Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-12-19

Inc lAoln SESSION OIL the Vermont
Legislature was declared adjourned
sine die at o'clock last Saturday
morning, after sitting for two months
and half. This session of 81 work
ing days was the longest within
two or three days of any ever held
by the Vermont legislature. The
last day of the session was a busy
one, and the night session lasted
practically all night, but, on the
whole, the closing proceedings were
not marked by the unseemly haste
which has characterized the close of
many previous sessions.
The two measures that came up for
final consideration were the caucus
bill, and the Ross amendments of the
prohibitory law, both of which were
killed. The first bill to be placed
on the Senate calendar on the first
day of the session was a caucus bill,
drawn and introduced by Senator
Brownell of Chittenden county The
Republican party was pledged to con-
slider and enact a law like this, equal
ly with the license law, but, for vari-
GUS reasons. other matters of legisla-
ton were allowed to take precedence,
and no serious attention was given to
the caucus law until towards the very
end of the session. committee
bill was then introduced in place of
the Brownell bill. In its main pro-
visions, this committee bill provided
that voters should register their
names, residences, and political pref
erences with town or city clerks in
the months of January or February
each year; that in order to vote in
caucuses or primaries voters must be
registered, and no one should register
after March LIST unless he became
a legal resident Of the town or city,
or became of age after that date.
Other sections provided a fine of 800
for voting or offering to vote unless
so registered, and a bribery clause
provided a fine of 500 for any voter
who should offer or receive money
or other valuable thing in return for
his vote in any caucus or convention.
The Senate passed this bill in its
entirety, and at o'clock in the even
ing it was made a special order in
the House. A long-drawn contest
ensued, with the result that the bill
was finally killed. The Democrats
unitedly opposed it and received the
support of a strong contingent of the
Clement men. The main objection
raised was to the first seven sections.
which embodied the registration fea-
lures. These were finally changed
so as TO permit registration at any
time during the year up to within
70 hours of the time Of the caucus,
instead of in January and February
only, but this did not save the meas
ure. Mr. Gale of Guilford vigorously
led the opposition, on the ground,
mainly. that it was unfavorable to the
Independent voter. DR.. Conland of
Brattleboro also objected to the en-
rollment, maintaining the right of any
voter to change his political views,
and to take part in caucuses with
out registration. After the enroll
ment provisions had been stricken out,
Mr.. Bailey of Newbury and others
tried to have what remained of the
bill, in it's provisions against bribery,
enacted, but on a yea and nay vote
the bill was killed 81 to 61 At this
time many members had already left
for home, not feeling interest enough
in the proceedings to remain on the
ground and see the work of the ses-
sion finished.
The final vote dismissing the amend
ed Ross liquor bill was Ill to 80.
This bill, in its finally amended form,
did away with the injunction, disclos-
ure, and other so-called Objectionable"
features, and was opposed by the IL
cense men generally. But not a
few prohibitionists were opposed to
retaining the law in this form, with all
it's teeth drawn.
The Senate concurred in the action
of the House in committing the SEN
fences of the murderers, Doherty,
Eastwood and Shaw. In the case of
Shaw, Senator Russell made a strong
protest against Communication, saying
that if ever a murder was committed
in defiance of the law this one was.
In regard to Eastwood, Senator Cart
nell told of the crime which was COM
mitted in his own town, and said the
man was nothing but brute, and
should never be given bit of len
iency In an utterly inconsistent
way, the Senate then proceeded to re-
fuse to concur in the vote of the House
abolishing capital punishment. The
vote stood IL for and Is against.
Both the Windham county senators
were among those absent or not vot-
ing.
One of the liveliest pieces of work
done during the day and night was
that, led by DR.. Conland, to secure the
state appropriation of $4,000 which
had been recommended for the Brat
tleboro Retreat to repair or rebuild
it's kitchen department. The Senate
at first absolutely refused to agree to
this appropriation, but, after repeated
conferences, it was carried, with the
proviso that the sum advanced be con-
sidered as lien upon the property of
the Retreat.
While waiting for the report of the
conference committee on the caucus
bill during the night the House pass
ed the time with mock sessions, pre-,
sided over by Bridges of Athens, and
later by White Of Woodstock. In the
Senate there were more quiet times,
with a general smoke talk and an
occasional solo by a sedate senator.
The 1 enisIature,s Work.