Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02
What OUR NEIGnBORS SAY.
Representative Hnpg00d and His SeFv.
Ice In the Obstruction Of Les.
(f'rom the Londonderry sifter.)
ls1atiOn.

(F'rom the Londonderry Sifter.)
The Ludlow Tribune in an editorial
headed, "Hapgood an ISSUE" has this to
say
THE vergennes Enterprise. which
charged NJ. j. Hapgood OF Peru with be-
ing n mere seeker for notorlety. has been
getting some sharp rebukes from State
newspapers OF late. The Rutland News
said:
"The vcrgennes Enterprise has given
Representative NJ. j. Hapgood OF Peru.
as we believe. an entirely undeservcd rap.
II has practically alleged that the rep
rcscntat!ve is inbued with the sole idea
ct keeping himself In the public eye and
seeking notoriety. We consider Mr.. Hap
good u nighmnded citizen with entirely
sincere conceptions of public duty. AS
the st. Adams Messenger we'll expresses
it, 'Hapgood is doing what the rank and
file of Nermonters should be doing and
what the ostensible leaders Of Vermont
affairs should be doing. II few more
men would air public questions In Yer
mont and keep airing them until some-
thing was done about them, one way or
another We would make progress faster
Tho Tribune has published several arti-
methods. which voiced correctly general
public belief that our legislators had an
improper regard for the responsibilities
of their office. Possibly this feeling was
Exaggerated and no doubt it was unjust
to many earnest and devoted members.
Eut as the Messenger says. IL is public
discussion of like important questions that
brings true reform"
| oh
tho vergennes Enterprise, that he imped-
I'd legislation is to his credit, as too
many laws were allowed to pass as it
was: and he can we'll plead guilty. to
having made the lives OF the House
clerks miserable" by insisting that all bills
OF public nature should be read at least
once before their final passage.
| Close examination of the House proceed
ings will show that not only obstruc-
ton but commendable construction was
dealt in by Mr. II. Tie did not throw
in handfulls of bills of his own but he
took hold and helped to dress up those
that were put IN. We notice that the
amendments excepting Sunday from deer
hunting and strengthening the law pre-
venting the disiieurcment Of highways by
Objectionable advertisements were OF his
proposal. Also the House resolution pro-
Ividing for a commission without expcnsa
to the State tn report n suitable memo
rial for Warner and Baker. the leaders
of the Green Mountain Boys.
| One bill i'm full he did himself intro.
duce which had much to recommend it
The bill to transfer the power of cOmmu
ltation OF the death sentence to n rcgu
lar board appointed for the purpose. Mr.
II. moved the dismissal Of the bill L
increase the salary Of the members o
the Legislature and was the undoubtet
leader in the rejection of the bills to in
crease the salary OF nearly all of the Stat,
officers. He opposed the election of Mr.
Fits to the attorney -generalship upor
the ground that it was unbecomng col
the House to create an Office and give i
to one of it's members In fact we arr
inclined to believe that the record Of Mr.
1Iapgood in the Legislature will bear yer!
close inspection.
REDUCING BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
(From the st. Adams Messenger)
II Swanton is actually beginning to re
duce her bonded Indebtedness she is, in
deed, to be congratulated. Our neighbo
has had some discouragements In the or
derng of her public finances, and a
: there that made the cause Of municipa
, progress appear almost hopeless to som
men that gave up the fight for refort,
: long ago. But the plucky ones are stay
| ing by the ship and promise to take he
; into snug harbor eventually. With al
, that pesslmsts and croakers could do al
these years. the hopeful ones have KEEP
their lamp trimmed and burning and nov
f1,n Al = ~ ar
r cheering day. Here's success to them
= They deserve it.
, OUR COSMOPOLITAN GOVERNOR.
C'rom the Bellows Falls TlncsD
, There were those who predicted that /
Charles j. Bell. of Walden farmer wa
: elected governor of Vermont he wou
prove little more than a figurehead. Sue
, must now be watching his excellcncy wit
+ increasing Amusement. 1t keeps a corr
of vigilart reporters busy to give tn
public from day tn day a mere outlin
>, of what is going on According to Ties
{ reports this would be the usual days Pre-
, grammo Walden 4 a. NJ. arises, dresse
in overall and milks IL COWS before break
fast: a. m. partakes Of n farmers fru
Igal breakfast. puts on his glad clotho
land by 10 Il. m. is addressing Il Grang
Injecting 100 miles distant Two or thre
new Oranges are instituted before moo
land by evening his excellency is in Bos
{ ton or New York addressing the sons {
Vermont or fattcring the daughters. 81
fore midnight he has travelled - miles b
y team. i've or six hundred by rail. wit
= no record Of how much on foot 81
y speeches and 1000 handsllakes during 4!
~ day is considered low average.
u Only last week his cxcelloncy was
j. Boston to he present at the annual gail
Q ering OF the Daughters Of Vermont. RI
u arch hattcrcr is reported 10 have sal,
Z I'D go 1000 miles to attend any meetin
- like this, You are the finest lot of Lads
ever met outside of Vermont" BefOi
10 leaving Boston he and his staff visite
10 the Boston Fruit and Produce Exchang
70 The men were lined up in their frocl
. and overalls and the governor made al
w other speech which was well received.
On Those who were prOphesying that BE
81 wouldn't cut Ice are advised to keep a
rs eye out.