Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-10-09
NOW THEY'RE OFF
Fine Start Made BY Vermont Legis-
lators Last Week.
MONTPELIER, Friday, Oct. +;

enough TO make the head swim, and the
early adjournment today until next tues
day is a welcome relief.
When the chosen ones come up mere
once i'm two years. they don't calculate 70
sweat quite as hard as they would IN the
bav-feid. It's usually a slow coach at
best, with the brake on most OF the TIME.
| And IL commonly takes a week or more TO
RET under Roadway at all. But this year
| strenuous turn seized everybody at the
start. Not only were the two houses
quickly organized, the choice OF governor
made, the new and old executives usneIea i
out and in, respectively, but important
bills were actually introduced within Two
DAYS from the first drop OF the gaVei IL
a new experience, certainly.
Adjournment was taken until tuesday
to give the speaker of the House time 70
arrange his committee appointments
which is "no fool of Job Most OF the
members are new to legislation and COM
narrative strangers to the speaker, so that
HE will have to secure the benefit OF great
deal Of advice as to their quaiihcatlons'
The speaker promises to have the commit
tees ready Tuesday. Then there VIII De
nothing to impede the wheels OF leglsls-
ton. The Senate committees are already
named
The election of Mccullough and Stanton
was assured by the large vote cast at the
regular Republican caucus held the even
ing before session began, but the size OF
their majority was a surprise 10 every BODY
even the Mccullough leaders. That the
Remington man would have clean lead
Of go votes over both Clement and Mctet-
trick was beyond all expectations. lie
did have an undoubted majority, though,
and when this was made apparent his vote
was increased by number OF representa-
tives who were classed as doubtful, but
who mounted the band wagon. The
4sst.. So cd md
lacked all pretence at cohesion, as well as
leadership. The Democrats made much
better showing, according 10 their num-
bers.
Clements attempt to postpone the cleo
ton by questioning the Legality OF the
canvass OF votes failed ANONYMOUSLY.
The committee was "onto his curves, ana
declined TO waste time with him. Glenn
ent and Squire Dunnett, his attorney
were turned down, and while the majority
Of the canvassing committee sat on them
the report vas made minority Of the
committee undertook to get hearing,
but Lieut. Gov Allen, by rather CUES
tionable ruling, shut them out and the
ljuggernaut rolled over the political corse
81 Mr.. Clement few moments later. The
Republicans had the votes, they knew IT,
and they did not propose 10 let Percy
throw a monkey wrench into the cog
wheels. With the utmost neatness
and despatch, the Rutland mans tate
was settled, and loud cheers greeted the
result.
Clements demeanor, when he realized
that the Jig was up, was in keeping with
the best things that have been said OF him.
| He Immediately set To work, with the aid
Of attorneys, to draft local option bill
that should be known as his bill, repre-
senting the views OF his faction on the
LIQUOR question, and the measure was in
troduced in both houses Friday, after
which Clement departed. II Is said ne
will soon sail for Europe.
| The message Of Gov. Stickney was read
at Joint assembly Thursday forenoon. II
dwelt largely upon state finances, which
are shown TO be in a very flourishing con-
dition, and upon the conduct Of state
institutions. Gov. Stickney advised that
the railroad commission should be given
more power or else abolished.
Gov Mccullough was indicted into
office Friday morning In his inaugural,
he recognized that the mandate OF the
voters was for the submission to them Of
local option act, and he outlined the
restrictions that such an act should con-
| tain, closely sketching the Massachusetts,
/ law. He approved Of the passage OF
caucus law and urged the ACCESSIBILITY OF
| improved highways. He asked for liberal
treatment OF state Institutions. The gov
| ernor had forgotten his glasses, and read
manuscript close 10 his eyes.
Immediately following, in the Senate
| chamber, Lieut.-Gov. "Marth Allen
stepped down and out, and Led stanton
assumed the chair. Zed had won In the
assembly Of the day before by a majority
OF 100. or 40 more than Mccullough. HIS
first act was to appoint Stanley c. Wilson
OF Montpelier as Senate reporter in place
OF Frank w. Sault Of Morrisville.
The introduction Of bills began Thurs
day, with one by Senator Russell OF Chit
tenden establishing high-license local
option. This is license Republicans
measure, and Clement has nothing to do
with it. The bill divides licenses into
three classes First, the retailing dram
sellers, fee 5000; second, the wholesalers,
fee 500; third, the druggists, for neces-
sary purposes only, fee 800. Every town
is to vote whether Il win have licenses or
not once in two years. There may be one
licensed place for each 1000 population, in
towns so voting. There are the usual re-
strictions OF license laws as to selling TO
minors and habitual drinkers, as TO hours
: of closing. etc. This act II il passes is to
be referred to the voters on the Hrst Tues
day in February next. II a majority vote
: YES the bill goes into effect on the first
Tuesday in March next; IL Mo- then the
first Monday in December, 1904, giving the
legislature Of 1904 a chance 10 repeal il in
advance. This bill is about what most Of
the members understand by "a high
license, local option act, with referen-
dun, and is liable to pass.
Another bill that came into the Senate
. Thursday, via Senator Brownell, provided
: for caucus law. II provides that no per-
, son shall take part in a caucus OF a party
unless he acted with that party at the pre-
: yious election. An elaborate system Of
regulating primaries and insuring honesty
J and fairness is prescribed, with due PEN
= alties.
Clements license bill came into both
the Senate and House Friday. Senator
, Backus of Rutland fathered il in the SEN
ate, and DIR. Peck Of Brandon in the
: House. II contains IS sections, and its
reading wore two clerks out. In the
! main, it fellows the Massachusetts, law.
There are SIX classes Of licenses, to be
under the control Of board to be elected
4 by each county. The license fees range
, from 1900 for full privileges down to 80
Tor druggists. selling on physicians pre-
scription. Each town is to say for itself
whether i will have license or not, at each
March meeting. Most Of the regulations
r are similar to those Of the Russell bill.