Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-08-10
Mr.. Clement In the Senate.
Randolph Herald and News. I

Six years ago the Hon. p W. Clement.
present fusion candidate for governor.
was a member of the Vermont Senate
A perusal of what he did and what he
tried to do and what he omitted to do is
worth while now. It is a record OF which
Mr.. Clement need not be ashamed. On
the other hand, no reason exists for
pointing to It with pride. It is Just the
ordinary achievement of a common place
legislator, featureless in most respects
He was absent much OF the time, is I'M
recorded on many votes, but always
managed to be on hand when there was
anything doing that affected railroads or
corporations. Ills voice and vote were
invariably given to protect the particular
interests of the railroads, however re-
motely affected.
On the organization of the Senate. Mr..
Clement was placed at the head OF the
committee on finance, and was also a
member of the Senate committee on mill
tary affairs and the Senate committee on
corporations. He headed the joint COM
mittee on temperance.
In the animated senatorial contest Of
that year, Mr.. Clement supported the
Hon. Charles A. Prouty.
Mr. Clement fathered the following
Senate bills only
s. 10, relating to the killing Of birds
or taking Of birds eggs.
s. 90 giving courts authority to order
medical examination Of persons bringing
suits for damages against railroads at
such time and place as they saw fit
s. SO, relating to the Rutland Transit
company; a corporation measure.
s. SO, a license, local option bill, with
referendum
s. ss, forbldding persons to walk on
railroad tracks.
s. 90 adopting the New Jersey plan Of
wholesale charter granting for the sake OF
the revenues derived therefrom.
These six bills constitute Mr.. Clements
sole claim to fame as an originator of
legislation, barring one measure that will
be referred to later. II the state was
fioundering deep in the slough of despond
as he now claims. Mr. Clement didn't APP
pear greatly concerned then. He had
time to fritter away on birds egg legis-
lation. He was watchful of railroad
matters, being at that time president OF
the Rutland system, but ne didn't burn
the midnight oil to save the state from
these dreadful ills Of which we now hear
so much No perfected plan for state
highways came from him. He let the
problem OF double taxation alone. He
originated nothing of note, save the de-
testable New Jersey corporation plan
which met the fate 1t deserved.
Mr.. Clement proposed one thing only
besides the license law, that he can-and
does-now look back upon with swelling
I
mittee consisting Of Senators Clement
| Cudworth and Dunnett that part Of re-
firing Governor Smiths message which
related to a better system of state ac-
counting, the committee being instructed
to propose methods by which increased
efficiency could be secured and expenses
reduced. This committee evidently didn't
hurry about Its task. and 1t was very
| late in the session before Il reported by
bill. Nov. "a, and the bill was not taken
up in the Senate until Nov, 81, the last
day Of the session It was then passed
and sent over to the House In the closing
hours. Being measure of great i'm
portance. making many radical changes
| in methods, etc, 1t deserved careful at
| tention, which II could not then receive
| however full Of merit. In the House, be-
| ing referred to the proper committee, ii
was unfavorably reported and killed as
might have been expected. Mr.. Clement
should have got his measure in earlier. II
| he wished TO see ii pass. The bill was
| considered faulty in many respects. and
| to have whipped II into proper shape was
| impossible I'm the brief time at hand.
/ Nobody was to blame except Mr.. Clement
or his special committee. and he cannot
make political capital now over II, when
| the facts are known.
Some other things that Mr.. Clement
| did In the Senate are worth noting. In
view. OF his claim as champion OF the
peoples rights. The House had passed
bill increasing the taxes of corporations,
which would have made state tax I'M
necessary. Mr.. Clements finance COM
mittee reported this adversely and It was
killed Result: A direct tax had to be
raised from 1900 to 1902.
Mr. Clement voted with the minority
! against the reorganization plan OF the
| Central Vermont railroad, by which the
company was required TO provide for
certain outstanding indebtedness
Mr.. Clement voted against the bill to
prevent railroad accidents at the Win
ooski depot.
Mr.. Clement voted against the bill
| lowering the amount in trustee process.
Mr.. Clement voted with the minority
against the adverse report on a bill limit
ing the time within which action against
officers and stockholders of a corporation
might be brought
Mr.. Clement voted against the election
| of railroad commissioners, instead OF
their appointment by the governor
Mr.. Clement voted against the bill for
bidding the sale OF cigarettes to minors.
Here, in brief. is the story OF Mr.
Clement in the Senate OF 1900. Does II
Justify his claim to craftsmanship?