News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-10-15
LETTER FROM MONTPELIER.
Interesting Epltome OF Legislative
Events.
MONTPELIER, VT, Oct. 10, '02.

The general assembly hasn't had
"strenuous" time the past week, but
nobody is to blame for it. There
was really not much to do-and the
legislators did it. The introduction
on Wednesday forenoon of two long
railroad bills and three or foursh
er bills bearing on other topics, was
followed in the afternoon by thirty
fve-minutes session, the only feature
of which was a motion to adjourn.
A half-day's recess was taken at
noon of Thursday as tribute to the
memory of the late ex-Congressman
Grout, whose funeral ceremonies oc-
Cured that afternoon, and the net
results of Fridays labors were light.
By this present week the committees
will have made fair start ATTENDING
out what their duties are and the
wheels will begin to hum little.
THE PLURALITY IDEA.
Tomorrow Tuesday, morning
there is to be a hearing on the bill to
elect Representatives by plurality-a
proposition which promises to have
a large degree of support here. Late
hours, anxious suspense and Free
mans Meetings of two to four days
duration-not infrequent experiences
in past years-have operated to turn
public thought in the direction of the
plurality scheme. One bill provides
for plurality pure and unadulterated,
while another allows MAJ ority full
swing for two ballots and insists on
plurality for the third. Considera-
BILE pressure will be brought to
secure the passage of a measure Civ
ing plurality a chance somewhere
early in the game.
| TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GEN. CIRCUIT.
Senate and House took appropri-
ate action in regard to the death of
ex-Congressman Grout; resolutions
were passed setting forth his distin-
guished services to the State and
Nation, both as soldier and states
man, and expressing the public sor-
row at his demise. A committee of
five Senators and five Representatives
were appointed to attend the funeral
namely: Senators Stiles of Gale
donia, Mayo of Washington, Jack
son of Orleans, Walbridge of Essex,
Graves of Caledonia, and Messrs.
Russell of Kirby, Seaver of Barton,
Morrill, ofStrafford, Horton ofPoult-
ney and Bundy of St. Johnsbury.
A BILL WITH PROHIBITION IN IT.
A measure framed by Hon. iona
than Ross and introduced in the up
per branch by Senator Walbridge is
likely to attract the attention OF
those who are looking for some i'm
provement in our liquor laws. It's
not a high license bill-"by jug
full" 1t is a prohibitory enactment
with certain Objectionable features
of the present statute eliminated. 1t
provides for a state liquor commits
sioner who isn't in any degree inter
ested in the liquor business except to
perform his legal duties in connection
Herewith; he buys the liquor and
establishes agencies for its sale; the
agent is put under heavy bonds and
forfeits them if he doesn't sell accord
ing to the provisions of the law; his
salary has nothing to do with the
amount of his sales; commissioner
has close supervision over agents
operations; the necessity for a
judges certificate of duty done in the
case of States Attorneys is done
away with; the concurrent jurisdic
ton of Justices of the Peace and the
injunction feature are knocked out
and United States certificates are
not to be regarded as prima facie
evidence against persons holding
them; the penalty for procuring liq.
uor from a gencies under fake pre-
tence is put at from $50 to $50
sales by agents for other than medi
cal, mechanical and chemical purpos
es are forbidden; an agency cannot
be located in a hotel, saloon, gro