The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-11-19
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.


out on the front steps of the Capitol,
trying to keep smiling counteLdnces in
spite of the drilling rain, w In the
/ official camera man telling them to
"look pretty and hold STILL " was %
sight that brought smiling sympathy
from observers on Wednesday noon.
The proposed increase of the State
highway tax from five to ten cents
started lively debate, the lar
ger towns-conspicuous Barre, St
Johnsbury, Burlington and Brattle-
boro-protesting vigorously against an
addition to their present burdens Tor
the benefit of the smaller towns. the
latter were in the majority, however,
and the bill passed by an easy figure.
There was no manifest inclination as
against permanent highway work of
the best quality, and the speakers
from the cities did not object to being
reasonably considerate of the smaller
towns, but the jump from five to ten
cents looked to them like too big
jump, and they thought the improve
ment in roads might be brought about
by same more equitable method
The House talked again OH Wednes-
nesday afternoon over the bills grant
ing relief to certain towns. Andover's
request was denied, but the situation
at Woodford appealed more strongly
to the legislators, and that bill was
sent to a third reading.
And the question now is, shall the
bill pa"
MIR. Speaker L move to amend the
bill further, ia section" etc.
1.-The amendment is disagreed to,
and the question now is, shall the bill
-D
"Mr. Speaker, l move to further
amend the bill by striking out, " etc.
"The amendment is agreed to, and
the question now is, S tuil thc -
"Mr Speaker! | plove to amend "
etc
And by the time this game of legis-
lative pingpong had gone on for half
an hour, the House excusably smiled
when it heard that familiar Mr..
Speaker | move to amend "
Now that the joint temperance COM
mittee is shown to be so evenly di
vided on the important issue with
which it has been struggling so
strenuously for these past weeks,
big contest is on, and it looks as
thongh'a coming back after Thanks
giving was possibility that GOULD
only be averted by wise tactics.
The Legislature has been supplied
with spring water for some days past,
through the efforts of the gentleman
from Wilmington, who, although he
maintained an eloquent silence when
the public health bill was discussed,
is nevertheless interested in the health
of the members.
The inquiry by the gentleman from
ST. Johnsbury as to alleged increase
of expenses in the military depart
ment of the State for the last biennial
term has been answered i'll a commu-
unication to the General Assembly by
Adjutant- General Gilmore. who shows
the real condition of things to be di-
rectly contrary to the expectations of
the st. Johnsbury member. In 1898
there was no June or annual encamp-
ment, because the militia were busy
with the national government in the
war with Spain. In 1899 there was
no June drill, and but three days en-
campment. In 1900 and 1901 the June
drills and annual encampments were
held, making the expense to tie State
naturally larger than in years when
these functions did not occur. The ad-
jutant general declares that, in spite
of an increase in company member
ship, and in officers pay, and the pur-
chase of nearly $500 worth of hospital
supplies, the expenses OF the depart
ment for the last two years were 81, 800
less than for the two years preceding.
So the joint resolution inquiry gets
satisfactory answer, and the military
department comes out ahead.
The bill allowing towns to elect two
road commissioners had ~ opponents in
the House, but they were not numer-
Gus enough to defeat this special
brand of local option. The majority
saw no peril in the measure and so let
t'go through.
The House did sensible thing in
ordering to third reading the bill APP
| propriating $500 for the State library
commission instead of s400. The ad-
ditional sum will be wisely used and
prove good investment Mr.. Car
penter of Middletown Springs intelli-
gently explained the need of more
funds.
| That was rather fine piece of dis
| tinction in which one member of the
House INDUCED during the debate over
the passage of the public health bill
Yesterday afternoon, when he attempt
ed to have country school houses and
churches exempted from the imposi
ton of penalty for neglect to prop
erly look after sanitary conditions. Al
if the germs of deadly disease were en-
titled to undisturbed possession of the
country premises, although forbidden {
hold in the more thlckly populated
town, or village, or city That sort O.
toying with death naturally stirred
up some emphatic opposition, and thu
House very quickly showed itself a
anxious to conserve the health of thu
children in country schools as to guart
that of the village or city folk. Th
gentleman from Royalton was espe
cially warm in his condemnation o
this attempt to draw the health lin
as between the two localities.
The House on Thursday handled 6
different bills, passing or killing SO Q
, them; and the Senate treated some 2
bill on the same day, Speaker Merri