The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-11-26
Legislative Notes

nent organization met on IueSudY
evening and unanimously adopted
constitutions it is expected that an
other general caucus will be held later
to complete the organization.
The ease with which the Senate
plurality bill sank out of sight in the
House on Tuesday was Il surprise to
a great many members. This was a
measure on which contest was ex-
pected in the lower branch, and a
fairly protracted debate was predict
ed. For bill that took so much time
in the Senate it went out rather sud
denly when the House got hold of it;
and not word was said in its favor.
Evidently the small towns mean to
cling to their freeman's meeting day
entertainment, even though it turn
out to be more than 90 ne-night per-
Torrance. "
Nine to eight, thirteen to twelve,
eight to seven. Verify these are days
of close decisions in committee.
The gentleman from Wilmington be-
lieves in getting down to business in
good season in the morning, but
couldn't quite make his nine o'clock
resolution work. There was bit of
fun in the discussion over the resolu-
ton at the expense of the cover
strenuous" and the farmer" element
in the House, in whose behalf com
promise was effected. Mr.. Porter was
Intercepted" when he offered his
resolution, as to whether he had voted
to adjourn for the Barre trip, and
"got back" at his interrogation in good
shape: "Mr. Speaker, l did not so
vote. Neither did | vote to adjourn
from Friday till Monday afternoon. "
"Strenuous"-"a backward step"-
these are familiar and oft-used words
at the State House.
Mr.. Durick of Castleton made a
rather earnest speech last night in de-
fence of the bill compelling railroad
companies to settle on a 50, 900 basis
for children killed in railroad acct
dents, after the committee had re-
ported it adversely. He paid his
compliments to the corporation lawyer
and his continued presence and al
legged influence about the State Capt.
tOl, and wanted a third reading or
dered in spite of the committees re-
port, and he got it.
The small towns scored another
teachers certificate bill so as to pro-
vide for the granting of six permits
instead of three as favored by the
committee. The plea was that the
smaller and poorer localities suffered
from a scarcity of available teachers,
and this amendment would help them
out. A further attempt to cut the
age limit of teacher from seventeen
| wears to sixteen WAS dpfpated
The House permitted the gentleman
from st. Johnsbury to amend his
steamboiler and engineers license bill
in several particulars, and then buried
it as an incomplete measure which
sought to hold large manufacturing
concerns down to inspection by local
and possibly incompetent inspectors,
whereas they already provide for semi
annual inspections by competent Off
Gals.
In the summary of the Battell bill
published Tuesday an unintentional
error was made in the statement con-
corning the method of procuring
liquor, the words "to be procured by
filling out written or printed order
stating name and age of purchaser
and purpose wanted for should have
read Ito be procured by filling out a
written or printed order stating name
and age of purchaser and the name of
the person for whom the purchase is
made.
Quite "scrap" ensued in the
House over the bill taxing reservoirs,
water lands and improvements thereon,
with aQueducts, pipes and other
equipments. The large towns were
heard from to some extent, and a Sc
ries of amendments proposed by Mr..
O'Sullivan of st. Adams city had been
pretty well agreed to- when Mr.. Dixon
of Hardwick sprang to his feet and
with fire in his eye denounced the
whole bill as an iniquitous measure
that would establish perilous prece.
dent, leaning too much toward that
sort of legislation which taxed man
for having a COW, then taxed the COW,
then the hide and horns on the COW.
Mr. Peck of Brandon felt that as the
gentleman from Hardwick did, and
thought the small towns had secured
about all they ought to have, without
passing this bill. Mr. Simpson OF
Sheffield brought things to head by
saying he represented a small town
but the people of his town didn't fee
| llho tdAluS IL uidu lOT tu6 Wdter lit
drank, so he moved to dismiss the bill
And dismissed it was, by good ma
jority, after being debated for thre,
quarters of an hour.
The person who INDUCES in reparte,
with Senator Annis wants to watcl
out. During the discussion of tn,
Reeves question Senator Russell trie(
to be funny at the expense of the ligh
weight Senator, but the retort tina
came quick as flash completed,
turned the tables.
Sheriff tom" Reeves and his bill
for reimbursement for past labor don
proved hard bone of contention il
,, the Senate. About $3.50 of the bill
was for liquor raids in which Their
,, was no liquor found, which, accord
l ing to the old law, could not be al
lowed by the auditor, although tn
debate brought out the assertion tina
disallowance Of such claims had no
= been practiced until Mr.. Barber be
! came auditor. There is no question
l that Mr.. Barber has been the mos
F, cAreful AuditOr for MANY veara hi