The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-10-29
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

The gentleman from Newbury has
been appointed one of the commits
sioners of the estate of the late Gen.
w. w Circuit. The other one is L. ID.
Hazen of st. Johnsbury.
"Aren't you working late?" asked
one committee chairman of another as
he discovered him at his desk busted
with legislative detail. 81 tell you, "
was the reply, 81 haven't half time
enough to do all / want to do. O." The
chairmen are getting busy now that
the fourth week of the session has
come; and if the Legislatures work
is to be completed within the limit
others besides the chairmen will need
to get down to business.
1t was in the committee on claims,
and the discussion over the bill to
pay somebody "the sum therein
named" had lulled one farmer to rest
and he slept quietly for awhile. Sud
denly he came partially to and gave
indisputable evidence of the ruling
passion within him by exclaiming
anxiously: "Have the COWS been
tested"? This proves that the cattle
commission bill may yet become a
veritable nightmare (if we may
change from cattle to horsetlesh) with
many of the farmers, if it is not speed
lily disposed of.
The town of Norton, in Essex coun-
ty, wants to get little nearer to
Island Pond for business purposes, and
asks State aid to a reasonable extent
in the building of highway between
the two places This will open up
new lands for settlement and prove a
desirable thing for that section of Essex
county.
In addition TO the usual run of mat
ter the next issue of the Legislative
Directory will contain early histories
of Vermont towns, when they were
within the New Hampshire Grants,
compiled by the late Hiram a. Huse.
So far six bills ASKING for State aid
for flood damage to highways have
been introduced in the House. The
town of Mendon asks for 81, 800; Hard
wick and Greensboro for piece of
highway used in common, SO, 600 Read
ing, $1,000; Walden, 81, 500; Middle
sex, $1,000; Highgate, $4,000 The
committee on highways will recon-
mend that $4,000 be appropriated in
the latter case and the tendency has
been to cut down he figures in all
recommendations to be made upon
each bill although it is probable that
each bill will be reported favorably.
The House wasn't with the judi
ciary committee today on the bill re-
ducing the trustee process limit from
$40 to So, and killed the measure
by big majority. The feeling pre-.
vailed that justice to the working mar
demanded no such legislation, and
that the "dead BEATS could be take1
care of by the business men in some
better way. 1t wasn't thought best
to spring the five dollar limit on the
man who gets dollar a day and leave
him at so great a disadvantage as com.
pared with the farmer with whom the
law silent as to exemption.
The rap gwen the lawyers this
, morning on account of their ALLEGED
retniest in the trustee process bill re-
; minds somebody of an OCCASION when 6
d, warm tribute was being paid in pub
lie to certain gentleman and the
: speaker closed by saying half apollo
getically: He is lawyer-but moi
enough of lawyer to hurt - The
gentleman from Enosburg doesn't be.
lieve that he and his fellow lawyers
| have interest enough in the trustee
process bill to hurt.
Senator Phelps presented a bill il
the Senate on Wednesday afternoon
which appears to be an able treatment
of an important subject. There has
l always been great difficulty in securing
} complete and correct returns of the
births, deaths, marriages, etc. This
, bill provided for returns that should
; be all right. Several side issues, sucl
) as grave robbery, are also handled ant
well disposed of.
The demand for tickets to the inau.
gural ball reminded one of the last Re
publican convention. Many were call
ed but few were chosen.
The temperance committee, at the
meeting on Thursday evening, devoted
considerable attention to the press
and although nothing definite was
done regarding the admission of re-
porters to all meetings, the general
opinion prevailed that the press shOnlC
be admitted Mr.. Battell of Middle
bury and DR.. Conland of BrattleborC
, favored admitting newspaper men.
, The joint committee on temperance
is not intending to establish ''stal
. chamber sessions. The committee
5 welcomes the presence of anybody who
l has anything to say before the commit
) tee on any Of the six bills under con
sideration, but are not urging the
) genaral public to attend the meetings
just for the sake of hearing and com
, menting on what is said in the dis
r cussion between members themselves
? The committee has so much work be
fore it that there is no time for fur
l ther public assemblies.
Doorkeepers Comings and Knigh
take care of their duties smoothly
and manage their respective shares O
the House detail energetically ant
!; courteously. There are occasions
when it takes close figuring to accom-
modate all the visitors who seek {
chance to see and hear, and there are
a host of other things to look after il
behalf of the individual members.
A dozen ladies and gentlemen from
; st. Adams, members of the Nine
taontb Canturu Cluh NUara apnonf