Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-12-18
SESSION is ENDED.
vERMoNT,s LONG PARLIAMENT
ADJOURNED SATURDAY.

Caucus Reform Failed at the Close
Both Houses Killed the Ross Bill
Capital Punishment Continued But
Three Muroerers Commuted--GoT-
ernor's Appointments--The Closing
Scenes of an Al-Nisht Session.
MONTPELIER, a. m, Saturday
The gavel has Just fallen and the long
session OF 1902, az memorable in Vermont
as the along Parliament" in England mas
come to an end.
The final hours have been marked by the
absence Of the usual rush. No bills have
been hurried through without scrutiny.
Only a few measures Of importance, among
them the Ross bill and the caucus bill,
were left and they received due considera-
tion. Interspersed with business during
the long hours came fun and merriment
and the utmost good feeling was manifest.
Despite the many sharp tits, no stings
are left. But for the wrangle over the
caucus measure, adjournment could nave
been taken early in the evening.
Caucus reform hzzled. 1t was the last
hone OF contention and a lively one. The
record Of the assembly on this subject is
not altogether pleasing to contemplate
Starting out with party platforms squareiy
pledging the enactment Of a caucus law,
the matter dragged from the beginning oil
the session. Everybody seemed AFRAID TO
tackle the job Only two bills pretended
10 deal with the subject until the final
windup. when the Senate, in spirit Of
"wen, we suppose we have got to do some
thing. set to work, through its Judiciary
committee, which threw away both bills
and drafted a new one. II outlined sys-
fem of enrolment Of voters with town
clerks early in the year, each voter to de-
clare his political preference, from which
check list was 10 be made up to be used
al the several party caucuses. Penalties
for bribery were provided. Inc senate
passed this bill II to II. Ii came INTO the
tIonse Friday evening and there met with
the most strenuous opposition from the
united Democrats and the Maynard Re
nnblieans. mostly Clement men. They
fought the enrolment feature on the
a5round that il was unjust to make voters
20 ON record publicly so early IN advance
OF election, or at all. Ihey succee1eu y,
Knocking out this feature and sent the Dill
hack To the Senate with simply penalty
against bribery. The Senate wouldn't
concur Then a conference committee
was named which tinkered the original
bill somewhat, but retained the enroll
ment scheme. The Senate accepted TINS,
but the House, after heated debate winch
enlivened the last hours of the session
early this morning, refused to accept It by
vote OF 81 to 81, barely quorum present.
This proved the final Knockout for the
whole bill, so that the state IS left Just
where il was, with no caucus law at all.
The Democrats are happy.
Uncle Ross efforts to reform the pro-
hibitory law failed altogether.
The Senate on Thursday, after long
debate, indicated its disposition to pass
that part OF his bill which repealed the
Injunction, prima facie and other obiec'
tionable features OF the present system
by ordering that portion to third read
ing. is to 10. Next day it unexpectedly
killed the bill, II to II. The House FRIDAY
evening took the Ross bill, which wa
already before it, and, after a short dis
cussion, dismissed II, Ill to 80. The
other bills OF a similar nature went the
same way. The houses took the view
that prohibition as II is should be sub
mitted to the voters without modification
some members were moved to vote
that, shorn OF its "teeth," the law would
be ineffective and would mean practi-
callv free rum. 1t was clearly apparent
that a majority in both houses were OPP
posed to prohibition.
Capital punishment is continued, bu
Doherty, Shaw and Eastwood will no
hang. The House discussed the bill
abolishing capital punishment Wednes-
day and passed it, 116 to 100. The Senat,
took IL up Friday and killed 1t, ID TO 10
Emery and Russell took the leading part
for and against the measure, respectively
The report of the investigating commltte'
relative to the insanity OF Doherty ant
Eastwood served to give them quicl
clearance from the scaffold. There wa
more question about Shaw, but the ar
gument that the shooting OF Holman
was provoked by his own recklessnes
and done on the spur OF the moment
combined with the general opposition
TO capital punishment, carried. Efeetiy
work was done for shaw, both insid
and outside. DIR, Fish made a very stronI
plea for him in the House. The vote il
the House was nearly unanimous; in tn
Senate, despite the forceful opposition
of Russell, the bill passed, IS to 3. Tn
Orange and Windsor county senator
voted to commute.
The ways and means committee ha.
their way as to corporation taxes. Witt
some changes in administration, the pres
ent system Is continued. The only limo
yations are with regard to the exemption
OF savings bank deposits, the limit bein
increased from $1,000 to 5000; mino
change with regard to the tax rate OF tele
phone companies and steamboat and Pull
man car companies. There was strong op
position to the 5000 deposit limit in th
House. Members argued that il was
means Of increasing the tendency to dodg
the taxation Of money, but others main
tanned that il would serve good purpos
by sffording opportunity TO reach NOR
money for taxation, money being elusiy
stuff at best. There will be no direct stat
tax this biennial term, owing to the IN
crease Of corporation tax receipts. Ii ma
be tight squeak to go without it, but u
chance will be taken. Two years ago Il
biennial tax was 15c. on the dollar. III
appropriations bill carried a total of Il
635,0O0 for the next biennial term.
The Senate had a dizzy spell toward th
close Il took Downer's bill Wednesda.
prohibiting the acceptance Of railroa
passes by judges Of the supreme cour
members Of the assembly, state officer
etc. and passed il, q TO 0. Next day, al
rtnated by some subtle influence, it repen