St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-10-26

men. and all pos bic sanitary surround
ings and equipme.
!. Again, at this session. looms up a
measure holding emplo, e~s responsible
for injuries to their employees, when such
injuries are the outcome of defects IN
ways, works or machinery not properly
cared for. The bill was introduced by
Mr.. Smith of Rutland city, who was
elected as a labor representative, and
who, in the two measures be has already
presented, shows his loyalty to the
workingman's interests. The bill in
question makes it possible to recover
from $500 to $4,000, according to
whether the defect results in injuries
only, or injury followed by death; and
the. degree of culpability on the part OF
the employer has OF course something to
do with the awarding of damages.
The question of high school privileges
is again brought up and bill compelling
every town either to maintain a high
school or provide such opportunity for
advanced pupils, has been introduced.
A public hearing on the capital punish
ment bills and the Communication of Mrs.
Rogers sentence will be held on Tuesday
evening, Nov. 1.
A rather important measure bearing
PRODUCED in the house. It provides that
in certain cases where judgment is rem
dered the debtor may be cited to appear
| and show why his circumstances and
ability to pay should not be looked into.
II he is judged able to pay and disobeys
an order so to do without good excuse
therefor, he may be imprisoned for II
| days.
bill introduced in the senate creates
a state board of medical registration, of
seven members to take the place OF the
| individual boards now maintained by
the respective medical societies; the lat
ter are to recommend appointees to the
governor. The board is to conduct ex-
am1natiOns and issue licenses to practice,
at $40 each. The further regulation of
the practice of dentistry is the burden of
another senate bill.
Senator Slack has introduced bill
touching on the loss of bank books; loss
is to be advertised and posted, and new
book issued after certain time. This
bill is identical with the present law COW
ering loss of certificates of bank stock.
This same senator has also put in bill
providing for specific appropriations for
municipal expenditures.
The election laws continue to receive
attention, and several more bills amend
ing existing statutes have been intro
duced the past week. These, briefly sum-
married., are: All town officers to be
elected on one ballot when 20 voters so
request. Plurality election of represen-
tative on the fourth ballot. Bribing or
threatening or unduly influencing voters
to be punished by fine. Election of GER
tain officers by ballot in towns with
5000, or less, population; all officers by
ballot in towns of more than 5000. The
public hearing on the straight plurality
bill developed quite sentiment in favor
of it, although two or three of the speak
ers wanted plurality to prevail sometime
after the first ballot instead of on the
first. The larger towns are evidently in
clined toward the plurality scheme and
most of the smaller ones are little shy.
Senator Proctor is quoted as of the
opinion that, while majority is desirable
always, the first vote is likely to be the
fairest test.
The Solons are also trying to further
amend the local option law. One bill
calls for three liquor commissioners in
each county, to be elected as far as posi-
bic from license towns, to stay in office
six years and get five dollars per day.
Another doubles the license fee.
If the bill introduced by Mr.. Campbell
of Rockingham becomes law the adul-
terating of food products in Vermont
will not be a wholesome practice. The
measure is a comprehensive one and pro-
vides against the sale of drugs, medicines,
liquors, candy, meats, provisions, and
anything in the way of food and food
products that do not meet the standard
of strength and purity set forth in the
United States Pharmacopeia. The state
board OF health is given authority to de-
stroy infected articles, and stiff penalties
are provided in case of violations of the
provisions of this act.
The house has killed the bill providing
| for adjournment of freeman's meeting
by tWO-th1rdS vote instead OF unanl-
| mously. It has also refused third read
ing of the bill requiring the attaching of
labels giving formula and percentage OF
ingredients to all packages cont aiming
drugs and medicinal compounds. Sew
eral bills providing for publication in
| newspapers of certain town notices have
| been adversely reported and dealt with
accordingly. A measure calling upon the
state to pay certain expenses incurred in
the care of smallpox patients was de-
| feated.
An interesting hearing took place
before the general committee last Thurs
day on the automobile bills, quite COM
pany of machine" men being on hand,
from different parts of the state. No
special objection was made to Mr..
Campbell's bill requiring registry of the
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