The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-12-17
Wednesday, Dec. 10.
SENATE MORNING.

eminent would put in hatchery at
an expense of about $25, 900. Bill
read third time. An amendment was
adopted that act shall go into effect
only on condition that the United
States government take the matter in
hand, and bill passed as amended.
S. 231, by Senator Annis creating
a court of claims and defining it's
powers and duties. Governor to ap-
point two members who, with State
shall be the court. Auditor
shall be chairman ex-officio. Term
of Office, two years. Court shall meet
each first Tuesday in January and
July, in Office of auditor, to hear all
claims and adjust the same. Pay
shall be SO per diem and expenses ex-
cept for auditor, who shall have
nothing extra.
Usury. 140, no building, loan
association, savings bank, ETC., shall
be allowed to do business if in any
way they get more than six per cent
for their investments. Reported ia.
vorably. Debated pro and con.
Third reading ordered and bill passed.
Creameries. H. 2S7, Management
of. Amended to include cheese fac
tories, read third time and passed.
HOUSE-MORNING.
Bill introduced and passed. H.
1856, relating to taxation. Read first
and second times and under suspension
of rules, read third time and passed.
Property of heat, light or power
company to be subject to taxation for
benefit of county, town or munci-
pality where located.
Railroad Commission BILL H.
452, after debate, passed by viva voca
vote.
SENATE-ATERNOON. ifIssss9
Railway passes - S. 1876, relating
to giving passes to certain State Off
Gals. Senator Downer said the bill
prohibits giving passes to members
OF Legislature, judges of Supreme
Court and States attorneys. The
Senator believed the law necessary
for the protection of the people. He
felt it his duty to present the bill. In
spite of the fact that the Supreme Court
judges have $500 for transport ton,
all but one ride on passes. The tend
ency of the custom is toward bribery.
Senators Mayo and Phelps wanted
the bill passed. Senator Annis cor
rected Senator Downer to make his
statement stronger, saying that judges
receive all their travelling expenses.
Senator Emery strongly favored the
bill; he had had opportunity to use
a pass while in the Legislature and
wanted everybody else to be obliged
to refuse also, two or more judges,
he said, do not use passes and he
thought more. Rules suspended and
on yea ard nay vote the bill passed,
Bill introduced. S. 1888, by Senator
Emery, approaching for registration
of voters and holding of caucuses.
Ordered to lie and be printed.
State highway tax II. 265. Five
per cent changed to ten per cent. Re-
ported favorably. Senator Russell
opposed this bill as highway robbery
taking the money out of the big towns
for the benefit of small towns. Sera-
tors Brown and Spencer thought five
per cent enough at present. Senator
Emery would not support the bill be-
cause he thought the money so OBJ
tanned is not properly used so as to
get sufficient return from it. Senator
Stiles moved to amend, making tax
seven and one-half per cent. SEN
ator Sutton was opposed to the amend
ment and the bill
Senator Graves favored bill. What
is taken out of large towns in this
way is given back in other ways, in
school funds, rentals of school lands,
ETC., 1t is all nonsense to call this
highway robbery. Senator Backus
said we want good roads, we need
better roads in small towns especially,
and about the only way that they can
be had is by taxation in this way. If
State would spend this money as
does it would be
great good. The farmers are badly
enough off now. The roads are worse
off. Both need help Senator Jack
son LA. said State highway commits
sioner now refuses to allow money to
be taken from treasury according to
he State tax provisions, unless it is
used. No money can be
drawn unless the town has first spent
its portion as it should be spent, in
really permanent roads. Senator
Emery said he should oppose anb
raise of State tax until good use is
made of what is already raised. Kill
I'D, yeas 7, nays 10.
Relief for Walden. III. As. Senator
Stiles said Walden had lost six large
bridges in the past year by floods, her
average tax in past ten years is So 43,
the town is heavily in debt and power
ty striker. Senator Annis said the
amount provided by the bill is dis
to that of other towns.
He moved to make amount $3.50 in
stead of 81, 800, adopted and bill pass
3D.
HOUSE-AFTERNOON.
Capital punishment. - III. II, to
lbolish. Mr.. O'Sullivan was anxious
or the safety of the measure, and
to amend. first, that death
for any person who, while
inder sentence by provisions of this
'ill, commits murder or assault with |
intent to kill. He supported the