Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-12-16
The Legislature and Party Pledges.
Huntington Free Press. Dec. 10. ]


The general assembly Of Vermont which
closes its biennial session today, has ac-
complished an unusually large amount of
work and this is particularly true with
reference to what may be regarded as fun
damental measures The Republicans
who have borne the responsibility for
whatever legislation has been enacted be-
gan the session confronted by n number
OF pledges made by their party to the peo-
pie In the platform adopted by the state
convention; and the majority party de-
serves credit for the manner in which
those promises have been fulfilled by their
representatives In the two branches of the
legislature.
One Of these pledges was to give further
trial to the principle of local option in the
matter Of licensing the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquor as a beverage: and It is only
fair to say that there was wide expecta-
tion OF a bitter. II not prolonged. contro-
versy over this subject when the revis-
ion OF the existing local option law should
come before the two branches OF the leg
islature for consideration. The joint COM
mittee on temperance had so thoroughly
studied into the merits of various pro-
posed changes. embodied In variety of
bills, and so completely mastered the de-
tails that when that body came to report
a measure TO take the place of the pres
ent statute. the legislators were practi-
cally ready to adopt their work. and pass
ed the bill with little debate. The new
local option law is In some respects the
most important measure enacted by the
present legislature, for upon the results
of the trial of the features Of this statute
will undoubtedly depend in no small de-
gree the decision OF the question whether
this system of dealing with the sale of
Intoxicating liquor as n beverage shall be
continued indefinitely
Another pledge which the majority In
the legislature have carried out faithfully
was to inquire into and seek to remedy
any abuse OF trust in connection with
the expenditure of funds In our state in
situations. our readers have already
learned OF the manner in which the COM
mittee charged with the duty OF investi-
eating our state institutions performed it's
work. and while il is to be regretted that
IL was found necessary TO recommend the
removal of any of the officers of our penal
institutions. the committee faithfully and
fearlessly performed the duty assigned TO
It, and the members are deserving of
credit. The legislature has taken steps TO
remedy the evils discovered by the COM
mittee. and II Is safe to say that during
the coming two years extreme care is
likely to be exercised by those charged
with disbursement of the states funds
Another measure for which the present
legislature deserves great credit is the act
providing for the registration of voters
and the use of voting lists in connection
with political primaries. AS we said when
this measure passed the house, 1t NAV
not prove on trial to be what the state
should have in the way of caucus legisla-
ton. but 1t marks n beginning in the right
direction and any defects can be rem
edied at future sessions of the legislature
Another act of a fundamental nature
was the measure creating the office of at
torney general. There had been an enor-
nous increase in court expenses, and it
Is expected that one of the results Of the.
establishing OF a state law department
and the selection of Clarke C. Fits for the
task of organizing the attorney generals
office will be marked saving to the state
In connection with its litigation.
When the different measures here emu
merated are taken into consideration in
connection with their political bearing. II
is difficult TO see how critics of the Yer
mont Republicans can find material fault
with the work accomplished during the
present session OF the legislature, from a
political point of view.
Numerous other measures were enacted
which are no less deserving of mention
because of their lack of political signif-
icance, but what we desire to emphasize
at this time Is the manner In which the
Republicans in the Legislature fulfilled
their party pledges.