St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-11-16
MONTPELIER Gossip.


MoNrPELMR. Nov. 15-It would
naturally take a legislature so largely
republican in its makeup little while to
get over so extensive national victory
as that recorded last week Tuesday; but
between the end of its recess and the time
of it's adjournment last Saturday the
general assembly did quite a stroke of
business. It did all the business, in fact,
that the committees had ready for it to
do. At the present writing it looks as
though the law makers would have to
come back after Thanksgiving, for when
work was resumed on Monday after
noon more than $50 bills awaited treat
ment. most of these being still in the
hands of the committees. Some of the
latter have put in great deal of hard
work; other committees have not
hurried. hequestion of an after Thanks
giving stay depends very much on the
pace that can be struck and maintained
this week. Many of the $50 bills referred
to are not OF great public Importance.
It's ssA1orriIl Halo
After resting quietly in the senate SO
long as to arouse some suspicion as to
its final fate, the bill appropriating
| $50, 900 for "Morrill Agricultural Hall"
| where the farmers sons can be trained
so effectively that their success as agri-
culturists will be assured, was passed by
the upper branch and will probably have
been signed by the governor before this
gets to our readers. On the question of
it's third reading the vote stood % to q,
and on it's passage the same two senator's
-Dickey OF Washington and Holbrook
of Essex-voted against it. The farmer
element in the legislature has had its
own sweet will in this matter.
Salary Increase mot Popular.
One OF the entertaining features of the
| house proceedings the past week was the
second burial of bill to make the per
diem of the Lawmakers four dollars in
stead of three. We are not mistaken
when we say second" burial. The
measure was duly inferred once, but dug
Der who was satisfied to vote himself a
| ''raise"-Mr. Taft of Waltham. He
moved an amendment making the pay
5000 for the session. taking effect ''from
its passage" Modesty on the part of
other members killed this amendment.
One suggestion was to the effect that it
wouldn't result in any net gain to in
| crease the per diem Montpelier would
| Immediately come up on the price of
| rooms and board. Mr.. Fits of Brattle-
boro facetiously moved to attach a
referendum" and then the house en-
| phatically dismissed the bill-and it never
| intended to do anything else with it.
| The house, by a quite decisive vote,
| also dismissed the bill making the salary
of the state superintendent of education
| $4,000 instead of $4,000. Friends of the
measure, led by Mr.. Dart OF Springfield,
| argued that a good man was worth a
| good price, and that our educat ional
| interests demanded the best supervision
but it was the prevailing idea that the
salary asked for was more than Vermont
could afford to pay.
| Additional Successful Measures.
Numerous additions have been made
| to the Vermont statutes within the past
| few days. The public bills of more or
| less Importance that have successfully
run the gauntlet of both houses include
| these:
Allowing Lyndonville graded school
| district to issue bonds for the purpose oil
building and eqttipping new school
| house, to an amount not to exceed
$25, 900 and not to exceed four per cent
interest.
Authorizing Hardwick Academy and
graded school district to issue bonds to
fund its existing Indebtedness.
Authorizing Stowe village to issue
| bonds to provide it with a water supply
Prohibiting the catching OF more than
| "a black bass in any one day in any o
the waters of this state.
| Authorizing states attorneys to prose.
cute by information.
Making higher education for advanced
pupils compulsory on the part of every
town.
| Compelling school directors to appoint
town superintendent on or before Apri
LIST and certify the appointment to the
town clerk within ten DAYS.
Providing for systematic examination
OF the auditors accounts by the com
mittee of claims.
Guarding against the pollution O
sources OF water supply.
Providing a new code of registration
of births, marriages, divorces and deaths
and regulating the removal of bodies.
Authorizing Rutland city to issue bond:
for the purpose of building city hall.
Providing for payment for janitor ser
vice in county court houses.
4 Appropriating $500 to be added te
contributions from other states, for tn,
erection OF a $4,000 monument to com
memorate the battle of Monocacy, Md.
July 9, 1864.
RitIs Refused a Thira Re.diu.
MIR. Waite's bill putting a tax of seven
tentbs per cent. on money loaned OF
mortgage, at AZ per cent. interest, to al
amount not exceeding $4,000, didn'
strike the house favorably. He insisted
. that it was poor mans measure, tina
it treated the average money lender JUS
as well as savings banks were nov