St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-10-10

j. Mcdonald So
W. A. Warner 100
.. w. Patterson -
7. K. Fuller 21
THE LIEUTENANT-GovERNoR TAKES TIKI
OATH OF OFFICE.
On Thursday afternoon Lieut.-Gov
Allen took the oath of office and ad
dressed the senate as follows:
Senators: l am aware of the fact
that the same constituencies that elected
you as senator's elected me lieutenant
governor by virtue OF which office be-
come your presiding officer.
Through you | wish to thank your
constituents for the honor they have
done me. When [ look back over the list
of names of the honored men who have
so ably filled this office, and in the long
list from Joseph Marsh to Henry c.
Bates, no name is found Of one who
proved recreant to his trust. l am
forclbly reminded of the responsibility
am assuming.
II shall endeavor to perform the var-
Gus duties that come with this office to
the best OF my ability Relying on your
to overlook any mistakes or failures on
my part, | enter on the performance of
these duties"
lie announced the appointment of F,
W. Sault of Vergennes as senate reporter
and the senate then adjourned to hear
Gov. Stickney' message.
THE TWO MESSAGES.
The representative chamber was
crowded at both the morning and after
noon session to hear the messages. Gov.
Smith gave his message in the morning
and Gov. Stickney took the oath of
office i'll the afternoon and Immediately
gave his message. Both messages have
already been sent to our readers and
many have read them. Gov. Smiths
long message was largely devoted to the
discussion of financial matters and the
average reader would think that the
present auditor is the most overworked
individual in the state AS a matter of
tact he has continued his law practice
throughout the past two years and in
many instances his court business has
been given the preference of state work.
Gov. Smiths recommendations that the
state let down the bars and charter cor
porations of unlimited capital and sub.
sidize mlllionaires by taxing rich out
slders less than the average Vermonter
is quite in line with his previous message.
1t is as unbusinesslike as it is absurd.
But the Governor makes some good
recommendations along other lines, but
rather favors high license and closes with
a peroration worthy of an orator.
Gov. Stickney's message is much
briefer and proposes radical changes. He
stands unequivocally for the enforce
ment of the prohibitory law, which is an
indication that he would veto license
law II such measure passes the legisla-
ture. He favors the aboIishing of the
state tax commissioner and saws a good
word for the underpaid library commits.
sion. He scores the present practice of
oVercrowding our insane asylums and
believes that the state expenses can be
reduced. His most important recon-
mendation in the line of amendments is
to have the state election the same time
as the national election, change that is
liable to be made at this session.
PROSPECTIVE LEGISLATION.
First and foremost is the discussion
about the prohibitory law and on this
matter the legislative correspondent of
the Burlington Free Press says:
The friends of license measure are
active and will probably present a bill
early this week. The democrats seem in
clined not to take the initiative in this
matter but allow republican to intro
duce the bill and then give it their solid
support. This course they are confident
will draw larger amount of republican
support than if they should present the
bill as a democratic measure. Along
with a license bill will also appear a
bill, quite likely introduced
by a republican, and it is evident that
this will draw a much stronger support
than a license bill for many members
who are not ready to vote for a license
or local option are ready to give the
people an opportunity to express their
cholce between the various methods pro-
posed for regulating the liquor traffic"
Reform in taxation, weekly payment
legislation and the attempt to abolish
the railroad commission and possibly
others, are the matters most talked of
this week and a rush of bills is expected
through the coming week.
THE COMMITTEES.
The House committees were announced
on Friday and the following Caledonia
county members are on the list: Hatch
OF Groton on Federal Relations; TAYLOR
OF Hardwick, chairman on Education;
Bundy OF st. .Johnsbury on Claims;
Taylor of Hardwick on Railroads;
Nolan of Ryegate on Highways; Blair
OF Barnet on Banks; Cree OF Wheelock
on Manufactures; Lyford of Peacham
on Agriculture; Weeks of Lyndon on
Grand List; Eastman of Walden on
General; Blair OF Barnet, chairman on
State Prison; Simpson of Sheffield on
Town Lines; Colby of Sutton on Insane;
Bundy OF ST. Johnsbury on Temperance
SaWtelle OF Stannard on Immigration