Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-16


ate-Laree Number of Bills Slaughtered
on Wednesday.
Montpelier, VT, Nov. 10.
When the general assembly reconvened
this week there were nearly 500 hills
awaiting consideration, and as snme NJ
these were among the most important
measures to be taken up at the present
session the prospect of adiourninp In
time for the usual Thanksgiving dinner
was poor The committees and the in
dividual members have worked hard thus
far in the session and no charge of dill
atoriness can be laid at any ones door.
But the conditions under which the YER
mont legislature works, with GAG Nom
bers coming here almost totally unac-
quainted with each other and Obliged TO
interchange ideas and discuss local con-
ditions before they can begin intelu
gently the work Of drafting bills, makes
it extremely difficult to close up business
in the short period before Thanksgiving
when any legislation of Importance is
pending.
There was no quorum in the House on
Monday but as the point was not raised
the transaction of business proceeded
without interruption and 25 bills were in
troduced.
Senator Pelton, from the committee on
public health, reported a bill continuing
the tuberculosis commission This com
mission, in its annual report recommend
ed that 1t be abolished and that its du-
ties be transferred to the state board of
health. but that body feels incapable Of
taking on the additional duties
Senator Chase of Windham introduced
a bill to construe the act of 1902 reIat-
ing to the returns of judges of probate
to the auditor OF accounts
The bill relating to terms of court in
Washington and Windham counties was
passed by the Senate.
Mr.. Gibson of Brattleboro introduced
in the House a bill granting certain
powers to the Connecticut River Power
Co.. and Mr. Ray Of Rockingham asks
to have municipal court established in
Bellows Falls. He also proposes to have
agriculture and manual training taught
in high schools and academies.
The governor has approved the bill re-
lating to grade crossings, in the passage
OF which without open opposition, he won
a great victory.
Little business of Importance was
transacted Tuesday morning and every
thing dragged because interest was cen
tired in the discussion Of the bill to
abolish capital punishment. which was
special order for Tuesday afternoon
There was an unusual crowd present
to listen to the discussion Every seat
was taken and the crowd extended far out
into the lobby Mr.. Porter of Whining
ton occupied the chair during the debate
Mfr. Fletcher of Cavendish, Mr.. Shaw of
Marlboro, Mr.. Hulburd of Hyde PARK,
Mr.. Darling of Chelsea, Mr.. Finn of
Springfield and Mr.. Senter of Mont
pelier spoke strongly in favor of the bill
and Mr.. Cameron of Proctor, Mr. Bishop
of Eunenburg and Mr.. Harris of Stowe
were the principal opponents. The de-
bate was long and it was past 5 o'clock
when the vote was completed. To the
surprise of those who had interested
themselves in the measure and who be-
lieved there was a growing sentiment in
the STATE in favor of abolishing this form
of punishment the vote was large against
the bill, the vote being 140 no to 10 yes.
Mr. Shaw of Marlboro conducted de-
votional exercises in the House Tuesday
morning. His remarks in favor of the
capital punishment bill in the afternoon
were made largely to remove the i'm
preston that clergymen were calling for
vengeance and the infiiction of the blood
penalty. Mr.. Bole of Coventry who is
also a clergyman. spoke strongly in favor
of life Imprisonment.