Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1901-02-28
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CORRESPONDENCE.
OUR CONCORD LETTER.
NO North Walpole Precinct-Senate
Thinks Bill Unconstitutional Normal
School gets $4,000.
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'' 10y FEBRUARY ZO-Ine
New Hampshire state senate put in a
large share of its time last week wrest-
ing with the. constitution. One of the
hrst results was the killing of the bill to
eStapilSh voting precinct in the village
OF North Walpole on the ground that the
measure was unconstitutional. The bill, |
which was introduced into the house by
Mr.. O'Neil of Walpole, had run the
gauntlet OF the house judiciary commit
tee all right, had been reported favora- !
piy by that committee and had been
passed by the house, but when the SEN
ate judiciary committee got its eagle eve
upon 1t its fate was sealed
Inc same committee little later re- !
ported that another house bill author
lzlng the town of Shelburne to exempt
from taxation for a term of wears the
immense Washington hotel, which is to
be erected this summer, was likewise
unconstitutional. But this measure had
lively advocate in the lperson of Sena-
ator Remich and he succeeded in getting
the senate to over-rule the committee
and pass the bill. Another senatorial
difficulty with the constitution arose
over Senator Remich's daily legislative
journal bill, which has since been killed
in the house. 1t carried an appropria-
ton, and some of its opponents claimed
that all appropriation bills must origi-
nate in the house.
The constitution says this of all
money bills and the dispute is as to
whether this means merely revenue bills.
Finally committee was appointed, con-
sisting of Senators Chase, Urch and Stew
ems, who will draft questions in answer to
which the supreme court will be expect
cd to give opinions as to the power of
the senate in connection with appropria-
ton bills and the legal bounds of tax ex-
emptions.
Important bills passed by the senate
last week included acts providing for in
determinate sentences to the state prison.
disqualifying members of the legislature
from holding the offices of railroad,
bank, insurance or labor commissioner
and authorizing the appointment by the
governor and council of state printing
commission, to be composed of five
heads of state departments, who shall
award the public printing by contract or
otherwise, as they may deem best.
Mr.. O'Neil had hard luck last week,
for in addition to the slaughter by the
senate of his voting precinct bill the
house, on the recommendation of the
Judiciary committee, killed his bill to
amend the laws in regard to the sale of
} drugs and medicines. 1t was opposed
) before the committee by the members of
the New Hampshire commission of phar-
macy. Other bills killed by the house
included acts to do away with all special
: school districts in the state; to complete
) the Typographical survey of the state;
and to require the licensing of all persons
in charge of stationary steam engines.
Perhaps the most important bill passed
by tie house was one extending the pro-
visions of the law for the protection of
shade and ornamental trees in the public
highways.
The house debates continued to be up
on comparatively unimportant subjects.
|, The city of SomerSworth claimed one
| whole day for its police commission and
alderman abolishing bills, both of which
were finally passed with numerous
amendments. The senate concurred in
the amendments to the alderman bill, but
lcould not swallow those to the police
commission bill and asked for commit
tee of conference, which was granted.
For this week the house has it's task of
talk laid out for it in the consideration
) of the new draft of a bill providing for
! the annexation of the best part of the
town of Mortified, Merrimack county,
to the town of Tilton, Belknap county.
The majority of the committee on towns,
including the Sullivan and Cheshire
county members, Gilman of Croydon and
: Howe of NARROW, has reported in favor
of the bill, but minority report that it
is inexpedient to legislate has been SUBJ
mitted and both will be ardently advo-
Gated, beginning tomorrow.
u United States Senator-elect Henry E.
Burnham transmitted to the house last
week his resignation as representative
from ward two, Manchester, the same to
take effect to-day. On motion of Mr..
Whitcher of Haverhill resolutions ex-
pressing the confidence of the house in
the new senator's ability and integrity
were unanimously adopted.
The house last week raised the annual
appropriation for the state normal school
from $4,000 to $4,000 and increased the
salary of the state treasurer from $500
to $500 year. After long debate it
voted Overwhelmingly in favor of a bill
giving to the Hedding Camp Meeting
association the right to levy assess
ments upon the cottage owners on their
grounds and in the event of non-payment
to acquire liens upon the property.
Two OF u1e most interesting Legislative
events of the week were in the form of
committee hearings. One was before the
forestry committee on the subject of re-
stricting the cutting of evergreens to
trees not less than 10 inches in diameter.
: Hon. Albert f. Pillsbury, ex-attorney
general of Massachusetts,, and James r.
Carter, president of the Boston associat-
ed boards of trade, both summer resi-
dents of New Hampshire, appeared in
!, favor of the bill, while on the other side
were heard Hon. Irving w. Drew and
President George b. James of the New
Hampshire Land company, which owns
100000 acres of land in the forest region.
The other main excitement of the week
was before the judiciary committee over
the bill to change the judicial system of
the state to dual court. More than 20
prominent lawyers appeared and gave
their views pro and con with exceeding
frankness. 1t was evident from the first
that there was cat in the meal some
where, but its identity was not made
plain until E. G. Niles of this city, son of
Bishop Niles and partner of Mayor Sar-