Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1901-03-28
CORRESPONDENCE
OUR CONCORD LETTER.
The Agony Over-Final Adjournment
Friday-Bills Passed and Killed.

/ CONCORD, n. H., March pa little
after o'clock Friday afternoon, reckon
/ inc by reliable watches, but shortly be-
fore u o'clock noon, according to the
official legislative timepieces, Governor
Chester B. Jordan, accompanied by the
members of his council, visited the two
branches of the New Hampshire legisla-
tnre and announced that he had signed
all of the PAP bills and 40 joint resolu-
tions submitted to him for his approval.
That completing the business of the
1O7th session of the general court he
babe it's members hearty God-speed
and departed Two minutes later Pres
ident Ellis and Speaker Little formally
declared their respective houses adj
! ioumed after a session of II weeks, I'M
! ill the last Tuesday in December, 1902.
! The proceedings of the final week were
lively and full of interest. One night
session was necessary, on Wednesday,
when the house kept at it until II
O'Clock A tremendous amount of bust
ness was transacted during the last four
DAYS in a way which reflected much
credit upon the presiding officers and
clerks in both branches. The principal
subject of debate in each house was the
erection of a statue to President Frank
| lin Pierce. In the house the appropria-
| ton was voted POT to IS, but in the SEN
ate it's opponents managed to talk it to
death. A similar fate overlook in the
house the bill requiring police commits
SionerS to enforce all the laws of the
state.
Alleged immortality in the city of
Keene was brought to light in debate
over bill proposing to do away with
one branch of the city government la
Somersworth. The house refused to do
it. The house likewise refused, after
brisk debates, to charter the Nashua &
Fitchburg and Littleton, Francona &
Bethlehem electric roads. 1t declined to
endorse the election of United States
senators by direct vote of the people and
killed an absurd modification made by
the senate in the anti-cigarette law. The
senate killed the house bill establish
ing 5S-hour work week for women and
children employed in the manufacturing
establishments of the state.
i A brief review of the session seems to
show that it's most important acts have
been the election of United States Sena-
tor Henry E. Burnham and the separa-
ton of the courts. A constitutional con-
vention has been provided for, the appor-
i tionment of representatives for the next
ten years determined, an annual state
! tax of 1926, 900 assessed, and the boun-
Diary line between this state and MaSSa-
chusetts finally settled. The rights of
the people in public waters were pro-
tected and caucus and " sawdust' laws
enacted A great deal was done for edu-
Ian cranio1 1innS in.
lcluding liberal appropriations for various
INSTITUTIONS and the establishment of
a state school for feeble-minded children.
The fish and game laws have been
thoroughly revised. The principle of
indetermnate sentences to the state pris-
on has been established. Fraternal ben
eficiary associations have been placed
under the control of the insurance COM
missioner and the control of the state
printing has been given to commission.
) Several charters for electric railroads
have been granted and many extensions
of time for construction allowed. For
the ocean boulevard $4,000 was appro-
priated and for highways in the noun
, tain and lake regions nearly as much.
On the other hand appropriations were
refused for a Merrimack valley boule-
yard and for the freeing of toll bridges.
The plans of the forestry commission for
= state preserve, the restriction of cut
ting, survey, ETC., failed of realization,
as did all the proposed labor and liquor
| law legislation. The desired reduction
in the tax on savings bank deposits was
: not secured and several important rail
road charters were refused. The legiSla-
ture declined to abolish Fast Day, CAPT
tai punishment and the bounty on bears;
r also, to impose any new bounties A
proposition to reorganize the senatorial
5 districts of the state failed to meet with
approval
The southwestern part of the state did
7 NOT ask for much and did not get what
thew did ask for. Mr.. O'Neil of Walpole
stated the case excellently and emphati-
caIly on the last day of the session when
the house was considering a prop
g oStion to appropriate Slo,ooO
| for the commencement of work
upon the proposed Merrimack valley
t boulevard from the state line at Nashua
D through Manchester, Concord and La
: COMA to the mountains. Mr.. O'Neil told
, the members that they were beginning
at the wrong end and if it was desired to
attract people to this state the first
thing to do was to take down the bars
; by freeing the toll bridges along the
Connecticut river. A measure to this
effect had been reported adversely by the
committee on appropriations because of
| the expense involved, but the expense
was nowhere to be compared with that
Of this proposed boulevard system. Mr..
O'Neil was backed up in his arguments
on this line by Mr.. Stockwell of Clare
; mont but the house passed the bill,
! through it was afterwards killed in the
t senate.
e 4 regular feature of the closing week
Of legislative sessions is the presentation
e Of gifts to the officers and attaches of
+ both branches. This year the ceremony
| was more elaborate than ever. PreSi-
> dent Ellis of the senate got handsome
: clock; Speaker Little of the house, a
; diamond pin, and Mr.. Ahern, the leader
t Of the minority, gold watch, while all
sorts of iewelry was distributed among
tbe clerks, sergeant-at-arms, messengers,
l doorkeepers, pages and telephone and
. telegraph girls.
e feature of the first day of the week,
Tuesday, was debate over the city of
| IudOa Hardy of KepOp