Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-19
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1902
ADJ0URNs SINE DIE AFTER LONG AND
NOTABLE SESSION.

Senate Caucus Reform Bill Killed in the House,
81 to 81, After Lively Political Debate Sen.
ate Defeats Bill Abolishing Capital Punish.
ment But Commutes Death Sentences of
Three Murderers- Ross Liq Tor Bill Killed in
Both Houses-Court of Claims Established
The Governors Appointments.
Especial correspondence the Reformerl
Montpelier, Dec. 13, 1902.
The session of the Vermont legisla-
ture of 1902 ended early Saturday morn
ing, both houses having worked all night
with but few hours recess. Consid-
ering the inherent characteristics of
Vermonters, the present legislature
has done well. 1t has not succeeded
in breaking away, to any great extent,
from the traditions of its ancestors,
but it has struggled hard within itself
to do So 1t simply couldn't, that's
all, because it isn't built that way. 1t
compromised and qubbled, and played
with pledges, but it didn't bulge a
great way from old, established theo-
ries. But it has been vastly interest
ihS w IL lldS IusStu
bills and killed $50. making 704 bills
in all introduced. At about . O'Clock
Gov. Mccullough signed bills commut-
ing the death sentences of three muir
derers, Frank Shaw, Frederick East
wood ana Charles Doherty. The Sen
ate which had passed these bills, had
also, with amazing inconsistency, re-
fused to approve the bill abolishing the
death penalty.
The caucus reform bill, one of the
party promises and one of the last
considered before adjourn
ment, was passed by the Senate as re-
ported by the conference committee,
but the House refused it by yea and
nay vote of G1 to G7 after brilliant
political discussion. Many who voted
against the measure were really in ia
vor of caucus reform but opposed to
certain provisions of the bill offered.
One of the final acts of the legisla-
ture was the passing of the bill pro-
viding for a bridge commission of
three members to confer with represen-
tatives of New Hampshire regarding
new bridges across the Connecticut
river.
Friday was marked by hard and con-
tinuous work and interesting debates.
The Senate refused third reading to
the bill to abolish capital punishment
by yea and nay vote of II to 10, and
voted to commute the death sentences
Of Charles Doherty, Frederick East |
wood, and Frank Shaw, by yea and |
nay vote of Is to g. Gov. Mccullough 5 |
for state railroad commits |
sioners were confirmed, as follows |
Fuller G. Smith of St. Albans for six |
years and chairman for two years, II. /
). Bingham of Bennington for four
years and Horace W. Bailey of New
oury for two years. The Senate killed |
, third reading Thursday, by a yea
md nay vote of IL to II, and passed
without debate the railroad commission
oill, the bill providing for support of
which was afterward
signed by the governor: also the bill
,reating court of claims and that re-
ating to taxation of corporations. 1t
passed the Jamaica school tax bill, dis
rict No 70: the bill creating a bridge
joint resolutions for por
raft of Admiral Dewey and adopted
conference committee report on Water
Jury asylum and Brattleboro Retreat
ppropriation for repairs, the $4,000
ppropriation for Retreat being consid-
red as loan to Retreat.
The House passed the bill to abolish
he Swanton fish hatchery with an
providing that proceeds
rom sale of licenses shall be used to
ecure better enforcement of fish and
-ame laws: refused to concur in the
senate amendment cutting off 1000
rom Brattleboro Retreat; killed the
ill to prevent foreign loan associa-
ions from exacting more than 6 per
ent. interest in the state: also that
o provide for removal of state capital; (
nd that establishing a legal days ,
rork at 9 hours unless otherwise
greed. 1t passed the bill to aid the
Webster Memorial association Of STRAIT
on: the bills authorizing fish and
anne commissioners to sell trout fry