The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-12-05
THE LEGISLATURE.
Closing Proceedings.


ness mock session held out brAvely but
finally all departed before the festivities
| began About A. NJ. it was iudic .ous to
observe the efforts OF those who were hold
| ing the fort trying to keep awake, Many
| hnally surrendered and dropped into the
embrace Of sweet Morpheus"
| During recess in the House last evening |
Senator Miller, Mr.. Fleetwood aud Col. |
| Franklin rendered vocal selections which |
were royalty received.
A mock session was held about 4 o'clock, |
| Taplin OF Barton was one OF the speakers. |
lie wound up by lapsing into his profession |
as aucuoneer and selling the State house to |
| Barber OF Barre town for S240 A belief |
| was current that there was scheme afoot |
! to annex the bui ding To the Brattleboro |
asylum.
In executive session the Senate confirmed |
| the governors nomination of j. y. Sanford |
OF Stamford to be State highway comm 3. |
sioner to succeed w. B. Wall OF Randolph. |
| During recess at the evening SEES
sion Col. Emery of Chelsea, in behalf of
the House, presented Speaker Proctor with
handsome gold Swiss watch. On the out
| side OF the case was engraved Col. Proc
tors monogram and ON tue inside the in
scription: Presented to Fletcher ID. Proc
tor, speaker, by the House Of Representa-
tives, 1900, Montpelier, w." Speaker
| Proctor warmly expressed his appreciation
OF the motive which prompted the git.
Tsplin OF Barton made the newspaper
boys hearts glad Tuesday evening by
leaving box OF Golden Wedding" cigars
on the press table of the House for their
| benefit. The rapidly With which the Ci-
CARS disappeared made 1t very evident that
the gift was appreciated
Horror was stamped on the faces OF the
members OF the House when in the early
hours OF the morning the announcement
was made that the members could receive
their pay and debentures at the treasurer's
Office IRON $3.50 to A. M Thursday, No
vember 49," The alarm was the result OF
clerical error in substituting Thursday, for
Wednesday. The error was prom Jtly recu-
fed, when the placid humor Of the House
returned.
The Senate bill abolishing capital punish
ment passed by that body was reported TO
the House. Fleetwood OF Morrlsville fav
ored the bill and entered into an eloql
dissertation as TO the origin OF capital pun
ishment in law. He held that the murder
or, filed with the lust for blood, took no
thought of the nature of the punishment
which would later be melted to him under
the law. The death penalty or imprson-
lnent for life is not considered by him.
Emery of Chelsea favored the bill. The
fact that the bill had at first been refused
third reading by the Senate but sfterward
reConsidered and passed entitled the meas
ure to the careful consideration of the House
, Smith of Halifax believed the House was
not ready for action on this question at this
time. A good plan would DO to ha the
matter considered in the coming two years
ana feIor III 10 Jn0 next Legislature.
T MCFeeter5 OF EnOsburgn favored the bill.
II was often the case that the State would
be liable to take innocent life and itself be
guilty OF murder. He quoted the cases of
the Boone brothers OF Manchester He
{ also asked why there was any justice in
committing the sentence Of fourteen convict
ed murderers and hanging the others.
Hale of Lunenburgn favored the bill.
Two years ago he voted for the commuta-
ton OF the sentence OF two convicted muir
derers, and should do so again in the case
OF Charles Doherty. He argued that muf-
der is the operation Of natural law and that
3 the death penalty does not in any way deter
murderer from committing the crime. So
a he believed it was time that the penalty be
: done away with in this State.
L Baldwin of Newbury and Graham OF
( Craftsbury favored the bill, the latter call
ing for yea aud nay vote.
, Taylor OF Hardwick opposed the bill. He
+ feared that there was disposition toward
" sentimentalism in some quarters IN viewing
this matter. He did not believe in remov-
ing the safeguard which existed against the
3 commission OF the crime Of murder. In
! many cases where capital punishment had
U been abolished lynching had taken its
place. He believed that the present law
. was justified by holy writ.
l Stewart OF Bakersfield opposed the bill.
i Only two or three States h adj alb lished cap
y ital punishment. What would have been
the future of California had il not been for
| VIC AOobl alhAhB AhhhOhOO VI OlAO lOPO hAu buO
shot gun?
Lewis Of Dsnvlle opposed the bill There
should be more deliberation on this matter
. before acting upon the measure and he be-
: lieYed IL would be better to wait and let the
r next Legislature deal with the measure al
q ter statistics on both sides had been Sc
y cured. The bill was refused third read
/ ing, yeas, 107, nays, 11S.
AT a late hour, when many Of the men,
bers were absent from their seats, another
lnFf mt 10 IN ia Ia
through by Strong OF Hyde Park who NOV
ed TO reconsider. After hot debate the
n motion was denied. Yeas 119, nays 5S.
After IA recess Of over an hour the bill in
@ favor Of committing the sentence of death
l. on Charles Doherty to life Imprisonment
J was brought before the House. There was
II a large number of vacant seats. White OF
,. Rutland. Whittemore of Eden, George OF
y ST. Adams and McFeeters OF Enosbgrgh
n favored the bill and Barber OF Barre town
T. opposed. A yea and nay vote resulted in
the ordering of the third reading OF the bill
yeas 115, nays 80. The bill was then pass
IL cd by viva voce vote.
During the night, between recesses, q
n large amount Of work was transacted not
withstsnding that, as the hours passed
n members continually dropped from the
l. ranks. Finally at 500 A M, it was voted
to take recess until 800 A. NJ, when the
4 House would adjourn without date. The
Senate adjourned ten minutes later.
IL is still u matter Of wondering comment
that the Senate could refuse to confirm the
appointment OF Hon. Victor L. Spear as
o member of the board of agriculture, and
10 that honorable Senators could consent to be
& made the instruments of executing the ven
l. gesnce which, it is generally understood
y was let loose in executive session upon this
= appointment.
8 The Senate promptly confirmed the
nomination Of Hon. j. o. Sanford for State
highway commissioner. The gossip about
| the CQnitOl ralQfinp N fhp nomination nj
Senator Gates Of Franklin to this office had
no basis Of fact. His name was not sent to