Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-08-02


! S. Sc. license, local option bill
with referendum.
S. IS. forbldding persons to walk oil
railroad tracks.
Z 5. 80, adopting the New Jerse.
/ plan OF wholesale charter granting
) for the sake of the revenues derived
! thereirom.
/ 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 Laundering deep in
the slough of despond, as he now
claims, Mr.. Clement didn't appear
greatly concerned then. He had time
to fritter away on birds egg legisla-
ton. He was watchful of railroad
matters, being at that time president
OF the Rutland system, but he 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 iron him. He let the problem
of double taxation alone. He origi-
mated nothing of note, save the de-
testable New Jersey corporation
plan, which met the fate it deserved.
Mr.. Clement proposed one thing
only, besides the license law, that be
can-and does-now look back upon
with swelling chest. He had referred
10 a special committee consisting Of
Senators Clement, Cudworth and Dun
nett that part OF Retiring Governor
Smiths message which related to
better system of state accounting, the
committee being instructed TO propose
methods by which increased efficiency |
could be secured and expenses re-
duced. This committee evidently
didn't hurry ABOUT its task, and it was
very late in the session before it re-
ported by bill, Nov. 2lth, and the bill
was not taken up in the Senate until
Nov. 9th, the last day Of the session.
1t was then passed and sent over to
the House in the closing hours. Being
a measure of great Importance, max
ing many radical changes In methods.
etc, il deserved careful attention,
which it could not then receive, how.
ever full of merit. In the House, be-
ing referred to the proper committee,
it was uniavorably reported and killed,
as might have been expected. Mr..
Clement should have got his measure
in earlier, If he wished TO see it pass.
The bill was considered faulty in
many respects, and to have whipped
it into proper shape was impossible in
the brief time at hand. Nobody was
to blame except Mr.. Clement or his
special committee, and he cannot
make political capital now over it,
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
which would have made
a state tax unnecessary. Mr.. Glenn
ent's finance committee reported this
adversely and it was killed. Result
a direct tax had to be raised from 1900 .
to 1902.
Mr.. Clement voted with the minor
ity against the reorganization plan OF
the Central Vermont railroad, by
which the company was required to
provide for certain outstanding in !
debtedness.
Mr.. Clement voted against the bill {
to prevent railroad accidents at the
depot. II
Mr.. Clement voted against the bill
lowering the amount in trustee process.
Mr.. Clement voted with the minor.
ity against the adverse report on
bill limiting the time within which
action against officers and stockhold-
ers of a corporation might be brought.
Mr.. Clement voted against the cleo ,
ton OF railroad commissioners, instead
of their appointment by the governor. /
Mr.. Clement voted against the bin
fofbidding the sale OF cigarettes to
minors.
Here, in briei, is the story of Mr..
Clement in the Senate OF 1900. Does
it justify his claim to craftsmanship