St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-11-02
MONTPELIER Gossip.

Montpelier, NOV. 1.-There has been
more or less s'strenuosity" about life at
the capital city during the past week be-
cause of the occurrence of several events
not Immediately connected with the
business of the legislature. The ladies of
the state appeared in large numbers to
participate in Mrs. Bells reception, to
attend the meetings of Daughters of the
Revolution aud the Colonial Danes. and
to- look on and listen while senator's and
members made laws and talked back at
each other. Then there was the meeting
of the Bar Association and that of the
Historical Society, to say nothing of
some minor gatherings. Mrs. Bells re-
ception is put down in many diaries as
the most brilliant and finest gowned
affair of that kind held at the state
house for some years this, too, in spite
of the fact that the weather was not at
all favorable for social functions. The
receiving party included, besides Mrs.
Bell, Mrs. c. FL. Stearns OF Johnson. Mrs.
Josiah Grout of Derby, Mrs. Roswell
Farnham of Bradford, Mrs. c. S. Page
of Hyde Park, Mrs. Z S. Stanton of Rox-
bury, Mrs. Z. NJ. Mansur of Newport,
Mrs. M. F. Allen of Ferrisburgh.
The legislative mind was greatly re-
lieved on Friday morning by the arrival
of that anxiously- awaited decision Of the
supreme court as to the constitutionality
of the local option law. It was feared by
many that the decision might mean
trouble for the general assem- bly, by way
of radical changes in the law; but the
court declares unconstitutionaIthat part
of it which discriminates in favor Of the
growers of fruit and makers of cider and
native wines-allo wing them to sell the
same without license. while others are
debarred from selling. Chairman Slack
of the joint committee on temperance has
introduced a resolution asking the court
for a copy Of the decision for use by that
committee who will, no doubt soon pro-
vide way out of this tangle.
The farmers of the legislature are pref
ty solidly in favor ofinvesting $50. 900 in
a morrill, Agricultural Hall'' at the
University of Vermont. The house de-
cided that way on Thursday, by yea
and nay vote of ITO to So. and when the
members left for home Friday afternoon
there was every indication that the bill
would pass the senate with little or no
opposition. The debate on this bill in
the house lasted two hours and was
very interesting. Mr.. Billiard, the demo-
cratic member from Burlington and the
introducer of the measure, spoke only in
support of it. He reminded the house
that the appropriations made by the
national government in 1862, 1887 and
1890, for our state agricultural college
through Senator Morrill's efforts, were
granted on consideration that none OF
the money should be used to put up
buildings; that the state accepted the
conditions, and that the number of stu
dents had so increased and the work had
grown to be of so much practical value to
the farmers that the time had come to
put up building suitable for the needs
of the college. Speeches were also made
in favor of the bill by Mr.. Aitken of
Woodstock, Mr.. Archibald of Manches-
ter, Mr.. Grout of Derby, Mr.. Morse of
Randolph and several others. Mr.. O'Sul
Ivan of St. Adams City opposed it be-
cause he was afraid the benefits resulting
to the state would not be extensive
enough to warrant SO large an outlay at
this time. Mr.. Start of Bakersfield and
Mr.. Durick of Cast1eton were the only
others who spoke in opposition. The
sentiment of the house was overwhelm-
ingly in favor of the appropriation, as
the vote clearly proves.
And, speaking of spending money,
there are several bills in to increase sala-
ries, including those of the governor, the
supreme court judges, the assistant
judges of the counties, the state superin-
tendent of education, and the members
themselves. But the legislature may feel
little poor after putting through that
$50, 1000 bill.
The death of the bill to abolish the
railroad commission was accompanied
by spirited tilt between Mr.. Start of
Bakersfield, who introduced the measure,
aud Chairman Grout and other members
of the railroad committee. The gentle
man from Bakersfield didn't have any
use for the railroad commission; he in
money and never did any thing of any
practical benefit to the people. He
hadn't any definite facts at hand to back
up his claim, but denounced the board on
general prineiples-and the galleries ap-
plauded. The railroad committe defend
ed its adverse report on the ground that
there was no other kind of report to
make in the absence of any convincing
reason why the bill should pass. The
state has had some form of railroad com
mission for about fifty years, and some
desirable things were being brought to
pass between the public and the rail-
roads.
Among other defeated measures may
be mentioned a bill to repeal the law
passed in 1902 regulating the practice of
pharmacy; one requiring the attachment
to packages of medicine of a formula
showing what the stuff is made of; pro-
viding that male citizens coming of age
may vote at an election just prior to the
taking of their list; touching on school
, &c