Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-11-20
LICENSE THE THEME.
All Else Suhordinated TO This lmpor-
tant Subject.
MONTPELIER, Friday

tant Subject.
MONTPELIER, Friday.
At the rate Of IS bills a day passed O
killed in the House and nearly as many il
the Senate, the work of the session is rap
idly being put behind it. The weighty
measures, however, like those dealing witt
liquor, insurance, caucus, capital punish
ment, etc. are still to be taken up, anC
much talk is heard that it will be neces.
sary TO return after Thanksgiving, but the
'ssmall stuff is being cleared away so fast
that there ought to be plenty OF time fol
these questions and still adjourn at the
usual period.
Practically all interest centers in liquor
legislation. The subject is at white heat,
and growing hotter every minute. The
divided report OF the Joint temperance
committee on the bills before ii has
tended to renew all the spirit and some OF
the rancor OF the slate .unpleasantness. "
II really seems as il all the time spent by
this committee had been worse than
wasted The member emerge from il as
partisans OF the respective bills they
therein advocated, and will lead the fight
on the floor against each other. While
smooth and courteous to each other per-
sonally, the two factions shave it in" for
each other and each will do its best to win
out. Ii is war to the finish now.
The straight-out license men carried
their bill through the committee, which
stood 10 to u, the latter being for the Bat
tell bill. The Battell side expected the
deciding vote would go their way, but at
the last moment Douglass of Williston
went over to the opposition and they
found themselves in the minority. The
majority are:-Senators Russell, Downer,
Sibley, Nelson and Tracy and Representa-
tives Ellis of Fair Haven, Fletcher of
Cavendish, Douglass of Williston, Howe
of Readsboro, Vincent of Orwell, Conland
of Brattleboro, O'Sullivan of st. Adams
city and Pape of Barre city. The minority
are:-Senators Emery, Spencer, Annis and
Walbridge and Representatives Batten OF
Middlebury, Bailey of New bury, Dartt OF
Springfield, Fish of Royalton, Dixon OF
Wolcott and Vail of Worcester. OF the
majority, five are straight Republicans,
five are Democrats and three Clement
men. The minority are all Republicans
with avowed leanings toward prohibit
ton, and bitterly opposed to straight
license. Their advocacy OF the Battell
bill is based on their party pledge to sub
NIT a license local option act, with
which they maintain is
by the bill they favor, and they
do not consider the party bound to sub
nit an act providing for the legalized
saloon. The straight-outs claim that the
Battell bill doesn't fit the case at all; that
il is not such a measure as the platform
and that the prohibition
lists are trying to ''do" local option by
unfair means. All the pros and cons will
be set forth when the bills come up. They
we're reported in both houses Thursday
md 1000 copies OF each ordered printed.
rhe Battell referendum provides for a
nr q
March meeting next; the majority bill
a vote on the first Tuesday
IN January next as to whether the act
shall 90 into effect right away, or not until
after the next legislature is chosen, which
would give an opportunity for the acts
'epeal, II il should not be ratified by the
people. This was the kind of a referen-
ium that brought in prohibition 90 years
Igo.
vas the source OF some contention in the
committee. The license
majority wanted to report it without
but the minority insist
ID on a vote. The majority would not
'ote, and the bill is given so-called
adorable report, signed by only u of the
members.
The Senate, it is conceded, will pass the
majority license bill, but the Battell side
xpect to carry the House their way, so
hat there is prospect Of a deadlock, con- |
erence committee, and prolonged trouble. |
The Russell tuberculosis bill bids fair to
Ass the House, as It already has the Sem |
te, with perhaps some notifications. IL /
ught to make the farmers happy, for |
hey will get SOC OF the value OF animals |
illed, appraised ON basis OF health.
A strong effort is being made to increase |
he state highway tax from DC. to l0c., and |
UGH a bill has passed the House. IL was |
opposed by the large towns, but the small |
owns were more numerous. The law |
ollects on a basis of grand list and dis |
ributes ON basis of road mileage, so that |
he small towns are gamers.
A number of special relief bills have /
lso passed the House in favor OF poor |
owns badly burdened.
Another measure that helps the poor
owns has gone through the House.
Inder il, $4,000 is first reserved from the
tate school fund, to be apportioned
mong towns especially deserving. The
enate may stop some OF these schemes.
The public health bill went through the
louise after more discussion than any
her bill has encountered. IL was ma
srially aided by DIR. Fish OF Royalton,
'ho defended il theoretically. Royalton,
Y the way, has in DIR. Fish one OF the
Irong men OF the House. He has taken
aiding part IN the important Work OF the
sssion thus far. His service on the pub
C health, insane ami temperance commit
.es has been of marked value.
Mr.. Bundy wanted TO know why the
expenses of the militia had increased and
OF a resolution through that was in the
AZURE of implied criticism. Adj. Gen.
ilmore replied that, in fact, the expenses
ave diminished from what they were
,rmerly.
A plan is in progress to have a eompan-
IN tablet to that recently placed in the
louise lobby for Gen. .'Baldy" Smith-this
ne for Gen. Stannard, commander of the
scond Vermont brigade.
Middlebury college asks for the right
establish woman's college, in connec-
on, with the power to confer degrees.
A special committee has been named to
lnsider the question of a state building
nd exhibit at the st. Louis exposition.
The charter of the new Randolph saw
lgs Bank and Trust Co. has passed both
ouses; also the charter OF the Vermont
association, in which Randolph
sople are interested.
An escaped lunatie from the Waterbury
iylum set fire to rowne Bros. barns in
ichm ond and now these part les ask for
800 from the state. The Senate has
ranted IL.
Gales bill requiring candidates for office
, Ale sworn sfateneutS Of their eNDenses