesday and decided to report
the local option referendum bill adj
versely by a vote Of to 3. The Sen
ate majority report vas signed by
Senator Pike, the minority report by
Senator Clement. The members of
the committee are Senators Clement
of Rutland county, Pike of Lamoille
county, Walker of Windsor county,
Representatives Fleetwood of Nor
ristown, Eaton of Arlington, Lewis
of Danville, Bundy of St. Johnsbury,
and Woodwork of Westfeld. The
bill was made a special order in the
Senate for Thursday at 1890 4. m.
and in the House at 2:3O p. m. the
same day.
The Woman Suffrage bill was also
reported adversely and made a spe-
cial order for Wednesday afternoon.
All attempts to tinker the school
laws will fail as there is disposition
to leave the schools alone, because
they are working nicely now.
In Joint assembly W. H. Gilmore
of Fairlee was elected Adjutant, In
spector and Quartermaster General,
and Hamilton S. Peck of Burlington
Judge Advocate General.
Mr.. Sanford of Stamford wants to
abolish the fish and game commits
sion and has introduced a bill to
that effect. He would have the Sc
lectmen and the superintendent of
the fish hatchery at Roxbury per-
form the duties of the commission.
Dan Stuart, the great promoter of
prize fights, did not succeedin getting
his name officially changed. The
House killed the bill.
The House bill repeating the act of
1898 providing for a test of COM
mercial feed stuffs was dismissed af
ter a brief discussion.
The amendment proposed by the
House to the Senate bill providing
for paying the expenses of the Dewey
celebration was agreed to.
The Senate bill to repeal the act
enabling towns to close their liquor
agencies Was f~avorably reported in
the House.
Mr.. Stevens of Charleston opposed
the bill, as did Nh. Northrop of Fair
field.
The latter said his town had had
a sad experience with agencies forced
on it by the county commissioner,
Mr.. Fleetwood of Morristown said
the commissioners were generally
responsible authorities in comforting
and he believed they would not force
agencies on towns that did not want
them.
Mr. Gilmore of Swanton said the
present law permitted those who
could not sell liquor illegally to pre-
vent its legal sale.
Mr. Monahan of Underhill said he
believed each town should have
power to close its liquor agency if it
desired to-.
After some further discussion the
bill was ordered to lie.
THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The House bill to abolish the
Board of Agriculture was called up
Friday by Mr.. Davis of Pomfret.
Mr.. Currier of Troy favored the
bill, but said he did not favor doing
away with the cattle commission
system, though the commission itself
had not legally existed since it was
abolished in 1892. He gave figures
showing the expense of the board
and maintained that the farmers did
not receive benefits to compensate.
The governor might appoint one
competent MAI to attend to cattle
disease, withassistanc of veterinary,
and the legislature could then dis
pense with the board and save
money. He said farmers receive
small benefits from the lectures.
Mr.. Davsi of Pomfret opposed the
bill. He said the board has always
kept considerably within it's appro-
priation and he gave a review of the
board and it's work. The results,
he said, had been fairly up to expec-
tations. He charged the representa-
tive from Troy of being less careful
of the states treasury than he pre-
tended, as his committee visitations
to institutions had cost 500, which
was more than was reasonable.
Mr., Currier denied that the ex-
pense was unusually great, being
less, he stated, than last session. He
further argued in favor ofthe bill.
Mr.. Fullam of Ludlow opposed the