St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-10-22


measure contains some good ideas which
may be of use to the committee, but as &
whole and as party measure, the bill o
course stands no chance. The first public
meeting of the temperance committee was
held in the rooms OF the railroad commits
sion last ever e and was attended by as
many interested as could secure admis
sion or could get within sight or sound
of the door. The aspect of things gener.
ally around that wing of the capitol was
that large and protracted fight was on,
and that henceforth and for some time
the committee would be in a state of
siege.
The Judge Ross state commissioner
liquor bill, which was introduced early
in the senate, came into the house last
week from Simpson of Sheffield, and it
and its senate twin will try to work up
within sight of each other. large
amount of more or less valuable time is
lost at each session by introducing the
same bill in each house and then forcing
each as rapidly as possible. Just what is
expected to be gained by such a proceed
ing is beyond comprehension. Certainly
il the senate bill fails in that body the
house bill will when it reaches there.
II, .,,I
the farmer members may not invariably
attain success in their legislative aspira-
tions, judging from the frequent discor-
dant notes which float out of their club
room" every Wednesday evening. Thus
far they have had the bull by the horns
in interminable discussion OF the great
ethical question of bovine tuberculosis,
and on this subject there seems to be
about as many opinions as speakers. |
Some vehemently uphold the present cat
tie commission, some condemn it with |
lurid rhetoric, some want new board |
cut from the log, and some don't want
any. Just how they will get together
and what the final compromise will be is
beyond even faith. This is evident, how
ever, that if they don't know what they
want the politicians will have to step in
and help them, as usual.
There would seem to be grounds for
mutual suspicion among st. Johnsbury
business men, judging from the various
bills to charter an electric railroad |
through that would-be city and adjacent |
towns. The hackers of each bill strenu.
ousy affirm that the other fellows only
want to stfe or kill the project, while
they want a real railroad, want it right |
off and have the cash to build it. Why
not give them all charter, bring them
up to the starting-post, and see which
means business? Wouldn't the dirt fly?
By the way-the conservative old town
is talking city charter. Right that is
progress and a certificate of p.to.date
methods and ideas. Pull together, secure
your charter, organize and begin to con-
duct your affairs in digni6ed manner.
his will also apply to any other town
n Vermont of over five thousand popu.
lation.
Charters tor new companies and COM
olnatons of capital are being asked of
the legislature in large numbers. One of
he most important is for an electric road
from Burlington to Vergennes with a
Hinesburgh branch, which will very
Pr obably be built and in operation early
next season. Financial institutions and
large manufacturing and industrial
plants in various sections of the state
are also seeking corporate powers, all OF
winch indicates continuance if not in
eased condition of Vermont's prosper
ity
The friends of the b 70 Great a de-
partment of insurance are earnest in
the merits oftheir measure. and
claim to be confident that it will at last
succeed. But then, they are confident of
success at every session. The idea his
its merits, but the office is not a necessity
and there is large sentiment in favor of
letting well enough alone. Secretary of
State Fleetwood and State Treasurer
Bacon as Insurance commissioners earn
all they get out of the office and are
capable of doing the work thoroughly
and efficiently.
had hoped with evident good reason
that the bull frog and woodchuck disc ase
would not crop out ve'y seriously among
the members this season. but | might
have known better Who ever knew a
legislature that not have its DAYS of
"iunnln eruptin,"? Somebody wants
the bounty on foxes removed, and the
| tile w'az ned cid bill, to compel land
owners to cut the weeds and bu, hes
alongside the highways, is back again,
lively as agency whskey and none the
worse Tor its two year lay off 1t first
at the session OF 1913 and has
since Travelled arm IN arm with amer d.
ments to the prohibitory law. One pa.
trlot wants legal trout ma lie five inches
long, while another wants to repeal the