St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-11-28

Editorial Cores pondence J
The thought of the THAI ksgiving tut
key sets the solons to thotghts OF HON
and business has been transacted with
rush the past lew days. On last wee
Tuesday the House continued their re
putatioH OF slaughtering bills and kille,
Commissioner Bgeows bill to equaIiz
taxation, the bill to re-organize the su
preme court, a resolution to inspect th
normal schools, and other matters O
less Importance.
THE LOCAL OPTION BILL.
Wednesday mornings session was
given up almost entirely to the local op
ton bill, with the referendum attached
In the Senate the bill was defeated by a
vote Of II to 10. Senator Clement, OF
course, led the fight and claimed the orig.
ina prohibitory measure was passed by
trickery and dishonesty. He said the
question was one Of expediency, not OF
morals.
Senator Dunnett replied to Mr.. Glenn
ent's argument and answered some OF
his statements. 1t was a question of en-
forcing the law. 1t is we'll enforced in St.
Johnsblry. When he used to come to
Montpelier when the law is not enforced
the workingmen were a poorly dressed
and dirty set of men, while the working
men OF his town were we'll dressed, but
since the law was enforced the case is
very different.
The bill came up in the House on a mo-
tion to dismiss and after an hours de-
bate it was voted by 40 to 90 to dis
miss the bill. The best speech of the day
was made by Mr.. Hale of Lunenburg.
Among other things Mr.. Hale said eve,
here, are the state, and it is our duty,
under the Constitution, 10 frame laws.
He deprecated following blindy public
sentiment Why cannot the large towns
enforce the law? He could name twenty
men in Rutland or Burlington or st. AL
bans who, In six months time, could
create sentiment that would mean
straight enforcement. The newspapers
could help greatly. No law is perfectly
enforced. This law has a restraining in
fuerce. The women have fully as much
interest in this subject as the men, but
cannot vote. Not a woman's name can
be found on license petition. That by
implication condemns it morally. Throw
the idea OF revenue to be be derived to
the winds. This is question OF deeper
moment. Go to other states and study
results"
MR.. BUNDY's BILL FOR SUPREME COURT
JUDGES.
The committee to whom was referred
Mr.. Bundy's bill to forbid supreme court
judges from riding on a pass sent back
the bill without any recommendation
Mr.. Bundy was ready for them, however,
and casually remarked he had not sup
posed any member would object to bill
so mauiestly proper, but the ways OF
some committees were past finding out
The bill was ordered 10 a third reading
and later passed the House. The author
OF the bill proposes to watch the progress
in the Senate where its fate is in doubt.
MUNICIPAL SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN,
This bill met with defeat in the Senate
where it deserved better treatment. SEN
ator Dunnett opposed the bill. He had
heard, he said, all the arguments made
in support OF the bill when a boy and
was not an ardent suffragist. The ques-
ton is 100 years old and more. Four
states in the extreme west have adopted
woman suffrage. They are worth no
thing Else than as an experiment station.
The bill was refused a third reading by
vote OF IS to $ and so wome1 are again
denied political recognition by the sterner
sex.
a NEW BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSION
ERS.
Gov. SticBney surprised everybody by
appointing new boord OF railroad com
missioners and turning down the eight
candidates who surely thought they
would get the coveted place. The new
board viii consist of jonathan Ross OF
St. JOIN sbury, chairman; Judge L. Nj.
Read OF Bellows Falls; H S Bingham OF
Bennington. 1t is generally conceded
that this will prove ID strong board and
the many friends of the St. Johnsbury
member are glad to see his ability again
rec quiz d. DR.. 7. X Sules was reap
pointed a member OF the State Board OF
Health TIE Senate confirmed also two
OF The Governors nominations tor the
Boa d OF Agriculture, {. J. Bel of Walden
and Ernest Hitchcock OF Prttslord but re
iected the appointment OF Victor l. Spear
OF Bralntree.
SUPPORT FOR THE CIRCUIT BILL
The following resolution introduced in
the Senate by MIR, Clement has passed
both bodies and ought to be material
helptoth the final passage OF much,necded
bill:
Whereas, There is now pending in the
House OF Repres entatives at Washington
bill known as the "Grout bill" to tax
the manufacturers of oleomargarine ten
cents per pound when colored to initiate
butter and reduce the tax OF two cents
per pound thereon to one fourth of one
per cent per pound when not colored il
imitation, therefore be it
Resolved, BY the Senate and House o
Representatives OF the General Assembly
OF Vermont that we heartily APPROX,
SAID bill and we hereby request our en-
tire delegation in Congress to do thei
best to secure its enactment into law.
AN OVERWORKED AND FAITHFUL MEMBER
The Burlington Free Press saysy "Mr