Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-11-11
IN THEIR PLACES AGAIN
LEGISLATORS AT MONTPELIER
BACK FROM ELECTION.
House Passes Plurality Election and
Weekly Payment Bills - Senate
Passes Morrill, Hall Measure-Re.
view of Weeks Work.


Passes Morrill, Hall Measure--Re.
view of Weeks Work.
The legislature at Montpelier which
adjourned last Friday for the presi-
dental election reassembled Wednes-
day and has since accomplished a
large amount of work. The house
yesterday took action upon measure
of widespread interest by ordering to
third reading a bill abolishing cap
ital punishment which had been ia
vorably reported by the judiciary
committee. 1t Is interesting to note
that the house has SO far succeeded
in controlling it's liberal tendencies
of a week or so ago as to vote down
two salary increase bills. The sem
ate, on the other hand, passes the
Morrill, hall BILL appropriating $780,
900, with only two dissenting votes
those of Senators Holbrook and
Dickey.
Following is summary of the
weeks work as specially reported for
The Reformer
WEDNESDAY.
A beggarly array of empty benches
greeted the speaker when the house
was called to order in the afternoon
and a session that promised consid-
erable accomplishment was suddenly
fut short on a question of quorum
Various unimportant bills received
the official axe Immediately after OPP
ening and bills in regard to exempt
ing absent defendants in divorce trials
from notice. lighting covered bridges
over SIS feet in length and defining the
crime of kidnapping as well as pro-
viding for its punishment were ad.
yanced to a third reading.
A bill that designed to take drink
ing water privileges right OF way.
etc, by right of eminent domain was
neatly amended so as to be harmless
and ordered forward.
The crisis of the afternoon came on
the killed, resurrected and reconsid-.
cred bill to make plurality vote elect
after the third ballot on representa-
tive. The bill had passed third
reading by close vote and on rising
vote, the house, stood AZ tC 39 in fa-
vor of passing.
The speaker, however, declared no
quorum voting" and Representative
D. j. O'Sullivan, recognizing that no
legislation could take place after that
Official ruling, moved an adjournment,
which, after announcements. was
passed.
There was a busy session in the
vanced to third reading and a gen.
eral discussion had on the pure food
measure. A large grist of bills, regu--
lating dentistry and osteopathy and
incorporating host of cemetery as
sociations and other private institu-
tions. The senate adjourned to allow
the 1902 members to hold a reunion.
Senator Pierce of Windham county
introduced an act amending the char
ter of the village of Brattleporo
which was referred to the committee
on corporations.
The senate of 1902, 16 members
strong. held a voluminous reunion in
the afternoon. They exchanged fe-
Iicitous remarks and suggested inn
provements on their work two years
ago.
Doorkeeper Rawlin and Assistant
Secretary Skeels would make great
pair of football tackles. They meas
ure about feet 10 high and 10 feet
S across the shoulders.
Lieutenant Governor Stearns pre-
sides with native dignity and keeps
business moving.
THURSDAY.
The plurality election bill was TAX
en- up by the house. Hilliard OF Cabot
desired to amend the bill by making
plurality effective on the second bal
lot, but the amendment was lost
and on a rising vote the bill was
passed 113 to g.
Rev. d. j. O'Sullivan's bill to save
the wages of laborers, working for
contractor, whose dues for work
done have been trusted, came up ana
was ably defended bv it's author ana
Chairman Fits of the judiciary COM
mittee and, despite the protest OF Mr.
Hapgood of Peru, was unanimously
passed.
The bill to split up the county, state
and representative ballots with sepa--
rate boxes was passed. The piH
which denies to publishers the right
to collect subscriptions in arrears
was passed with only one valiant NO
against 1t.
The weekly payment bill came up
| for massage and went through swim
mingly with some trifling amend
| ments. The bill permitting select
men to run wood roads through tne
| property of those other than owners
when necessary to move wood or
timber was passed.
In the senate the important work
| was the passage of the Slack caucus
bill without a word of debate. The
bill relating to fishing in Lake Cham
plain was killed and a measure re-
lating to purity Of water supply was
passed.
| The afternoon session of the mouse
was opened with the reference OF
several minor senate bills including
bills for testing the eyesight OF pu.
pills and regulating the condition OF
school buildings. The kidnapping Dill
was passed without opposition, as
were the bills to light covered bridges
and to take water for public uses.
on the special order to raise the
nav of representatives, Taft OF wal
than moved to amend the S4oO clause
to read 5000 for each biennial term'