davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21

through with the result that it may
have to be sent to the Supreme Court
for Interpretation.
AS matter of fact no citizen is more
anxious to know what has been done
than a member, after the final uproar
dies away in the distance, and the sum-
mary of laws passed is read by him
with intense interest in order to ascer-
tain what was really done.
The people find falkland properly
with Legislature whose members do
not give their time and best endeavors
to the work on hand. They want their
business attended to. They want it
carefully and intelligently considered
and thoroughly done. They do not
criticise when the General Assembly
decides to do the work thoroughly and
well. 1t is a waste of time that they
complain about, not its proper use.
There is not time enough remaining to
even consider the four or five constitu.
tional amendments, to say nothing of
the vast amount of general legislation.
Up to this time the small bills OF no
consequence have been largely welded
out and the more important ones
nearly all of which yet remain-are now
in sight. AS Lieut.. Gov. Allen well
saye: "The people have paid out about
$50 900 thus far to educate this Legis.
lature up to The point where it is OF
some value, and the idea of throwing
everything out of the window and 90.
ing home finally next week would be
an insult to them and practically the
loss of all that the Legislature has cost
up to this time" Words of truth,
every one of them. Also, let no bills
be smothered in committee. Worth
less or valuable, they are entitled &c
consideration. A member introducing
a bill is entitled to have it considered.
In view of all this, there is appar.
emily a strong sentiment in botl
houses in favor of returning after
Thanksgiving, and finishing up the
work decently and in order Much Of
the talk takes the form of an adjourn
ment over next week TO the firsU weei
in December, and it is probable thai
either this or some other arrangement
will be made whereby the business Of
the session may be concluded in &
proper and creditable manner.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21
Nebraska and the Senate.

The last remaining point of doubt as
to the results of the voting in Nebras-
ka seems now to be clearing away. Me-
braska's Legislature is Republican on
joint ballot, insuring the return of Re
publican successors to Senators Thurs
ton and Allen. In case two Republic
cans are elected in Delaware this will
give the Republicans fifty-four votes in
a full Senate, counting Mr.. Wellington
Republican; the Democrats twenty
eight and the Independents eight. Mr..
Wellington, however, is now to be
classed at least as an Independent. On
the other hand, Senators Kyle and
Stewart are to be classed henceforth as
Republicans, the latter having formally
notified the printing clerk of the Sem
ate 30 to describe him in the forthcom-
ing congressional directory. On this
basis the Senate will stand: Republic
cans fifty-ave, Democrats twenty-eight,
Independents seven.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21
MIddlesex.

Miss Florence Converse Of the Montpelier
Seminary was at home over Sunday.
Miss Lila Brown of Montpelier has been
a visitor at j. III. Daniels during the past
week.
Mrs. q. B. Holden was in Montpelier a
few days last week.
Mrs b. E. Guyette is rapidly failing and
is not expected to live.
1t Is reported that the marriage of Harry
Brownson and Miss Goss OF Moretown, &C.
Cured from the home of the brides parents
on Monday afternoon.
The marriage OF j. W. Kew and Mrs. @.
j. Cilley Of Underhill occurred on Monday,
November IL.
Mrs. s. j. Darling and daughter, Blanche,
are visiting at Waitstield with Mrs Oar
ling's sister, Mrs. Fred Wilder.
The Ladies' Aid will hold their annual
chicken pie supper and Christmas sale at
Holden's hall on Wednesday evening. De-
cember 8.
Rev. Frank r. Gale of Stowe will preach
TO the Unitarians next Sunday afternoon at
the usual hour.
Waldo, youngest son of George P. Miles,
fell last Saturday and severed q portion of
his tongue. 1t required four stitches to
close the cash.
G. W. Cleveland, the new blacksmith,
committed matrimony last Sunday evening,
but we are not in possession OF the BRIDES
maiden name or residence.
Fred l.. VIM returned to Windsor last
Saturday.
There will be social dance at Holden's
hall on Friday evening, November %.
Music by Pattersons orchestra. Refresh
ments will be served by the Ladies' Aid.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21
FOREIGN

LONDON, Nov. 17.-Unconfrmed
statements emanate from Paris and
Odessa that a secret treaty had been
concluded between Russia and China
for the Russian occupation of Man.
churia. There is no fresh news this
morning throwing light on the actual
situation. The japanese minister in
London who was interviewed yesterday
hinted at the possibility OF the allies
pursuing the Chinese court if they de-
sired, although he said it would be a
long process.
WASHINGTON, Nov. II. Minister
WI has received from Director General
Sheng the following cablegram, which
he communicated to Secretary Hay to-
day: San imperial decree of Nov. 10,
deprives Prince Tuan and Prince
Chwang of their ranks and offices and
orders them to be imprisoned for life,
Prince Yih and secondary Prince Wing
will be imprisoned, second Prince Lien
will be deprived of his rank, Dukes
Ian and Wing Men will be degraded
in rank. Kang vi being dead, no pen
atty can be imposed upon him, and
Chao Shu CHA will be degraded but
retained in office and Yu Haien will be
exiled to the farthest b undary.
SANTIAGO DE CHILL, Nov. 17.-Con.
gress has voted an appropriation of
half million dollars to detray the ex-
penses of the representation of Chill at
the exposition to be held at Buffalo,
N. Y, next year. The CHILEAN govern
ment will be well represented.
MANILA, Nov. 19.-The Americans
are undertaking series of aggressive
movements against the insurgents, not
ably upon the Island of Samar, against
Gen. Lubkan whose forces hold the
entire island with the exception of
three coast towns, each of which is
garrisoned by two companies Of the
Twenty ninth infantry and platoon
of artillery. Gen. Wheaton, command
ing in the department OF northern
Luzon, is sending reinforcements to
Gen. Young's provinces, where the
natives under Gen. Tinio and Agitpay,
the excommunicated Filipino priest,
are showing signs of restlessness, de-
sorting the domiciles they have occu-
died during the rainy season and join
ing, under compulsion of fear, the in
surgents in the mountains.
PEKIN, Nov. 18.-Mr. Conger has
just made the following statement rel
alive to the progress OF negotiations:
1.-THE situation is apparently very fa-
vorable TO the early beginning of nego-
tiations for preliminary settlement. l
believe that the next meeting of the
foreign ENJOYS will virtually settle all
points of difference between the repres-
entatives of the powers who will lose
no time in presenting the demands.
What the result will be it is impossible
to foretell. Events have placed China
in very critical position. Whether
she will be able to preserve her integ
rity and to save her trade relations with
the rest OF the world will depend upon
what the powers demand in the final
settlement and upon her willingness to
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21
The People to Blame.

1t should be stated as premise that
it is an absolute impossibility for the
Legislature to finally adjourn next
week, and do its work. 1t cannot even
reach all the work before it and give it
any kind of treatment, good, bad or
Indifferent. This is entirely beyond
argument. If not unanimously, it is at
least conceded by an overwhelming
majority of the General Assembly.
This is not a theory but condition
which confronts the Legislature today.
The people of Vermont are absolute
ly barred from making any complaint
whatever as TO the situation. They are
directly and solely to blame for IL. The
present is the usual condition at this
period of each session, and is unavoid-
able from the fact that men entirely
without experience and unused to the
ways of legislation are nearly always
sent to represent their towns. In
choosing Representative, legislative
experience counts for nothing. Once
sent to Montpelier, the citizen is, as a
rule, laid on the shelf. His usefulness
is considered ended, when, in fact, it
has just begun. A man is chosen to
represent his town because of local
political expediency, or because the
Office "belongs" in certain section of
the town, and whatever the reason is,
it is utterly regardless of previous val
liable service or experience as a legis.
lator.
At the called special session in Aug
ust, 1891, the Legislature was in SEES.
sion two days and did large amount
of business expeditiously, thoroughly
and we'll. 1t knew what to do and
how to do it. 1t operated like per-
fectly adjusted machine, oiled for the
occasion. If the Legislature of 1898
had sat here at the beginning of last
month it would, or could, have tran
sacted all the business which has come
before this General Assembly and ad-
journed finally this week. This is in
no wise an aspersion on the quality Of
the present Legislature; it is simply
used to point out the value of expert
ence. The Legislature comes together
entirely unacquainted with the meth
DDS of procedure and the machinery of
legislation, and the first three.quarters
OF The session is consumed in Tearing
how to do the work. Then adjourn
ment looms up and the hustle comes
to dispose OF the work in someway, in
any manner that will get the business
out of the way. Much is smothered in
committee, some is blindly and indis-
criminately slaughtered, and some is
hacked and mangled in frantic effort
to accomplish something and hustled
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21

ton law in that State, and it would not
follow in Vermont.
The appraisal of railway property for
taxation, through the agency of
commission" styled State board of
listers, was undertaken some twenty
years ago, with the result that it ended
in the practical exemption of these
corporations from taxation. The law
of 1882, taxing gross earnings, grew
out OF the scandals arising from the
State board of listers system. Mr..
Bigelow proposes to return to thor
oughly exploded system. The existing
basis, proved by eighteen years of ex-
perience, has reason, justice, efficiency
and goodly revenue to its credit II
the rate of tax on gross earnings Of
railway, or corporations of any other
kind, isn't sufficiently high, this matter
should be intelligently determined and
the rate raised, but the existing basis
of taxation should be retained. 1t
would be grave mistake to change to
appraisal as contemplated by the COM
mittee.
"Double taxation cannot be stopped"
says the committee, "until either the
mortgaged real estate or the money
loaned on it are exempted from taxa.
ton" First, there is no such wrong as
"double taxation" existent in the State.
The term is as sad misnomer in this
department of economics as is elm
perialism" in national politics. 1t is
sought to excite prejudice against a
thoroughly just and equitable subject
of taxation by the constant employment
and reiteration Of this term.
But why should Mr.. Bigelow wish to
"stop" what no calls"double taxation2"
Why should he wish to ''stop" the tax
alton of mortgage? The mortgage
represents a new estate, new and
somewhat complex interest in piece
of property. Some considerable part
of the aggregate of State expenses is
incurred in defining, protecting and ex'
ecuting this interest; in the Legisla-
ture, in the enactment of many laws;
in the courts, in the salaries of judges
other court officers and in legal expens.
es; in municipal government, for police
fire protection, schools, highways, etc.
all whose safe guards and manifold ben
eflts the man with his money invested
in mortgages enjoys equally with other
citizens, and which, indeed, give secu-
rity and value to his investment. Why
exempt him from taxation? Exemp-
ton would only pile the burdens higher
and heavier on to the borrower and the
other owners of taxable property, while
the citizen really best able to pay taxes,
who gets as large benefit out of socie-
ty and government as his taxed fellow
citizens 1T is proposed shall go scot free.
Why should any one desire to relieve
this class of citizens from taxation?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21
sept promptly the conditions pro-
DOM ESTIC NEWS


WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE annual
report of Lieut.. Gen. Miles deals chief
ly with the necessity of general re-
organization. He asserts that events
of the immediate past have given rise
to condition which the nation must
meet and cannot wisely avoid. Weighty
reasons demand the existence of an
efficient aud we'll organized land force.
He points out that the practical limita-
ton of service of the volunteers to one
year in the Philippines makes this o
most expensive practice, necessitating
the double transfer of troops and add
ing enormously to- the cost OF the Or
ganization. He also points out the
need of reserve force for the relief of
the soldiers who serve more than two
years at unhealthy stations. Gen.
Miles renews his recommendation that
the permanent force of the army should
be one man for each thousand of popu-
lation of the United States. In sup
plying an increase of the army he urges
that appointments of officers be made
with due regard for the principle of
seniority and that each case be passed
upon by board OF the highest officers
Of the army, as was done in the reor-
ganization following the civil war. He
submits draft of bill embodying his
views and recommendation ON army
reorganization.
PORTLAND, Me-, Nov. 19.-From
nearly every section of Maine come
reports of unusual activity on the part
of the antiliquor element.
In this city 1t is almost impossible to
purchase liquor of any kind.
In Waterville, Augusta, Hallowell,
Gardiner, Skowhegan, Rumford Falls,
Waldoboro and many other places the
city and town governments have in.
structed the police to exert every effort
to close the saloons, and as result an
almost unprecedented period of drouth
prevails in these places.
AT present the scene Of activity is in
Androscoggin county, where the civic
league is conducting the crusade. This
organization does not work directly
against the liquor dealers, it's object
being to educate the people up to a
standard which will cause them to in
sist that their local governments shall
take the proper steps to suppress the
traffic.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Is The state
department has been informed by Com
mercial Agent Johnson at Standbridge
that steps are being taken to re-estab.
lish railroad connection between the
province of Quebec and Vermont. The
old road, owing to its inability to meet
liabilities, was closed to traffic fourteen
or fifteen years. An American com.
pany has leased the road for term OF
SO years and already has commenced
the work of reconstruction. The road
extends from st. Lambert, opposite
Montreal, via Chambly to Freligsburg
and the Vermont line, distance OF
fifty eight miles. From this point il
extends to Sheldon Junction, where il
connects with the Central Vermont
and also with the Boston and Maine
line, and thence runs south to Burling.
ton.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21
The Fruits Of POpulism.

Since the election the Brattleboro
Reformer has completed the debit and
credit column of Populism and Demo-
cracy, and has iualy struck the follow
ing balance:
"The fruits of Populism for the
Democratic Marty since 1892 have been
the loss OF 122 electoral votes, more
than l 100 600 in popular pluralities, II
senators, 70 representatives., and 10
governors. Since 1896 it has lost six
States and gained only one--a net loss
of AZ electors. 1t has been defeated in
every eastern, middle and western
State, in three of the Southern States,
and in all of the northwestern and Pa
cific slope States except the mining
camps of Colorado, Idaho, Montana and
Nevada. 1t has confirmed the Repub-
lican control of Congress by increased
majorities. And yet there are Demo
c~ats that want to continue the expert
ment for another four years"
When disinterested party comes to
review this verdict, there doesn't ap.
pear to be anything wrong with it,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21

The Free Press publishes long and
forcible statement of the reasons why
the Vermont Life Insurance Company
was organized and why it discontinued
business. The communication, it is
generally understood. was written by
Hon. Russell S. TAFT, chief judge of the
Supreme Court Of Vermont. 1t is a
sharp criticism of the action of the in
surance commissioners in closing up
the Vermont Life Insurance Company,
which, the article maintains, was en-
tirely solvent, bad paid all its maturing
policies, had surplus and it's business
and condition had been steadily i'm
proving. The article is evidently in
tended to have bearing on the ques.
ton OF creating an insurance depart.
nent, with a separate commissioner,
now pending before the Legislature.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21
Errors of the Tax Committee.

"The natural result of the exemption
of mortgages from taxation,' says Mr..
Bigelow, in his report on "double taxa
tion," "would be a reduction in the
rate of interest on mortgage loans, and
business competition might be trusted
to accomplish this" If Mr.. Bigelow
had said the theoretical result of the
exemption of mortgages from taxation
would be as he says, his statement
would not be open to doubt or ques-
ton. But theory and practice, in the
matter of results, are often as far apart
as the poles.
Exemption from taxation would in
effect be bounty on mortgage secu-
rity. If the Legislature, acting on Mr..
Bigelow's advice, should vote to pay a
bounty of five cents pound on butter
produced il the State,o the theory that
the farmer would therefore reduce the
price of butter and thus make life
easier to the consumer, and particular
ly to the laborer and his family, would
the result of this act accord with the
theory of the lawmakers? Does Mr..
Bigelow think it would? II the market
price of butter in Boston was % cents,
would the Vermont farmer, by reason
OF the bounty, sell his butter for 20
cents in Vermont? What would Mr..
Bigelow do in such case if he were a
farmer? What would the farmers in
general do2 Every mothers son of
them would get the market price of 25
cents pound,put the bounty of cents
a pound in his pocket, and deride the
verdancy of the lawmakers who built
on theory that was contrary to human
nature and directly opposed to the COM
monest law of trade.
The butter consumer will commonly
pay the market price of butter; bounty
or no bounty to the producer. The
market price of butter is not fixed in
Vermont. The money lender will
nave, ana the borrower Will pay, the
market price Of money, and the rate of
interest is not fixed in Vermont.
If the Legislature of Vermont gives
the money lender a bounty on his
money loaned, the. borrower will pay it
and the lender will put it in his pocket.
Otherwise the borrower will not get q
loan, as the consumer of bounty but
ter will not get the article unless he
pays the market price. When water
runs up hill. by natural agency, or a
man can lift himself over fence by
his boot straps, "the natural result"
Mr.. Bigelow foretells will materialize.
This "natural result" has not fol-
lowed the exemption of mortgages from
taxation in Massachusetts,, during the
twenty years. existence of the exemp
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21

barrier the law proposes to erect is the
veri at sham. The license of the fifth
class is to sell liquor of any kind to be
drunk on the premises; through this
fundamentally alone-and by keeping
a vidette on duty in the saloon to in
sure its faithful observance-can the
easy evasions under the four other
classes be prevented.
If licensee sells to minors, or to COM
mon DRINKS, or to employees, or to GER
tain other classes of unfortunates, con-
trary to written notice, he may be fined;
and if injury to person or property re-
suits from intoxication the injured per-
son may sue the saloon keeper, and if
the suit is successful and the seller or
his bondsmen can be made to pay may
recover not to exceed $500, or less than
800. Inestimable privileged Infalli-
BILE safeguard If drunken husband
kills his wife, or a mans person or prop
erty or business is injured by an intoxi-
Gated person, "the injured party" may
buy a costly ticket in the lottery of the
law, and-if the ticket does not turn
out to be blank which, in the usual
proportion, will be the case-he or she
may recover the munificent sum OF
from 800 to $500. Immense satisfac-
tionl-especially when tae manifold
costs of prosecution are cleaned up and
the worriment and turmoil ended. The
remedy is the feast the stork prepared
the fox. The scandal, the costs Of
prosecution, the poverty of the party
who will be most generally the injured
the capacity of the saloon keeper fol
defence and evasion, make the lega
remedy the cruelest irony.
And what of the local option attach
ment? What, for example would be the
effect if every other town nWashingtor
county should vote for prohibition, ant
Barre or Montpelier, one or both, fol
license9 On the basis of one saloon fol
6dCu l,OUU lnuhDlluulb VI lIdCllOud
part, there would be nine saloons in
the former city and seven in the latter
Each city is a trade or business center
License in either is license for all the
tributary country. License in the one
or the other is license for both, and
under the practical operation of the
proposed law license is the free sale Of
intoxicating liquors of every kind
What is true of Washington county is
equally true of Chittenden. License
in Burlington is the free sale of liquor
in all the country of which that city is
the trade and business center. So, too
of Rutland, OF st. Adams, and of every
other section of the State.
The bill is free rum measure, pure
and simple. Its restrictions, safeguards
pains and penalties, are Of no avail, its
remedies are entirely futile. No legis-
lator, with conscience, or sincere
and honest purpose to guard the welfare
of the State, can vote for this measure.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-21

Attorney General Griggs is the only
member of the Cabinet who has yet de-
clined the Presidents pressing invita-
ton to the entire Cabinet to retain
their portfolios under his second ad-
miuistration, and Mr.. Griggs' declina-
ton was based upon personal reasons.
He is poorsman and feels that he can
not afford to remain in office where it
costs him more 10 live than the salary
he receives, when there is lucrative
law lpractice awaiting his attention.
There are two other members of the
Cabinet who are wavering between the
personal desire to retire and their wish
to please the President by remaining in
office, while it is understood that the
other four have decided to accept the
Presidents invitation, although they
have not formally done this.
The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1900-04-11
LIONS LED BY ASSES.
British ReSsrses on BIOsmfontsin Rail-

British Reverses on BIOsmfontsin Rail-
way Are Truly LamsntabIs.
London, April lO.-The Leader says:
THE reports from Boer, as well as
from British sources, Of our rsversss
near the BlOemfontein railway are
truly lamentsbls. They show dis
tiuct lack Of care and leading.
"In the face of surprise we seem ut
tsrly without resource except reliance
upon pluck; that is : safe card 10
play, bat q costly one.
"'Lions led By asses was an old de-
scriptiOn Of the British army, but we
thought we had learned something OF
of late ysars 10 the commissioned
ranks. What light does this war throw
upon that possibility
The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1900-04-11
Change Of Schedule.

Effective April Il. Train %, leaving Bruins
wick at s;2O a m, and tram %, arriving a,
Brunswick I;2S p. m, viii he discontinued
Train No. q win leave Brunswick at s;25 p. m
instead OF LIS as at present, arriving at Jesup
1850 p. M, thus making close connection with
No. 50, arr wing at jacksonville 5:4op. m.
L.CANDLER.