Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-12-06

bills; DOM were SHIN III thS "PPO
chamber. The Senate approved q
caucus bill; the House spat on it. The
House took the initiative in raising the
corporation taxes; the Senate put the
bill to sleep. The House repealed the
six-inch trout law; the Senate couldn't
even concur in that. The Senate sent
over bill to have cattle tested by q
single experienced commissioner; the
House wouldn't hear of it. A bicycle
side-path bill from the House met
instant death in the Senate. The
Senate adopted State Commissioner
Wallis ideas as to permanent road
improvement; the House turned them
down. The House reduced the amount
in trustee process to So; the Senate
rejected the change. In fact, it got TO
the stage where the passage of bill
by one house meant its almost certain
demise in the other.
Both houses contained more than the
usual number of able men. There was
not lacking the knowledge for far
greater and better work than was
done. More's the pity, therefore.
The leading personal success was that
attained by Speaker Proctor, without
any question whatever. From start to
finish, it is difficult 10 see where his
record could have been bettered an
iota. He possesses all the character
istics of a presiding officer, being fitted
by temperament, voice, bearing, judg-
ment and all for the place. He wisely
RETAINED from all attempts to influence
legislation directly, but attended strict
ly to the proper business of his impor-
tant position. He lett a very deep
impression of good in the minds of all
who watched him from day TO day.
Fletcher d. Proctor is no longer an
unknown man. OF floor leaders there
were plenty-Hale, Emery, Fleetwood,
Taylor, Stewart, Graham, McFeeters.
Waterman, in the House; Dunnett,
Cudworth, Stanton, Royce, Baldwin,
Clement, DeBoer. Ballard, Wall, in
the Senate Nor was there n lack of
what is really as important, good
workers, among whom
should be reckoned most Of the fore
going and such men as Franklin,
Davis, the two Mclntyres, Rowland, !
Miller, Chase, McWhorter, Powers,
and many others in the House, |
and practically all OF the Senate.
Indeed, the thought arises, il such a
legislature as this produces next to
what can be expected in the
future?
In both houses, but especially in the
larger one, a good speech would carry
through almost anything, if it caught
he fancy. The trouble came when
he bill reached the other house.
There was seldom a moment when a
yell-timed speech would not have won
,ut. Time and again, bills would be
killed with scarcely protest, only to
'e reconsidered and passed over
Vhelmingly next day, after a few
remarks. If measure
we're not killed in the House by more
han 25 majority on the first attempt,
was as good as passed. And the
'enate was not bit behind.
One feature was very noticeable
he House was firmly bound to the
of the small towns. Any
MEASURE that worked to the benefit of
mall communities met with favor
bile reception. Thus it was with the
,reatest ease that the House increased
he state school tax to 10c., greatly to
he discontinue of the larger towns.
The little towns had the power and
we're not 10th to use it. So it was
hub OuS lay lOi Dlll lOI Wv lulug lut
chool money was received with joy
While its object was supposed to be to
nrich the small towns, but when it
vas really shown to work to their
injury it met with immediate dismissal.
We may expect to see the other state
axes increase from now on, tor the
title towns have learned how they can
make the richer sections come to their
elief. This is the direct fruit of our
ystem of representation.
While it is true that the task of the
.ssembly was not great; while there
we're no urgent reforms needed; while
was not expected that radical things
would be done; yet we believe it is
rue that the assembly did not rise to
is opportunities as it might. 1t was
leld back by foolish tradition and little
Use from doing what it might have
lone in many ways for the betterment