St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-11-07
OUR LEGISLATIVE LETTER.

From our Montpelier Correspondent
The great event of the past week at the
capitol was the reception to Gen. l.. A.
Grant on Thursday. The gallant old
commander of Vermont troops came as
the guest of the state and his visit will
be remembered with pleasure by the
legislators as we'll as by the old soldiers
who came to greet him. joint assem-
blv was held in the afternoon to receive
Gen. Grant and the following resolution
was adopted by a rising vote;
Resolved That the thanks of the
general assembly, through it and a
new generation of the people OF Yer
mont, be and are hereby rendered to
Gen. L. A. Grant and his surviving
officers and men, and particularly Coils.
Amasa S. Tracy of the second regiment
and Thomas 0. Seaver of the third
regiment, now the only living regimental
commanders in the first brigade, each OF
whom at times commanded it, for the
exemplary soldiership and sustained
courage, which enabled them to render
such long and valuable services to the
nation, to achieve more than any other
equal number, as we believe, in the great
work of the preservation OF the Union
and to contribute the most brilliant
chapter to the historic annals OF Yer
mont"
Representatives hall was crowded dur
ing the exercises and General Grants adj
dress on the part played by the first and
second Vermont brigades in the great
war was notable one. After the speech
making a reception was held and every
one had an opportunity to greet the
states guest. During the exercises for
mer governor Ormsbee presented to the
state the battle flag of the old Vermont
brigade.
TO EXPEDITE LEGISLATION.
Early in the week Speaker Cheney gave
the House a mild lecture on the need of
industrious work during the remainder
of the session, calling attention to the
fact that comparatively a small part OF
the bills already introduced had been re-
ported from committees, and Thanks
giving about four weeks away. 1t is al
ways the aim of Vermont legislators to
bring about final adjournment before
| this festival and there appears no gooc
reason why this should not be done thi:
year. There will be the same rush at thu
close as is always the case. The new
rules regarding the introduction of bill
insures greater speed in getting proposed
laws into the hopper but there is yet t.
be devised some method of getting then
out more promptly. Some Of the NOR
important committees are working tt
the limit to bring important measure
before the house and senate and 1T is II
these committee rooms that the rea
work of the session is being done
DROPPING THE PosTMAsTERs.
The house reduced it's membership las
week by unseating five fourth-class post
masters, and the last to go was Hapgoo
of Peru, the great objector.
: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
A bill abolishing capital punishment
was favorably reported from the hous
judiciary committee, but the report wa
not a unanimous one and although it
probable the bill will pass the house cor
siderable opposition is expected. Wha
the senate will do is problematical, bu
it is quite likely that Vermont will n
member Mary Rogers as the last leg;
victim of the rope in this state.
CALEDONIA COUNTY JAIL.
6 Representative Carr's bill providin
for the erection of new Jail building fe
Caledonia county passed the house G
. Monday afternoon without a dlssentlr
voice and the gentleman from st. John
bury is we'll pleased with the result OF h
efforts. The bill now goes to the sena
where it is expected some rough sailir
will be experienced. Senator Morse
Danville is opposed to the measure
, passed by the house and believes Il
: present jail should be modernized rath
: than a new Jail built He agrees TIL
E his county is in sore need of an improv
- Jail, but believes the location of t
Il present structure is satisfactory al
i that it can be put in an up to date CO
dition for an amount very much small
. than would be required for the erecti
: of new jail and jail house near t
q court house. No time has been fixed
s. consideration of the bill by the senate.
FLoTSAM AND JETSAM.
u 7. E. Cushman of Burlington, sta
d commissioner of taxes, has issued
'e biennial report. 1t shows that duri
II the last two years taxes paid to t
g state by savings banks, trust compan
IS and other corporations, together WI
&c collateral inheritance taxes and licer
nh tn
ne 1929 This is an increase of SIS
20 225.03 over the preceding biennial tel
IS and is $482, 120.43 greater than for
e two years ending in 1900. This c
~ poration tax prosperity is an assural
lis that there will be no direct statetax
10 the next two years unless the pres
sh legislature is too lavish in the matter
hu appropriation, and up to date there
mt nothing to warrant this belief.
CT 1t seems altogether likely that
me legislature will increase the corporate
tax especially on railroads at this S
sion. The railroads evidently think
too for some of their representatives (
as faithful in attendance as any elect
ny by the towns or counties. But increas
ne taxes are not the only things VIII
Up trouble the railroads. The earnest effC
ice that is being made to begin the wipi
~ out of dangerous grade crossings brir
nc tears from the eyes and eloquent woi
ne II. from the lips of the railroad attornt
'h- and it must be admitted that they C
tte stitute a power to be reckoned with.
CIR The bill designed to create $500
81 900 permanent school fund by unit